xps m2010 linux sound, and motorcycle stuff review

dell xps m2010 with linux:

Sound ( the stac92xx card ), well I've tried lots of stuff; including compiling, different versions of alsa with different compile options. I'm convinced its the speakers. Dell has a shim of some sort, somewhere. whether its in the driver, or the firmware, or... Dell as done something.

Other linux users with stac92xx sound cards ( in different hardware - even other XPS's ) have gotten over any alsa issues. So Dell has done something with the hardware path/speakers. Ummm I may take this thing apart....

Other than that the thing is stable, even with compiz running. BUT now I hear of an OS that maybe better implemented than Ubuntu ( that would be hard to do ) called - Mint. Umm, always gotta try new stuff.


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MC gear review:
Most reviews of most stuff is done just after purchase, well since i'm lazy i'm gonna write up a coupla MC ( motorcycle ) reviews years after I bought them.

- Oxtar Matrix boots ( gore-tex ): these are fantastic. I figure I've got about 20k on them now. Still no water leaks and I still have a sole on them. In the summer they're a bit warm, ok, more than a "bit", but livable. They did take sometime to break in. The break in for me was mostly at the top of the boot, and a little at the ankle. Now they fit like a fine Italian boot -- :P

- Tour Master Gore-Tex winter glove: I'm not sure what exact model they are, they're all the way in the garage, too far to go check. Ok, this is what I've found. they fit a small window of temperature. My Held's are good to about 45degs, then the Tour Master's work well till about 30degs. I can feel cold in the lower 30's, if I didn't have heated grips my hands would get too cold. I can take the cold to the teen's but I don't like it. The biggest minus is the "feel", and this would be the case with ANY winter Glove ( so stop bitch'in ). The insulation takes room and makes space between your hand and the grips. It's annoying, you feel disconnected from the bike... but you get used to it - sorta.
-Cylock 3 season jacket: the company that made this jacket makes snow/ski/snowmobile gear in ... Switzerland (...or somewhere like that). It's a great jacket, and because they ended their attempt at selling stuff in the US I got a great deal. This jacket is close in design to the vaunted FG Kilimanjaro. It's been pretty water proof and is now just springing some small leaks. This is somewhat normal, nothing last forever. I plan on purchasing Gore-Tex "rejuvenator", or maybe I'll just get a new jacket.

Thats it...i'm tired of this....

It's been a while... ( My Dell XPS M2010 and linux )

( I hate blog, vbullitin editors )

Like my last post said, I don't post much. But I think I need to now, not because I think someone wants to hear what I have to say, but more that someone will stumble across this and it will help them.

About 10 months ago I was lucky enough to get my boss to order an fairly expensive laptop. Well, ok, it's not really a laptop. But it's not a desktop either - it's a luggable. "It" is an Dell XPS M2010. It's a 21lbs laptop, Dual processor, with 256mb ATI radeon, and a beautiful 21" monitor. It's so big it's case comes with wheels.


Mini review: I like this thing, It's faster than a typical laptop and most desktops, has just about everything most people need ( bluetooth, wifi, big screen, etc, etc ). It came with "MS Vista Business". I don't like Vista, but it runs fine on this system. I've tried vista on an older Dell insprion, had to go back to XP. But disabling some of Vista's security has made it liveable. Truthfully tho, I don't use the M2010 much except for Word/Excel stuff that OpenOffice on my other computer doesn't like. I also use it for Web testing, some SAN apps, and so on. I may use it 20% of the time...
BUT!!! I do use it for gaming. Which it does very well. Only Crysis doesn't run well, but that doesn't seem to run well anywhere.

Ok, Your probably here to find out how well linux runs on a M2010. If you get yourself Ubuntu 7.10, then you find yourself on the way to happiness.

Now it's not perfect. But it's damn close. In fact, install Ubuntu 7.10, then immediately get over to Alberto's Envy page. Envy is a beautiful script that gets your video (ATI or Nvidia) straight. You will need download the newest script from Alberto's site as the the Ubuntu repositories don't have the latest. If you don't do this you'll find your video performance ( opening windows, moving windows, etc.). Once you Envy it and reboot things are good.

There are two things that don't work, to me they are small issues:

1. The built-in cam doesn't work, linux doesn't even see it. I hear uvc drivers ( at the uvc project ) may work, but it's outside of Ubuntu, and I don't want to screw around with the setup right now.
2. And the external speakers don't work, but linux/Ubuntu see them ( and the sound card. The Headphone jack works. I hope to find a fix this soon.
   

I've put more details in the right place; at Ubuntu's "LaptopTesting" site.

Oh yeah! For you Iriver Clix owners, my Iriver Clix ( 1st Gen ) works with Amarok and the MTP plug-in. I didn't do anything special, but Amarok sees the Clix and the music on it, where as my other Ubuntu box doesn't.

Again, hopefully this can/will help the other 11 people out there with Dell XPS M2010's...yes compiz works too