After two weeks of using the new Dell Inspiron 1420N with Ubuntu, I decided it’s time to write down some of my thoughts about this new Linux offering from Dell. I have quite a lot of experience with Ubuntu and with Linux in general. I administer several Ubuntu servers including an Edubuntu terminal server setup in a computer lab. I’ve been using Linux off and on for about 8 years and have seen desktop Linux improve greatly in the last few years.
The time seems right for a company like Dell to partner with a distribution like Ubuntu and bring Linux to the masses. Unfortunately, Dell and Ubuntu’s parent company Canonical have not worked together closely enough to make this a first-rate offering. While I think the 1420N is a great computer overall, the lack of attention to detail (and unbelievably bad driver support) keep these latest Linux offerings from being ready for the general public. Hopefully Dell and Canonical will resolve these problems and make a truly great product that I could feel comfortable recommending to family members who are not familiar with Linux.
The Good
Design
Having used a Macbook for the last year, I was not initially impressed with the 1420’s design. Apple has made the industrial design of their computers into such an art that any other laptops look bad in comparison. However, when compared with other PC notebooks, the 1420 is very nice. It looks nice sitting on my desk and is comfortable to use.
Heat Management
One place where the 1420 design outshines the Macbook is in heat management. If you’ve ever used a modern Apple notebook, you’ll know that they become extremely hot and it’s nearly impossible to use them on your lap. The Dell 1420 has a fan that blows hot air out the left side of the notebook and keeps the bottom of the notebook very cool. You can comfortably use the 1420 on your lap for hours without the machine overheating.
Keyboard
The keyboard feels nice and has good tactile feedback. The extra buttons like “delete”, “page up” and “page down” are placed in reasonable locations considering the normal lack of space on notebook keyboards. The extra media keys work well to control the volume and navigate media in Totem and Rythembox. The power button conveniently brings up the Gnome logout menu (this can be changed to preform other tasks via the Gnome Power Manager).
Screen
I upgraded to a higher resolution glossy screen. While the 1440×900 resolution is nice, I wish it was available with a non-glare coating. Colors look noticeably different when compared with a Macbook and with computers running Windows XP. This could simply be a difference between the way Linux and other operating systems handle color or might possibly be a problem with the video driver (more on that later). Overall, the screen is very nice and one of the first notebook screens that doesn’t make my eyes hurt after hours of work.
Good But Needs Improvement
Bluetooth
I ordered the Bluetooth module for an extra 20 dollars. I’ve been using Bluetooth with my Macbook to transfer files to and from my mobile devices and for connecting to my mobile phone for internet access. I knew that Bluetooth support in Ubuntu is pretty poor, but I wanted to see if it would be usable. The first thing I noticed is that there is no way to turn the Bluetooth radio on and off separately from the WiFi radio without entering the BIOS. This means that the Bluetooth radio is almost always on, wasting battery power and possibly causing a security risk. It would be nice to be able to turn the radio on and off with its own switch or via software. (Update: If you feel like compiling some software, it is possible to turn Bluetooth on and off via the command line. Here’s how.)
Getting the Bluetooth up and running was not easy. Most of the necessary software was installed by default, but I still needed to install extra software and edit configuration files to make anything work. With some tweaking and the help of these instructions, I was able to send files to and from the my Sony Ericsson w810i and Nokia N800. I’ve heard that it is possible to use the w810i as a modem in Linux, but with no graphical interface for these type of connections, it’s not very useful for the average user.
WiFi
The 1420 WiFi works well with unsecured and WPA secured networks. NetworkManager has problems connecting to WEP encrypted networks. Lack of good WEP support is annoying and severely limits Ubuntu’s ability to connect to public access points.
Audio
I was surprised at the high quality sound card included with the 1420. When listening with headphones, no noise is noticeable and audio sounds very clear. The inclusion of two headphone jacks and a microphone jack on the front of the machine is a nice touch. Getting a microphone to work was not quite so easy. There are holes in the case above the screen that appear to be for a built-in microphone. If there is a microphone back there, I was never able to get it to work.
I was able to get an old headset working when I plugged it into the microphone port on the front. Unfortunately, Ubuntu and Dell have not included an audio mixer for adjusting the input volume. I needed to hunt through the Synaptic package manager for a mixer and install it before I could get the microphone volume loud enough to make Skype calls. A little bit of customization and package pre-installation on Dell and Canonical’s part could take using microphones from annoying to a great experience.
DVD Drive
Watching unencrypted home recorded DVDs is no problem and you’re prompted to install the proper codecs when the first DVD is inserted. Burning simple data and audio CDs and DVDs is also very easy with the built-in tools. It would be nice if Dell included more robust burning software (perhaps Nero Linux) and DVD software capable of playing commercial DVDs without installing software of questionable legality (at least in the US).
The Bad
Video
Every page where Dell advertises the 1420N should include a bright red notice to warn potential buyers that Ubuntu currently has no 3D video driver for the integrated Intel X3100 graphics card. Trying to use 3D applications such as 3D screensavers or enabling Desktop Effects (aka Compiz) will instantly freeze the window manager and leave you with little choice but to forcibly power down the computer. Even the external monitor port (VGA) does not work!
Intel has released drivers for the new Santa Rosa mobile platform (including the X3100 integrated graphics), but these drivers are not supported in the current version of Ubuntu. This is the age-old story of poor Linux driver support for new hardware (and I’m sure everything will be supported once Gutsy Gibbon is released in October). It does seem that two companies like Dell and Canonical could find a solution to this problem other than shipping unsupported hardware. Why couldn’t Canonical push out the necessary video drivers for Dell owners? Shipping notebooks with no 3D video support is simply unacceptable. If Dell and Canonical want to reach more users and be taken seriously, they need to step up their cooperation and start shipping computers that work correctly out of the box.
Hibernate and Suspend
The hibernate and suspend functions worked well out of the box. However, after a few hours of use, these functions stopped working. Thinking I had probably installed something that messed things up, I used the Dell utility (available in the GRUB startup menu) to restore the notebook to its factory condition. After the 15 minute reinstall process, hibernate and suspend worked again. Unfortunately, without installing any additional software, the computer quit hibernating and suspending correctly after a few days. Trying either of these functions completely freezes the OS and forces you to hard reboot the notebook. This is another problem that I’m sure will be fixed in Gutsy.
Final Thoughts
Overall, as a Linux geek, I’m very happy with my decision to get the Inspiron 1420N. The notebook is by far the fastest I’ve ever used (it could be even faster with a 7200rpm hard drive) and it’s comfortable to work with on a desk or on your lap. The price (depending on what coupon codes you can find) is reasonable and comes in quite a bit cheaper than a Macbook. Unfortunately, Dell and Canonical have fallen short of releasing a truly great product. With just a little extra work and closer attention to the pre-installed software and drivers, they could be shipping the perfect Linux notebook. The way it is now, I wouldn’t recommend this notebook for anyone who’s not a seasoned Linux geek.
thanks for the great and fair review!
Thanks for a good review. I am thinking about ordering that same laptop but I cannot find Bluetooth module in the configuration page. Did Dell remove that option? I really need Bluetooth.
Thanks for the review. I was under the illusion that Dell was shipping a perfect Linux notebook, as per the request of the Linux Community. As such I will wait to purchase the 1420 laptop until a better review comes. As I am highly interested in 3d video support, suspend and hibernation mode.
Ani,
It does look like Dell has removed the Bluetooth module as an option. What a bummer. Perhaps they decided to just remove the option rather than pre-configuring the software.
Interesting review.
Is dual display extended desktop supported out of the box?
Patrick,
I couldn’t even get an external monitor to work at all. I imagine that the Intel video drivers would allow for dual monitors, but the drivers are not included out of the box or easy to install.
Thanks for the review. It still wouldn’t stop from getting one if they released in Australia though. I’m sure they’re working on these things as we speak, it’s early days yet. Support them and they will get there, I’m sure.
As a comparision, there are Windows laptops sold by well known vendors costing much more than this where suspend/hibernate still doesn’t function as it should.
To cbo. I believe that feisty fawm is know not to function properly in suspend and hibernate. That certainly was my experience, and consistent with numerous forum comments I read.
I bought an Ubuntu-Dell a couples of weeks ago. I was interested in a Linux-hardware-compliant equipment, since my intention was to run Fedora not Ubuntu. So the first thing I did was to reinstall FC7. Zero problems right now.
Postcript:
I prefer Fedora to Ubuntu due to its integration with SELinux, that from my point of view makes a much more secure system. Still, I have read that the next Ubuntu will use Novell AppArmor that looks to be better than SELinux, so I will give it a try.
One thing that turned me off was that it cost only $20 more for WinJunk. Another is that I’m used to ThinkPads and high quality. Am currently leaning towards Apple, but never used one. Still looking for more info. I will no longer pay WinJunkTax.
“This is the age-old story of poor Linux driver support for new hardware”
Seems like the new age Vista story, too. This is not anything about Linux. It is hard to keep software and hardware at the cutting edge in any system. As Linux becomes more popular this should be somewhat less of a problem. Dell says it checks hardware compatibility and works with hardware suppliers to reduce such problems. More drivers are being opened all the time. Linux is about 6% of desktops globally and increasing rapidly.
see
http://linux.dell.com/files/presentations/LinuxWorldExpo_SanFrancisco_2007/lwe2007-crawford.odp
(slides 5 & 6, Linux on the desktop 2007 to 2009
bluetooth can indeed be separately controlled. There is a utility in libsmbios called ‘dellWirelessCtl’ that can be used to independently control wireless, bluetooth, and cellular. I believe that in ubuntu the binary is in the libsmbios-bin package.
–
Michael Brown
libsmbios maintainer
Dell, Inc
“The way it is now, I wouldn’t recommend this notebook for anyone who’s not a seasoned Linux geek.”
I disagree here. I’m totally new to Linux and have been very happy with my Inspiron 1420n for the past two weeks. I haven’t had any trouble with wireless networks so far, neither at home nor with public networks at two different unis. Even got VPN to work fine. I noticed the bad microphone support, however, and would be interested in what packages finally worked? As for the video drivers, I can’t really comment, as I don’t use 3D effects anyway and haven’t tried the VGA port yet (does it not work at all or just not with 3D applications? Because that would be a real bummer!) One thing it does sometimes, is that the screen goes all wonky when I shut the computer down. Speaking of shutdown: in about 40% of the cases the computer doesn’t power off properly, but I’ve seen this reported as a bug in Feisty. Suspend and hibernate worked (almost) fine, last time I used them. I had to disable and re-enable the wireless card, though, to get the internet working again after hibernation. But then I’ve had that problem lots of times with Windows!
On the whole I’m happy with my new, flashy and free (as in FOSS) notebook and can recommend it!
Michael,
Thanks for your work on libsmbios and for sharing this tip. Unfortunately, the version of libsmbios in Ubuntu 7.04 does not include dellWirelessCtl. It must be compiled from scratch in order to work.
Pre-installing this software and making an easy (graphical) way to turn bluetooth on and off is the type of thing that would make the Dell Ubuntu offering really shine. For now, here’s how I got it running.
1. Install some dependencies
2. Download the libsmbios source code
3. Configure, make, install
4. Enable the dcdbas module
add a new line with:
dcdbas
5. reboot the computer
to turn bluetooth off:
to turn bluetooth on:
I bought one of this and is quite happy with it. (bluetooth and modem not tested and am not a gaming person). Only hitch is that when I come out of hibernate often the sound is not working. Guess again next verion of Ubunto will havev it fixed.
I would like to rectify my comment about audio on suspend. Looks like it was just a problem with Rosegarden/Timidity. When I start playing from rythm box every thig is fine. So Dell 1420n seem to be realy good.
hi nice post, i enjoyed it
Great review, I just got the 1420n and I find this review very apt.
This is one of those *it was almost great* things, unfortunately it was not polished to the diamond it could have been.
I’d add that the lack of a seperate /home partition makes using the factory restore option less than appealing, yet another area that it was *almost great*.
All in all, I’d say grab a 1420 series from the windows category so that you can get the nvidia option and just wipe the drive and install ubuntu from disk yourself. I’m buying another laptop later this winter, and thats how I’ll be doing it, too bad to, I really like buying Linux installed on Hardware, its a good feeling, but the lack of polish makes it really no easier than just doing it myself.
Thanks for your review. And I got another input for my plan buying a new notebook. Now I am using Acer Aspire 5620 but not quite happy that running 3D application, desktop effects I still have to crack some code and configure at some files. Truly to say, how much the Dell Inspiron 1420N ?
Whose responsibility is that you don’t have 3d drivers? Dell, I will say.
Also, how long will this laptop be supported by Ubuntu? Until the hardware breaks?
Can you just assume that the user knows how to download an Ubuntu CD to upgrade the OS (assuming that the user uses feisty for 18 months and then upgrades to the currently available Ubuntu version)?
Will software that fixes Dell laptop issues be available or will the user need to upgrade to the next Ubuntu version? (unacceptable, I find)
These are some of the long term issues that need to be dealt with. Let’s see if Dell/Canonical gets it right.
Any chance hibernate stopped working because of some bug causing the swap partition to not be used anymore? (just had the that problem with uswsusp)
Sounds like I made the right decision going with System76 after Dell completely failed to ship in a reasonable time-frame. Thank you for your review. Check back on manchicken.com soon if you want to see my review of the 12.1″ widescreen System76 Darter Ultra.
You can control microphone volume without having to install additional software. You can control it by double-clicking the Gnome volume icon. It opens up a mixer which will let you mess with the volume levels for your speakers and microphone.
I just bought one with the Nvidia option but i am having a reoccuring error message or ill have xserver problems.
I have been using Inspiron 1420N since July 23rd. I don’t have problems with desktop effects, but I do have problems with switching users. I can switch to a different user, but when I try to logout (to switch back) the machine freezes.
I am wondering if there is a way to put the video in a more basic mode. I don’t need hardware acceleration or 3D effects, but I do need to be able to swich users.
I recommend installing KDE’s network manager (knetworkmanager). It tends to work really well WEP and WPA as compared to what is default in GNOME.
I’ve been using the 1420N for about a month now, and the only problems I’ve encountered were issues with the sound going out after suspending or hibernating and the s-video not working. A new video driver is under development and should be ready for Gutsy, so at least one of those problems should be fixed in a couple months. I also decided to use wifi radar instead of network manager because of its superior support of WEP. I’ve only been using linux for about 6 months, but I’ve had very few problems with the 1420N. I’d recommend this computer to anyone.
I love my 1420n. I’ve had to read a few tutorials and install guides to get things like compiz-fusion going, and configure the touchpad exactly how I like it. It hasn’t given me any more trouble than any other linux box I’ve ever used. I am thankful for the GRUB option to restore to factory install, that has come in handy a few times in my experimentation.
Jim, I followed your instructions for the libsmbios, it works great, thanks. I did some experimenting and found that with the single command:
dellWirelessCtl –st_bt ; dellWirelessCtl –bt $?
I can TOGGLE the bluetooth on or off. Under KDE, I get a notification from KBluetoothD, either “Bluetooth adaptor found” or “Bluetooth adaptor was unplugged”. The blue indicator light on the front edge of the laptop correctly shows the status of the bluetooth radio.
To toggle the Wifi, I use this command:
dellWirelessCtl –st_wlan ; dellWirelessCtl –wlan $?
There is no screen feedback, but the blue indicator light shows the status of the wifi radio.
I created entries for these commands in the KDE menu under “Settings”, set them to “Run as different user”, and mapped them to the Win+F5 and Win+F6 keys. Now I can easily save power when I’m out and about.
Great review! I helped a friend order one of these and it sounds like it was the right decision. Cheers!
You have a pretty good WiFi manager on Wicd. Home here http://wicd.sourceforge.net/ and screenshots here http://wicd.sourceforge.net/screenshot.php
I’ve had no trouble with WEP and gnome-network-manager on my 1420N. I was disappointed that they didn’t include the newest intel video driver and xrandr. After upgrading these to the versions from gutsy, 3d worked and I was able to use the VGA port for a cloned or extended display. The Dell Ubuntu forums at http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?s=4d0d08b4eaca5f1728cb180fe724c834&f=256 are useful if you have any questions,
They still haven’t solved the NetworkManager problem with WEP?
Then why are they still shipping it?
And the previous version couldn’t do WPA at all, IIRC.
This is a clean example of Ubuntu shipping software that is not ready for the end user, while at the same time claiming to be THE distro for new users to Linux.
They’re not. Mandriva, even openSUSE, are better distros for new users because they are more stable, have more configuration options accessible from the GUI, and have better quality control (although NO Linux distro is perfect in that respect.)
Ubuntu has good community support, but many new users may not be able to find that support in time to deal with their initial frustrations with Linux on a laptop. Also, while there are several excellent community resources for resolving problems with Ubuntu – such as the “Unofficial Guides” which have answers for many immediate problems – such support SHOULD come as a manual or disk file on any Linux distro sold through a retailer. New users should be guided to the resources available or provided with answers “out of the box”.
It would be better not to have such problems in the first place, however, by not shipping software with an excessive number of show-stopping known bugs or incomplete features.
The industry in general – including OSS projects – have a serious problem with this and it’s resulting in a case of “nothing works and nobody cares” for end users.
Thanks for a great review from Holland! It’s clear and to the point.
I hope to get the opion to buy one soon.
@Richard: why do you place that comment here? Put it on your own site (which doesn’t work…)
Your last piece of comment reminds me of an OS that has been pushed to market a little while ago “not completely [feature]ready” ;)
I’ve had some problems with WEP. On Windows, I have automatic detection of WEP configuration (64/128/ASCII/HEX), on Linux (Ubuntu/gnome default applet tool) I have to try each possibilities.
Some ACPI functions not working cool. ACPI is a critical topic which involve each manufacturer and a better hardware standards.
Plugins, Addons and CODECs legality make Ubuntu not trust in US. Many popular formats don’t have Linux support, sounds like conspiracy or without importance. I love Ubuntu and I don’t have this questionable problem in Brazil.
Sorry, not ALL Plugins, Addons and CODECs
I’m writing this because I want to put in a good word for Dell’s Ubuntu laptop.
I am NOT a computer geek, and only know Linux second-hand from sharing a computer for a year with someone who is a totally dedicated free-software, share-ware fanatic who uses Linux (and therefore I had to also, since the computers were his!!!) During that year I was brainwashed (very willingly most of the time) into a Linux believer.
I bought the Dell Inspiron 1420 with Ubuntu because I liked using Linux (especially the security aspect) and was HORRIFIED when I realized how much money I would have to spend for Windows Vista/XL software. I also really like the idea of being able to try out programs without buying them and then finding out they’re not what I want or need.
The only problem I’ve had with my Inspiron 1420 is the printer. I bought the Dell 3-in-one at the same time I bought the laptop and — as YOU all probably know (WHY DIDN’T DELL????) — it is not compatible with Linux. So I sent it back (no problems with doing that) and bought a HP Officejet 5610 which works just fine.
Contrary to other people who wrote here, I have had ONLY EXCELLENT SUPPORT from both Dell techs and Canonical. EVERY time I call them, I get someone who knows what he’s doing and fixes it for me. It may take a long time (like hooking up to our wireless service here), but the techs are endlessly patient and we get it done.
Hopefully people who are Linux virgins (or semi-virgins like me) will not be discouraged from buying this set-up and learning about open software with it. I recommend it highly — it’s definitely better than my girlfriend’s Inspiron with XL.
Jeny,
Did you purchase the support option from Canonical? I’d be interested in hearing about that experience.
I’ve had mine about a week and it’s been fantastic. No problems w/ wireless or video. Working great and I didn’t have to tweak anything. I’d recommend this and way to go DELL for offering it. It’s great to have web, office apps etc from first boot up.
I’ve had my 1420n for about three weeks now and it’s a dream come true. Everything just works with no muss or fuss, just like you’d hope from a pre-installed OS. Even the 3D works fine, which was one of the main issues mentioned in this review. It is very important to upgrade the OS right away when you get the laptop, using the standard Ubuntu update manager.
Here are the few minor glitches I’ve encountered:
* Sometimes can freeze when switching users
* Sometimes sound is lost after Suspend
* Sometimes wifi must be disabled/re-enabled after suspend.
* Not much luck with Desktop Effects, but who cares — it’s still experimental in Feisty anyway.
Everything else works perfect: Audio, Microphone, Touchpad (including scroll), Card Reader, DVD Burner, media buttons and other special buttons, status lights, Wifi… absolutely no hardware problems.
I’d recommend this to laptop to anybody, and under Gutsy it’s going to rock even more.
Thanks for the good review. That’ll make my decition much easier.
I’m gonna buy it!
I put fedora 8 (rawhide) in & seems it is not bad.
90% hardware function except build-in speaker, touchpad scrolling, & media hot-key.
I highly recommend a plugin for gkrellm – i8kutils (Dell i8k plugin)
http://people.debian.org/~dz/i8k/00-README
It works great in my Dell 1420 with its monitoring function
this is my experience using WEP wifi on Fedora 1420
1. the module will not disconnect automatically if the line disconnected. you have to type “rmmod iwl3945″ to stop it & “modprobe iwl3945″ to re-start it.
2. wifi-radar can’t store the config of the WEP settings, you have to use “iwconfig” commad instead.
3. WPA does not work
Suspend also stopped working for me. Reinstalled ubuntu GG but nothing happened. Ended up flashing the bios and destroying the laptop in the process of getting suspend to work..
Killed by bios flash due to passion for ubuntu… but that’s ok .. Laptop was 7 years old..
This review says “I wouldn’t recommend this notebook for anyone who’s not a seasoned Linux geek.” I’m glad I didn’t see this review until today ,one month after I got my 1420N! I’m totally new to Linux, the few times I’ve tried to load it I could not make it work. I’ve been trying to get some alternative to Windows for years.(I even tried loading OS/2 warp on my IBM in 1996.) That’s why , bugs and all, I was still happy to have a Linux laptop offered by a well known and established company. It did bother me the screensaver didn’t work right out of the box , the Gimp program had no help file in english, and a few other annoying bugs but now that I’m able to start learning about Linux with this machine and the more I learn the more I like it! (This post was done, without wires, on a 1420n!)
I ordered this notebook from the Dell website, with the integrated Bluetooth included. Sadly, I was informed after placing my order that the computer “would not work” with the integrated Bluetooth, and that Dell “was trying to remove” this option from the website (apparently, they need some technical assistance. Any volunteers?). No amount of pleading or explanation that I didn’t care if it would work or not didn’t help. After a long wait to speak to a supervisor, I was told the same thing, that “the system would not allow” the order to be placed with bluetooth included. With this and other customer service issues (my customer service rep was very polite but had difficulty communicating in english, for example, and thought I ordered a pc with Vista) my experience was frustrating. The laptop may be fine, but don’t expect Bluetooth to be available, and be prepared for confused customer service agents, should you need to talk to a live person.
Hey man,
Thanks for your good review. I am planning to install Ubuntu but I’m not sure what laptop to buy?! I am between this laptop you reviewd and the new black (or white) small mac (apple) laptop that comes with Leapord, I can’t remember the model number from the top of my head. I am also not a ssuper Linux user. What would you advice me? Thanks!!!
I’d just like to say that the version of libsmbios-bin (0.13.6) that comes with 7.10 (Gutsy) does include the dellWirelessCtl command, so no need to compile anything anymore!