Install on Dell Studio Hybrid

franzh · n00b Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 4

I just ordered a Dell Studio Hybrid. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with Gentoo on those. They have an HDMI output, so I'm going to use it as a media center PC. I thought it would be fun to have Gentoo rather than Vista on it.

I'll post my experience once I get it in. But if someone could give me a preview that would be awesome.

EDIT **The Studio Hybrid will be delivered on Tuesday (Sept 2)** (seriously no one has tried it yet???)

noisierpants · n00b Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

Not a gentoo install, but i saw this about a debian install on the studio 1535.

http://www.avalpa.com/assets/andrea/studio15/debian_on_dell_studio15.html

curtis119 · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 7:37 am Post subject:

franzh,
any follow up to this? I'm thinking of ordering one of these, what was your experience?
_________________
Gentoo: it's like wiping your ass with silk.

curtis119

lookitsme · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 2:11 am Post subject:

Any updates on the Hybrid install? Planning to buy one also atm... as media server and general desktop for my wife...

Any experiences are welcome...

curtis119 · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 6:28 am Post subject:

Install went great I didn't run into any problems. All the hardware is supported out of the box by the basic gentoo-kernel, no proprietary drivers or patching are necessary. I used MAKEOPTS=3 and compilations fly! I'm using ~amd64 as my keyword and everything seems to be OK. Great little machine, I would recommend it to anyone.
_________________
Gentoo: it's like wiping your ass with silk.

lookitsme · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 1:59 am Post subject:

Cool, Thanks Curtis, I think you pushed me over the edge... going to have a good look at the various config options Dell has to offer atm...

Jeroen

Deathwing00 · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 11:09 am Post subject:

Personally, I think it is a bad choice. I have one of these at work and I have run some tests on it. Sometimes gives problems with the network card.

hoacker · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:26 pm Post subject:

Got one here and use it as a little home sever (gentoo amd64). No problems so far.
One thing: Couldn't get the wireless to work with ndiswrapper/vista drivers or native linux drivers. I use it with ndiswrapper and 64bit xp drivers for a dell laptop with a similar card.

curtis119 · Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 3:55 pm Post subject:

Deathwing00 · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 2:41 pm Post subject:

curtis119 · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:28 pm Post subject:

hoacker · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 9:25 pm Post subject:

[quote="curtis119"]

marduk · Retired Dev Joined: 20 Sep 2002 Posts: 78

I just wanted to chime in to say that I acquired one a couple of weeks ago to use as a MythTV box. The only real problem I had was discovering that there are not Linux drivers for the wireless ethernet controller. Luckily I had a USB wireless ethernet controller hanging around so I'm using that.

The system is surprisingly quiet and responsive. I replaced a MSI Media Center PC. The MSI box was louder and ran super duper hot, even with power management enabled. The crappy fan didn't move air well in a TV cabinet-like environment. It eventually fell over... I think it overheated. The Hybrid is cool, quiet and more responsive.

I had to get a USB TV tuner. I got a used Hauppage one which so far performs fine (to my surprise). It comes with an infrared receiver but so far I have not configured it.

I used to have intermittent problems with the HDMI audio going in and out (and sometimes the video) but I think this was because the cable wasn't in all the way because I adjusted the cable a few days ago and haven't had the problem since.

I spent a few days trying to decide between the Studio Hybrid and the Mac Mini. I liked the fact that the Mini had an Nvidia video card, but actually so far I have had no problems with the Intel. I also liked the fact that the Mini had built-in Bluetooth and Wifi is standard (as it should be). The main things I didn't like about the Mini was the lack of native HDMI and general unfamiliarity with Apple hardware. Price-wise they are about the same (a similarly-configured Hybrid runs just a few bucks more IIRC).