Dell Sells Hardware Capped Systems

Be aware of the last Dell steps in the users auditing & control:

If you ever wondered if buying a Dell computer was a right choice now you may know it isn't.
In XPS systems, Desktops & Laptops, Dell has made a cut on the devices disabling their capabilities.
All this stuff was done in a dirty & not public agreement with Microsoft, to stop piracy. The issue is:

YOU WON'T HAVE STEREO MIX (Wave Out) which means you won't ever be able to broadcast, for example, your own music to your friends. Dell is not warning about these issues and we're already many affected users (check most forums related with Dell: Dell "Stereo mix" in google).

We all doubt this was a legal action from their part, but nobody is leading them to the court. Don't buy Dell systems, you will have no way to share your live music with your friends, you will not be able to record anything you hear, and god knows how many other things may have been disabled or controlled by HARDWARE. I sugest you to go for any other trademark which doesn't control your freedom by HARDWARE CAPPING your system forever.

Only a last note: You may see in the need some kind of solutions some users found to work, with LG or old XP drivers: those would only work on some old laptops with XP that were capped ONLY IN THE SOFTWARE LEVEL. Actually, they're HARDWARE CAPPED. OFFICIAL ANSWER FROM DELL CUSTOMER SUPPORT IS: "You can't do anything, it's disabled at the hardware level". GREAT!!!

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/ne..._riaa_disables_stereo_mix_without_forewarning

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12546_102-0.html?forumID=133&threadID=263991&messageID=2895932

http://mobile.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/07/11/0128203

http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/...stereo-mix-record-functionality-and-dell.aspx

 

Wow. Can this be fixed by fresh installing your own OS?

I was thinking about getting a XPS 16, but this sounds horrible.

 

beware.... TROOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLL...

actually... i don't do this anyway so whats the problem?

 

thomas.murlis:

1/ the world doesn't move around you.
2/ if this is not a problem for you, why do you write in this thread?
3/ you could be a little bit more polite.

Thanks.

 

I love how this guy just joined and the first post he made is this accusation. I don't know if its actually true, but , that's like kicking in the door on the way to a party.

 

Immersive: THIS CAN'T BE FIXED BY FRESH INSTALLING ANY DRIVERS, OPERATIVE SYSTEM, OR ANYTHING ELSE. We're talking about a HARDWARE CAP.

All these features were disabled at the very hardware level, it is by circuitry. A really bad, dirty and fast move from Dell that has surprised all of us. Many angry users writing in their forums and they do again dirty stuff by banning them, linking their forum login pages to "Sorry, this page is unavailable", and very very very dirty strategies they're taking to clean what they won't be able to clean: A GREAT AMOUNT OF ANGRY USERS WITH HARDWARE CAPPED SYSTEMS.

 

I'm not saying that this is a lie. But why didn't we hear this in THESE forums? These are not censored, and I never heard of this issue.

 

do you think his forum name has anything to do with this thread? :laugh:

 

Well, I for one am really glad this was brought to my attention. First they want to filter the internet, now they cap your hardware. Where is this world headed?

When searching google I saw a post about sony. Do they do this too?

 

I highly doubt what this guy is saying for a couple reasons

1. Why would they make a deal with Microsoft on not being able to record your music? It's not like Microsoft is losing money in that aspect, only the RIAA.

2. This forum is so popular with so many people coming through every day, I highly doubt this wouldn't have come up at least once before.

3. Hi name seems to closely tied to this one topic that hes probably out on some personal vendetta.

I have a Dell and I am not disappointed with it and don't feel they have done anything to it.

 

Guys, among your doubts I can only say 2 things: 1/ google, and 2/ giving you true actual sources of info (slashdot, cnet, among others), please check that by yourselves:

http://mobile.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/07/11/0128203

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12546_102-0.html?forumID=133&threadID=263991&messageID=2895932

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/ne..._riaa_disables_stereo_mix_without_forewarning

http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/...stereo-mix-record-functionality-and-dell.aspx

 

Ditto. My Dell Latitude E6400 has been nothing but fantastic so far. It was shipped with a small flaw in the imprint, they came to my house and fixed it pronto. Excellent service.

 

I agree with nonamebowler.

1, I can totally record my music, and share it live with friends
2, why would microsoft do that? it doesn't even make sense. why does microsoft have to worry about music-pirate? come on, they can't even protect their own operating system from piracy.

 

You really should edit your first post and put those links there.

Also, in all links they mention that Dell has a) released a driver for XP to work around this, so it can't be a hardware issue, and b) Dell is denying the accusations, and so far this can be what you say OR be a simple driver fault, or even faulty hardware but unintentional.

IMPORTANT: This is not a hardware issue. One of the links explicitly say that he corrected the problem through editing the registry. It is still a problem, but it can be solved with reasonable ease. Also, there is no proof that Dell deliberately disabled the issue, it may simply be a faulty driver.

 

I think all of those are one the same article. And also, I think that more alleged then a fact, since one says they were still investigating. And you said something about Microsoft, where does it say that in the articles?

 

NVM, poster screwed up his URLs.

 

Well, Actually I called Dell customer service, and they actually CONFIRMED it's capped at the HARDWARE LEVEL. No way to solve this. On some old systems there was indeed some kind of unnoficial XP driver which didn't work for MOST of the users (please check their comments on it). And only worked as I said for a specific laptop model.

 

I very highly doubt that they would so easily give out that information if it was true.

 

actually... well AFAIK

Dell audio drivers DO NOT HAVE stereo audio out.... if you use modded drivers, there is...

not sure about hardware cap though

 

BIG Mike: Be sure to open the links directly from my post. The ones in the quotes seem modified or wrong. Thanks.

By the way, about the microsoft stuff, it's even said BY DELL:

http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/...stereo-mix-record-functionality-and-dell.aspx


THERE IS NO SOUND WITH MODDED DRIVERS, please see user comments in all the pages you want, there is a very little amount of users who managed to solve the problem with LG or XP old drivers, but it was only because it was in a NON HARDWARE CAPPED LAPTOP. There's only 1 or 2 old models that were capped only in the software level.

 

The way I read that is that they weren't doing it to screw you but it was because Microsoft was designing Vista screwy way, which doesn't surprise me. I cant really blame them if this happened. I think you are taking the words you want out of that article.

 

They would never tell you that if it were true. I'm starting to think that you're just a normal user that has a problem with that feature, you don't have a clue on how to solve it, searched around, and found a rumor. Which might or might not be true. Since there is a registry fix, I vote false.

 

Exactly what I said, they would never release that information to a normal everyday guy. Not something that could hurt them.

 

You want me to swear? What else could he tell me? He perfectly knew it was useless trying anything. Though I tried to propose many solutions since I REALLY WANTED THAT FUNCTIONALITY, he ended saying this sound functionality was disabled in the hardware level. That's it, yes, it's real. Why would I say that if it was false? Why would I write to all of you guys, if this wasn't a real problem? I think it would be a signal of respect at least, evaluating the facts objectively by their impact, not by anything else, if you really have not economical interests with Dell.

 

Ok, at this point I'm not really objecting to it being true. Its more the fact that you were alleging that they did it to screw people and make lots of money. By the statement that one guy put up, they did it because with how Vista was being built, it wasn't going to be use, so why enable it. they weren't trying to screw you, they just went with the flow and they were screwed when they flow changed.

 

So will the XPS 16 be affected by this?

 

I highly doubt it.

 

Why would they say that to you if it were true?

 

Originating Poster...Please stop posting in all *caps* in each of your posts.
It makes it harder to read for all of us.

Your point will get across when you type normally.

And, if this was *hot* news, why hasn't it been posted on the forum already???

No, I doubt it.


Cin

 

Wanna try that? You just have to throw 1000€ to see. By the way, they won't let you return it if it has the Waveout / StereoMix hardware cap
I bought my XPS 10 days ago.

 

Did you not read my post about if this is true, why it happened? If it is true, it only happened on laptops that were release right about the time Vista was released. Any laptop redesigned after has been changed. They cant change the old laptops because it would cost to much money and to much effort.

 

You have 21 days from date of invoice to make a return for a new replacement / or refund....*period*


Cin.

 

Oh noes the Sony notebook I use at work doesn't have this feature either, it's a huge conspiracy! The man is out to get us.

 

Don't waste your time, your happyness and your money. Dell simply played dirty and we just have to answer as they deserve, I think. We should not support any company which goes against our rights and our freedom. Remember they didn't give any kind of forewarning. Nobody tells you they won't do that again, this time capping some kind of graphics or processing component, arguing some crazy reasons like they did. If I was you I wouldn't have any kind of business with this company. I think they lost any kind of credibility or trust they still could have.

 

Are you for real? Does Sony really do this too? This sucks!

 

I think you need to rethink your priorities and remove the tinfoil hat. Dell is just using whatever components available to them as do any other notebook manufacturer, as stated above my Sony doesn't have this either. They aren't plotting against you to take away your stereo mix abilities.

 

You don't need to worry about this.


Cin.

 

I think some people on here are a little to gullible. I still feel this guy is on his own personal vendetta to screw Dell. They dint get money for this. If this was a big issue, we would have seen this a while ago on here or Engadget.

 

Man what a hilarious thread. I am just LOL...

 

A quick Google for "no stereo mix" shows Gateway and Toshiba on the first page. It's not a Dell thing.

My understanding was this has more to do with how MS redesigned the audio stack in Vista. I have had Stereo Mix working fine on this 1700 in Vista - think I used an older XP driver installed in XP-Compatibilty Mode if I remember rightly.

 

Exactly what I have been trying to say, this guy can not get it through is thick skull.

 

haha
DellCaps, do they pay you to write these?
you joined yesterday, and your 9 posts are all on this thread, which coincides with your name
you're blowing this news out of proportion with weak arguments
Dell is not going against my rights or freedom
I don't see how this will affect me in any way possible
I still want a dell xps 13.
=D
[end of rant]

 

I went through some of this thread and still cant figure out what is going on. Dell laptops dont have stereo out via headphone jack? Is "hardware capped" a technical term? What does it mean?

 

Don't worry about it
I'm not too good with technical lingo, and correct me if I'm wrong:
I think what he means is that you can't use programs like TotalRecorder to record sound directly from your sound card
Some people rip music from broadcasts by using programs (TotalRecorder) that record the signals that are sent to the speakers. Dell's hardware cap would prevent us from doing so apparently -_-
If you've never heard of this, don't bother worrying about the "cap"

 

retarded.....

 

AFAIK, in XP, i had this option... and now in Vista (well Seven also), it's not there anymore... I think... you should blame Windows =P

Anyway, buy an male to male 3.5mm cable and plug it into your out to your in and there's your Stereo Mix.

 

Oh man, disabling stereo mix? Wasn't this written about somewhere in Orwell's 1984? What's next?!

Down with the man!

 

THANKS for your note. I was about to buy a XPS and one of the things I need and enjoy to do is playing my music in skype or paltak conferences. Besides I play guitar and I need Stereo Mix to record my songs. Oh my god this would have been horrible if I had bought it and then I saw there was no Stereo Mix............. THANKS. It's really Orwells stuff. UNBELIABLE.

Worst of all is I already suggested some friends to buy it, so now I must run to tell them Dell is not reliable anymore.

 

Well, you are 1 of 2 things: Someone who does not read, as the originator of this thread is incorrect and many people have refuted the claims of it being a DELL issue and it being a Hardware Issue.

OR Secondly (and more likely), you are the originator of this thread and have created another account, to try and help spread this vendetta you have against Dell.

 

I've got stereo mix on my M1530, Also I think that the M1730 didn't till recent drivers