Dell's Upcoming XPS 13 Linux Laptop Includes a Fingerprint Reader

An anonymous reader quotes Forbes: If you've been following the steady march of progress from Dell's Linux-first Project Sputnik team, you're no doubt aware that the "Developer Edition" variant of the XPS 13 is one of the finest Linux-ready ultrabooks you can buy. Just ahead of CES 2020, Dell is pushing out a few more improvements including a feature that's been hotly requested: fingerprint-reader support. It's one of several enhancements Dell is promising to Linux users for its 10th-generation XPS 13, including a new maximum of 32GB RAM and a redesigned "InfinityEdge" display that adds even more screen real estate, resulting in an adjusted 16:10 aspect ratio to match... Details on fingerprint-reader support are still a bit vague, but Dell says it will be released shortly after the system's February 2020 launch as an OTA (over-the-air) update, and then as part of the preloaded Ubuntu Developer Edition image it ships with the system.
Dell's lead on Project Sputnik developer systems, Barton George, also blogged about Dell's new 86-inch 4K interactive touch monitor, as well as their upcoming Latitude 9510 notebook and 2-in-1 laptops, promising "a new ultra-premium class of products" offering 5G mobile broadband capabilities, AI-based productivity capabilities, and 30-plus hours of battery life.

The blog post ends by noting that "While project Sputnik is the most visible Linux-based offerings from Dell, it is only a small fraction of the over 150 systems that make up Dell's Linux portfolio."

XPS13 has bad trackpad faults - check before buyin

[clive_p]

A member of my family got an XPS13 a year or so back (Windows version of course). The trackpad/cursor system is simply awful - cursor sometimes jiggles around for a minute or so uncontrollably, and at other times the trackpad simply does not respond to touches. We've tried downloading numerous driver and BIOS updates until we got fed up, but nothing cures it. I've seen other reports of the same, so I think it's a well-known fault with the hardware which Dell can't be bothered to fix. My advice would be

Re:

[arglebargle_xiv]

You can do that by buying a Thinkpad, they've had fingerprint readers for years, and run Linux just fine.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:

[OrangeTide]

Some organizations require multiple authentication methods to unlock sensitive information. For example, that can be a fingerprint plus one-time password. I think fingerprint scanners in laptops is more about security policies like that than about having the convenience of booting with a single touch.

Remember that most of your Constitutional rights are ignored by border agents in the 100-mile border zone of the US. Which includes every major coastal city, and surprisingly all of Michigan. Expect arrest and

Re:

[OzPeter]

Remember that most of your Constitutional rights are ignored by border agents in the 100-mile border zone of the US.

That is a misrepresentation of that the actual situation. Saying "ignored" implies an extrajudicial situation, when in fact the 100 mile border zone is a direct result of Federal regulation. The situation is fucked up enough without you having to make things up about it.

THE CONSTITUTION IN THE 100-MILE BORDER ZONE [aclu.org]

Now whether of LE who operate in this region are well trained in a persons rights, or apply them equally is a totally different issue.

Re:

[PPH]

But that's what the PP is saying: "A direct result of Federal regulation" doesn't necessarily mean that this was defined in Federal law (Congress). And even then, Federal law doesn't always stand up to judicial review. Not until the regulation (something that the CBP just pulled out of their ass as a regulation) stand up to scrutiny by the US Supreme Court will this no longer be extrajudicial.

Let me make it clear

[OrangeTide]

You still have Constitutional rights in the 100 mile zone.

The border agents are notorious for being unaware or uninterested in your rights.

Take it all the way to the Supreme Court if you want. Even with a ruling, the CBP is unlikely to suffer any consequences or change their behavior.

Re: friendly reminder for US Citizens

[itamblyn]

When passphrases come from a known word list, they are way easier to break

Re:

[PolygamousRanchKid]

in America, a fingerprint or biometric is considered evidence which can be provided under subpoena, similar to a blood draw during a DUI (drink drive) charge.

"I'll give up my fingerprint when they pry it from my cold, dead hands!"

Re:

[OzPeter]

in America, a fingerprint or biometric is considered evidence which can be provided under subpoena, similar to a blood draw during a DUI (drink drive) charge.

"I'll give up my fingerprint when they pry it from my cold, dead hands!"

Challenge .. accepted!

Re:

[Aristos Mazer]

Careful. There are organizations that will see that as a dare.

Re: friendly reminder for US Citizens

[ThurstonMoore]

Apple requires you to input your PIN on first boot because of this. If the cops are coming hold Volume down + the lock button for a few seconds and the phone will reboot requiring the PIN to be used to unlock the phone.

Damn commies!!!

[fbobraga]

Linux?! Besides GNU/Linux are a far superior O.S. than M$ or Apple's, are free! Communists!

Fingerprint readers are not reliable

[Antique Geekmeister]

There's been no significant improvement in fingerprint sensors since the paper about "Gummy fingerprints" was published in 2002. There is a copy at https://cryptome.org/gummy.htm [cryptome.org]. Simply described, it is far too easy to copy a fingerprint and use a printout of the copy to defeat all fingerprint readers with more than 80% success on each attempt.

Webcam abomination

[ntropia]

Beware of the incredibly idiotic design of the webcam in the bottom left corner of the screen. People on the other side of your teleconference will see your head peeking behind your ginormous fingers and knuckles. Not enough? The sensor quality is mediocre (to be nice), and the touchpad sucks. Also, some models (mine is 3560, if I'm not mistaken) will overheat the CPU and trigger lots of MCE and dmesg warnings. Other than that, I've been a relatively happy owner of an XPS13 DE for a while and I'm satisfied

Re:

[mobby_6kl]

The new XPS has the webcam in the top bezel, thus avoiding nose-cam. The quality still sucks apparently, but whatever.

Anyway, pretty weird that a minor model refresh gets a story on /.

Meh

[fph il quozientatore]

Thinkpads have had them since ages.

How innovative

[jrumney]

A fingerprint reader on a laptop. Whatever will these market leaders think of next?

biometrics are typically used all wrong

[Froze]

Allowing bio-metrics to be used as authentication is broken - it is the equivalent of allowing you to login by only entering your username. It is not good security and until bio-metrics start getting used for identity and not authentication I will not use them.