OSNews

Mr Michael Valentine ,

I must thank you for submiting your superb review , even do its not really complete or professionnal , we now know that the Dell 800 series of laptop is functionnal with Linpsire 5.0 and thats a plus for many people looking for a supported notebook that whas not made 3 years ago. If you test other hardware I hope you will do us again the privilege of seeing you work posted here again.

There is a couple of thing that I disagree with and that I missed from your report, let me discuss them openly with you. I must also confess that I tried it and it did not meet my requirement even do it whas very well integrated for the most part.

- 8x DVD+RW

In your hardware description you mention the fact that you have a DVD re-writer , I dont think I saw you test it or say if it whas able to write cdr , DVD , and rewrite over them , I could possibly have missed it ?

- SOHO Environment

Note : I am very proficient in GNU/Linux and know about the solution availaible , but I must say that I am no Linspire expert , hence you might know things availaible I missed or did not find or that no one else know exist.

You mention the fact that your testing/using 5-0 in a SOHO environment , I whas wondering if you know if there is a possibility to once your computer is fully done the way you like it , to do a master copy that would install the exact same image copy of what you have just done?

One of the most important thing for me and the other SOHO I work with is the ability to save data and do backup of them , I failed to see any mention of testing this in your review and if this capability is availaible.

I must agree that I like to go one step above everyone else because I add the missfortune of going tru a fire at one of my company , I whas wondering if you seen or know of any remote Backup possibility ?

I would have like it if you could have tested the Live CD too , its a great tool to get back at your data after someone decided to delete someting they should not have or tried upgrading a kernel manually but failed it and the computer is not booting , and I personnaly have add two computers ( 1 Desktop and 1 Notebook ) that failed to load the Live cd properly , but that the install whas possible on them.

- Test System and Hardware Support

You will say that I am nitpicking but I dont think that this time I can agree with you on your score for that portion , things like :

"worked once I installed the HP Drivers from CNR "

"and Kooka for Scanner support also available from CNR"

" in other words full support for my Hardware. I did not try the Modem for this test, but since it’s a WinModem there is a chance it won’t work."

I personnaly think that everything related to the hardware instalation should be availaible on the disc , and that everything is tested once the instalation is done , so that if something is not working an email message pop-up asking me to send Linspire the report of my hardware and the things which where not working so that in there next version/update it might be fully functionnal. I also have to deal with many people who cannot afford the internet or that the internet dont reach them yet in an affordable way but do have computers , sadly for them CNR is not a feature.