On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 12:05:08 -0500 Bill Mills-Curran <bill@mills-curran.net> wrote:
When I started configuring it (the online price is even cheaper), I got the following warning:
The PowerEdge SC420 is ideal for your first server & network. Note: For server use only; CANNOT BE USED AS A DESKTOP. Dell does not support the use of a graphics card on the SC420.
Hmm... Should I believe that?
You can probably believe the part of "if you add a graphics card, you're on your own", but that doesn't mean that it can't be done. Most of their sales usually fit the following categories: -- People that don't know what they're doing, else they'd build their own machine. -- People that know what they're doing, but are too busy to take the time to find the parts that do what they need. -- Companies that can't be bothered to build and support their own custom boxes. These companies find it easier to have a third-party that will support the box(es) that they sell. The 420SC, Dell is betting, will be sold to entities that fit the first and third groups, and if anyone from the second group tries to install a video card (most servers tend to be headless or need only redimentary graphics cards, so fancy cards are a giveaway!), then all bets are off for support. I seem to recall something about someone having a bad experience with Dell with a laptop once... The guy refused the terms of the EULA (with respect to WinXP), and wanted a refund for the cost of the OS (he chose to put Debian on instead). The link is here: http://www.nomis52.net/?section=comps&page=dell (That's all a bit off the subject, though.) At any rate, the gist of the whole ordeal is that if you're okay with foregoing any support from Dell, get the system and modify it to your heart's content. If you don't want to risk voiding any future support, I'd pay close attention to the EULA and live by it. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- William Smith wsmith-at-chezsmith-dot-com Fall River, MA http://www.chezsmith.com Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend. -- Albert Camus, French writer and philosopher (1913-1960) * TAG! v3.1a *