[plug] Dell 9400

[Shannon Carver]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: plug-bounces at plug.org.au [mailto:plug-bounces at plug.org.au] On Behalf
> Of meyerri
> Sent: Tuesday, 2 May 2006 9:07 AM
> To: plug at plug.org.au
> Subject: Re: [plug] Dell 9400
>
>
>
> ---- Original Message ----
> From: simon at chrome64.org
> To: plug at plug.org.au
> Subject: Re: [plug] Dell 9400
> Date: Tue, 02 May 2006 00:48:54 +0000
>
> >Richard Meyer (meyerri at westnet.com.au) wrote:
> >>
> >> Who was the laddie who ordered the Dell Inspiron 9400 a few weeks
> >ago?
> >>
> >> If you've got it, can we get a dose of feedback, please?
> >>
> >
> >Quite simply, the screen is awesome :) 1920x1200 goodness.
> >
> >I havent had much time to spend on it. So far Ive put Mandriva 2006
> >on it plus
> >the binary ATI drivers to get the x1400 running. Seems to work well.
> >
> >The wireless requires a kernel update so I can compile the driver for
> >it, and
> >the SMcard reader needs a kernel patch as well, but Im reading it
> >might cause
> >suspend problems. I guess Ill see.
> >
> >Ill see how I go getting the wireless going first. Perhaps Ill try
> >kubuntu.
>
> Yep, I'll give that a go, just as an experiment, myself.
> >
> >Oh, 1 other 'bad' thing - the video card is meant to be an x1400 with
> >256M
> >hypermemory (whatever that is), but the bios says its a 128M card.
> >Ill be
> >ringing them about that today.
>
> Let us know how you make out, since I believe Dell support is really
> bad - I've been reading Greg Lehey, and he isn't impressed. The
> Aussie side is fine, but you have to talk to people in Malaysia, or
> India, and they don't understand the problem, so the Aussie
> technician arrives to fix the problem, and doesn't have half the
> parts you need, because the problem is wrongly reported.

While I have no doubt about Dell's support being terrible, at my previous
place of employment (we were quite big customers), they had a "replace
first, ask questions later" attitude to problems with their hardware.

One of my friends has an inspiron which is about a year old now, and he'd
only had it for a few months and was getting overheating issues and RAM
failures.  He rang them about it and two days later a courier arrived with
new laptop (better model too!!), and a return satchel for the laptop he
was having problems with.  That might have been a model with known
problems though.

> >
> >Touchpad works well, USB works well, sound works well (altho Im not
> >sure the
> >'subwoofer' is activated). 3D performance using the x1400 seems ok, I
> >think
> >around 1400+ fps on glxgears. Not sure how that measures up, but Im
> >sure itll
> >be fast enough for my limited gaming. Tuxracer is fast and smooth :)
>
> Not great speed, but better than the +- 900 FPS I get on my Nvidia
> 440 card.
> >
> >Processor works well with SMP kernel. klaptop allows me to set CPU
> >throttling
> >based on powered/not powered status.
>
> Sounds great.
> >
> >I havent gotten suspend or hibernate working yet, but then I havent
> >tried.
> >
> >Basically it seems everything works except wireless and SMcard
> >reader, which
> >are supported with patches.
> >
> >The best bit is the cherrywood cover ;) Takes me back to late 80s
> >arcades...... :D
>
> I'm looking at the Black Carbon or the Med Blue.
> >
> >You thinking of getting one?
>
> I'm looking at the 6400 - or maybe an IBM T60 - they seem lots
> cheaper than the T43, which I liked.
> >
> >ps. Just remembered one other 'bad' thing. Plugging headphones in
> >doesnt mute
> >the internal speakers (!).
>
> Just something to watch for - I did see a fix for it the other day,
> but I forget what it was ....
> >
> Thanks for the feedback, Simon
>
> Cheers
> RM
>
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Shannon Carver
shannon.carver at gmail.com
+61412216385