On 23/02/07, Dick Turpin <highwayman.turpin(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: Well I hope Dell lose. Why? Because I have a (meagre) pension with West Midlands Metropolitan Authorities. It ain't much but every penny counts. I actually remember you telling me about this some time ago, Dick. -- ============================================== Don't take it to the tip recycle it via the Freecycle(r) Network. For a group near to you look here: Worldwide http://www.freecycle.org/ United Kingdom http://uk.freecycle.org/ ============================================ Kevan Farmer Linux user #373362 Staffordshire

On 23/02/07, Kris Douglas <webbox.uk(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: I have a love/hate relationship with Dell, in my personal experience (please feel free to give your own experiences) I have yet to find a Dell machine that will not accept any Linux distro and in most cases 'just work' as some of you know part of my job is supplying refurbished equipment the highest demand, and personal preference, is to provide Dell machines, base units and laptops so they are popular. (Here is my personal thoughts not aimed at anyone in particular) The problem is lack of understanding of the bigger picture quit rightly Joe Public (The man in the street) wants to pay as little or nothing for everything, quality is a thing of the past the philosophy of "Stack-em high sell-em cheap" is king If I try and sell, lets say a Laptop, and its even £50 more expensive every sudo expert (because they have internet access and read PC Builder) comes out with the old chestnut "Aaaawww gaaawwd no Dell's got one for 22 pence" now they might be lucky and get a unit that never breaks down so yes they've had a bargain and one over on me. But we do repairs on loads them now if we go tits up because Dell has squeezed us out who's gonna repair them? not Dell because they like PC World in most cases just replace them so what happens to that extensive collection art images and art films you had ;-)? Well I'm sorry mate thats gone you want cheap you got cheap. The other point I find interesting is Dell is quietly making itself, or at least attempting too be the only supplier of PC's and Laptops by destroying the independent builders, over 500 independent PC Builders went out of business last year and the figure is rising. Mr Gates of a certain operating system has been doing the same for years and does everything in his power to hinder and lock out alternate software solutions yet go on any forum, list or website and you'll see death threats and all sorts aimed at Microsoft and yet not a single murmur about Dell is that because Dell are destroying their own kind or is it purely that people actually, contrary to the laudable statements you hear, don't mind being locked into a single solution be it software or hardware so long as its cheap. So when your gran is working on a building site because her pension is worth ziltch due to Dell telling the stock exchange that they have sold more units than anyone else but not letting on that the company as a whole only made £300 profit all year because they sold everything at cost price so that in fact the share price is worthless pat yourself on the back for saving that £50 I'm sure granny will. Oh and by the way Dell is heavily subsidised by the Irish government and we cant even get a grant for training from the chamber of commerce. -- Dick Turpin "Stand and deliver!"

On 24/02/07, Dick Turpin <highwayman.turpin(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote: I'd love to know how they get away with that. It is against EU competition rules. -- ============================================== Don't take it to the tip recycle it via the Freecycle(r) Network. For a group near to you look here: Worldwide http://www.freecycle.org/ United Kingdom http://uk.freecycle.org/ ============================================ Kevan Farmer Linux user #373362 Staffordshire