Bend Over Dude, You’re Getting A Dell
I bought a Dell laptop months ago with the intention of using it as a command center both at home and on the road. […] Time and time again I tried to record audio and video feeds that displayed on my screen with no luck. I would get the video to record no problem, but the audio just wouldn’t record.
[…]
What? Stereo Mix? Where the fuck is my stereo mix? I only see two options, Mic and Line-in. Perplexed, I refocused my efforts on Google and began to search for the missing third option.
[…]
It appears that Dell, and several other computer manufacturers such as Gateway and Pac Bell, were pressured by the RIAA (Record Industry Association of America) into disabling the stereo mix functionality. If true, I find it disturbing that at no time did any of the aforementioned manufacturers see it fit to explain the restrictions they were imposing on our hardware.One forum poster explained that he contacted Dell seeking a solution for his stereo mix woes, and they offered him one — for a $99 fee. So that we are all clear, the evidence points to Dell appeasing the RIAA by disabling hardware, only to have their customer service reps turn around and offer a solution to their consumers that reverses the alteration they made in the first place at a premium price.
[…]
The unfortunate reality here is that prebuilt computers are potentially becoming nothing more than an advertising platform for big time brands and a way for highly influential organizations to impose their will on the unaware masses.
[Duplicate comment deleted. – ed.]
#22 ….And stick’n it to a corporation is “Stuff White People Like” to do.
I don’t think these things are exclusively white or black. Everybody likes to stick it to somebody or something regardless of race creed or religion, at some point in their lives.
#22 But dell really doesn’t care.
Agreed. Most big corps don’t it seems today.
BTW, I’m just here to have a little fun, I don’t really take everything here too seriously. When I turn off my computer I go about my regular business of earning a living like everyone else.
I don’t understand. Is it a hardware restriction or a software restriction?
I have a recent Dell Laptop. I removed Vista (hated it) and installed XP with dual-booting into Ubuntu. I recently recorded some piano using Audacity and a jumper cable and it appeared to record in stereo (in XP). The two channels seemed similar, but not identical.
I’ll have to take another look at this since I was expecting to do some amateur music recordings.
#35 Pedro
Do actually read these posts completely before making comments? Your comments just do not ever seems to make sense. They always seem to be out of context. Read down farther before commenting on a previous post and to paraphrase your comment on post #35 “Not to take away to possibility that it might help you!”
I got a $2 “premium upgrade” for this problem- a 3.5mm stereo patch cable looping from line-out to mic or line-in. Take that, Hell. To everyone else, vote with your money and take it elsewhere.
Bought a laptop from dell last October. (You can’t exactly build your own.)
Unfortunately the SigmaTel audio chipset seemed incapable of having a stereo recording mix. The fix was to put down about $80 into a Creative X-Fi card. Works great and allows a decent amount of work.
I never expect chipsets to have a stereo mix option these days. To me it always seemed to be something on dedicated hardware.
Yet another reason I use Macs- both for my personal use and for my recording work
And another tick on the list for why I don’t buy or listen to modern pop music, besides that it’s all crap. Screw the RIAA.
#4 isn’t the phrase “that’s so gay” of which your comment is derivative, kind of “so 20 minutes ago?”
I only hear junior high kids use that still.
And as a matter of fact.. most of the gay people i know use Macs, not Dells. My parents used dells and neither of them were gay.
#31 Actually, ALL the mac users I know are Gay or bi
#42 most of the gay people i know use Macs, not Dells.
Angel H. Wong = Daniel? Same person or just related?
#4 isn’t the phrase “that’s so gay” of which your comment is derivative, kind of “so 20 minutes ago?”
I only hear junior high kids use that still.
Its a classic son, what can I say!
…and BTW thanks for the correction >>> People who by Macs are gay! You said it, I didn’t.
I know your parents were’t gay duh!, unless you hatched from an egg son!
The interesting thing is that a new type of digital rights “ENFORCEMENT” has been developed that solves these DRM problems and there is no need for computer manufacturers to enforce via hardware or software modifications. Both the RIAA and the MPIA have declined to sign NDA concerning this technology or to evaluate its merits. This whole DRM is designed to be enforced through litigation and not technology by those who profit most from that approach. Meanwhile, the public and artists gets screwed. China, would you like to have some great technology to control this industry and tell RIAA and the MIPA where to go?
Old Geezer – Har! You sound like Foghorn Leghorn!
I don’t think all this gay bashing is doing anybody any good. In my business a gay mans money is just as green as the money in my straight pocket. When I get a commission to do something for someone I don’t ask if they’re gay. By the way computers can’t be gay, they’re machines and I have no idea if Dell is Gay or Mac is Gay. If gay people prefer to use one type over another who cares. I do the occaisonal repair, build machines for people and also restore old photos. The real reason I don’t use Dell is because they don’t meet my needs, the RIAA influence doesn’t help. BTW I did some research and found that maybe all this “Dell Hell” can be circumverted in software. Perhaps I may have been a bit harsh with my criticism of Dell, but I sure as hell have no love for the RIAA. Support independant music!
Do you have Obssessive Compulsive Disorder?
Do you feel the constant need to label people things, for instance Macfans? and to create nonsensical posts. What do have against Macs anyway. I’m sure you’ll label me a Macfan too. I don’t care one way or the other, its just that you are a troll and a troublemaker. I wish they could ban you from this forum. BTW, your comments are groundless and the posts you pointed don’t make sense. Take some Prozac please!
Opps, the above post #48 is for my friend Pedro at post #46 and too many more to mention.
#45 Old Geezer – Har! You sound like Foghorn Leghorn
Ha, ha.. thats a good one son! BTW is “hhopper” short for Hoppity Hooper, an obscure cartoon from the 40’s about a singing frog I believe, since we are on the topic of cartoons from the past.
#51 It’s also obvious from that double posting that it is you. Lost so much composure that you forgot to address your rant
Well yes its me goof and thats due to just just a simple typing error by accidently pressing the button before I finished typing my “rant”, nothing to do with composure.
I still think you’re a troll Pedro and BTW
“And stop your obsession about me.”
I know what OCD is, I Know a person with it. He does the things you do.
I’m sure you’ll want to get your two cents worth in, so type away, I’m moving on this thread sucks anyway.
You know, as the rare woman frequently reading this site, I realize its mostly a guys forum and expect a certain amount of ‘masculine humor’ or whatever you want to label it (as well as plenty of T-n-A pix) – same thing I expect at a certain motorcycle forum I check out sporadically, too.
However, I could REALLY do without all the gay-hate and homo jokes. They are crude, lame, and so childish. What are you guys so afraid of????
Kinda reminds me of those overcompensating for their own inadequacies / desires folks like Larry ‘wide stance’ Craig and Ted ‘meth-n-gay-escorts’ Haggard, etc. etc.. (i.e. [you] doth protest too much, methinks). ; )
Good observations there MATA. How does a thread degenerate into a people hating each other and a gay bashing fest to boot. I don’t know. We definitely need more women on this forum, trouble is most guys will then start bashing the women I suppose. Tis a pity.
Trying to get back on something resembling topic, does anyone know if the other computer makers are doing the same thing and maybe to the desktops.
Would installing umbuntu on a partition allow you to make more full use of your hardware?
If this is true I can see a lot of people ending up with duel boot Windoze/linux machines.
Maybe not what MS wants but crossing the buyer is never a good idea.
It does sound like that if you work with music you may need to avoid the name vendors or at least Dell.
#55 deowll
I will endeavour to stay on topic. I usually do. Its pretty hard with people highjacking threads and everybody is bashing everybody else.
If you need information about linux and dell computers there is a site here: http://linux.dell.com/
Installing Ubantu on a partiton isn’t probably going to give you any more use of your hardware, I assume you are talking about using a live disk. Linux does use a small part of your drive to store settings and things on though. Doing a full install will give better performance as you are not always being slowed by the optical drive. Installing drivers and new apps is a heck of a lot easier when you do a full install too, so maybe hardware will run smoother in that respect. Duel booting is perfectly acceptable and gives you the best of both worlds, there is also the option of virtual software too. Dell may not be the best choice for music, you do get stuck with their selection of audio cards and the like. I personally reccommend building you own. If not then at least shop around and get the closest thing that meets your needs and upgrade later. I hope this helps. Good Luck deowll.
I not advocating any violence here, but how long will it be before the RIAA/MPAA pisses off just one too many people and they start killing the people in charge of those agencies?
There are several excellant programs that will record “what you hear”. #28 and #40 are good.
RIAA/Record Co’s are pissed they dont get to screw the bands anymore.
F the RIAA.
#58: I not advocating any violence here…
You don’t want to do that. Making martyers is never a good idea. Let the RIAA fall on its own face.
#60: #58 I’m sorry, but you’re talking to the wrong generation. Nothing’s gonna happen, they’re all too happy downloading crappy mp3’s.
If you’re talking about the Hi-Fi generation you are right about people not appreciating good sound anymore. Downloading MP3’s is not going to be the happy thing you say it is if the RIAA gets its way. I agree MP3’s are crappy. Pretty soon your generation won’t have any music to listen to, good or bad.
NEW DRIVERS
Using Inspiron 9400 xp sp2.
Also lacked stereo mixer slider.
Downloaded this from Dell and now have mixer.
Haven’t tried it with streaming input yet.
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R171789&SystemID=LATITUDE%20PRECISION%20M65&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=8907&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=3&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=3&fileid=235761
NO 57. Thanks for the tip on setting up a Dell computer with Linux. I was wondering if I could install Linux on a Dell and the website you pointed to also confirmed it for me.
NO 54. Thanks for sticking up for us women here at this site.
NO 53. MaTa, you are so right! As a women who also peruses this site I find a heck of a lot of the things you mention here. This in many ways is a male-oriented site. It is difficult to wade through all the posts without running into peeing contests here and there. A lot of these men also seem to have gender issues with all the sexual references to homosexuality. If this is like those Biker sites you mentioned I think I’ll pass those. It is hard to find women friendly sites on the internet, and please guys no smart comments about going Barbie and Hello Kitty sites like that last forum site I went to.
#53 – MaTa
>>and Ted ‘meth-n-gay-escorts’ Haggard,
I believe that’s “meth and man ass”. On a Sunday morning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MDQkXodLyY
what i think dell have faile to notice, that people that do kareoke, and use singsnap and want to sing it live in a room need steromix, maybe they need to turn this around before there sales start to fall.
we all need to start voting where it matters – WITH OUR DOLLARS… it’s the only thing these jerks seem to understand – hit ’em where it hurts!
I just don’t see the general public caring about this kind of thing like they should – so these ass-clowns will probably get away with it!
…but I don’t see how this is different than the Mac fanboy generalization of “this is what Apple wanted for me, so this is what I get”.
I stopped buying RIAA band CD’s unless they’re used (I’m also a disgruntled musician, so don’t even start…)
sorry for what may sound like redundant rhetoric by now, but these dinosaurs need to expire!
I’m done with Dell … after 3 systems they really let me down… I will never again buy a Dell. Does anybody know who has the best laptops out there now?