Lookup for netbook/laptop recommendation

Post #322,882 by crazy 3/14/10 5:08:58 PM Reply	Lookup for netbook/laptop recommendation For a non-tech. She's currently got an old ASUS EEE-PC, original. She's been using it for light web traffic, facebook, etc. I like the Linux aspect, no virus, etc. But it is seriously out of date, too small screen, crappy keyboard, too slow, etc. The GUI Linux interface is simplistic, works for her, annoys me. I know KDE works on it, but slowly. She needs to move to a slightly larger size, better screen, etc. Another person in the house has a EEE-PC 1000-HE. Hardware is nice, but runs windows. So, for the new one, I want about the same hardware as the 1000-HE, runs a simplified Linux (not requiring us to stick with ASUS though).
Post #322,884 by Another Scott 3/14/10 5:41:27 PM Reply	I like my Lenovo S12 (Atom). (Note that there's also a more recent VIA processor version of the S12 - I have the Intel Atom version.) It's been pretty good, except I recently had to restore XP on it from the hidden partition after it had problems with resuming from sleep (scrambled FAT files). (I subsequently "convert"ed the partition to NTFS from FAT32 to try to minimize that problem in the future.) The screen is 1280x800 and very bright and it has very good battery life along with a nearly full-size keyboard. It's around 3 pounds, so it's light enough to take anywhere. The S10 is roughly similar, slightly smaller, with a smaller and lower-resolution screen. Lenovo's Outlet has many of the S10 machines for less than $350., some for around $220. Be sure to check to see the maximum RAM. Some machines have 2 RAM sockets, some only have 1. They all (pretty much) max out at 2GB (1 sticks). http://outlet.lenovo.com/laptops.html The Ubuntu "Netbook Remix" supposedly works fine with it, but I haven't yet installed it myself. https://wiki.ubuntu....%20CPU%20based%29 http://www.ubuntu.co.../download-netbook I know this doesn't answer your questions directly, but I hope it helps a little. Cheers, Scott.
Post #322,885 by crazy 3/14/10 5:45:13 PM Reply	I need hardware supported OS. Things like this scare me: # Power management does not work correctly for 9.10. Does not wake from suspend to RAM. So I'll buy something from someone preinstalled, which limits my choices.
Post #322,886 by folkert 3/14/10 5:46:08 PM Reply	Buy a Dell.
Post #322,887 by crazy 3/14/10 5:50:43 PM Reply	Do they ship any w/ linux?
Post #322,889 by folkert 3/14/10 6:25:10 PM 3/14/10 6:31:35 PM Reply	ANY with Linux NO. I read it first as "Do they ship ANY with Linux" as in "Do they ship with linux on something?" They ship on some machines. They have a Mini10 with a 1366x768 screen (add on) Buncha other pieces available for it. Edited by folkert March 14, 2010, 06:26:33 PM EDT Edited by folkert March 14, 2010, 06:31:35 PM EDT Expand All History
Post #322,890 by Another Scott 3/14/10 6:27:36 PM Reply	4068-ABU S10e is certified for SLED 10 http://www-307.ibm.c...docid=MIGR-48NT8D FWIW. Lenovo and Dell don't seem to have refurbished laptops with Linux now (at least I couldn't find any in their Outlet stores). http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7255 The Mini9 isn't available with Linux. They do offer the Mini10v with Ubuntu. The screen is 1024x600. You can upgrade the memory to 2 GB, but you have to disassemble the machine. http://www.jrin.net/...l-mini-10v-memory HTH a little. Good luck! Cheers, Scott.
Post #322,892 by SpiceWare 3/14/10 7:19:58 PM Reply	iPad? sounds like a good fit to me.
Post #322,894 by Another Scott 3/14/10 7:27:57 PM Reply	You're right. Netbooks are intentionally crippled by MS and Intel. It would be great for the iPad and its copies to force MS and Intel to start giving customers machines that meet actual needs rather than fit into rigid artificial market segments (and to protect their cash cows). The iPad might be a great fit for her. If she needs a decent keyboard, they're apparently available as an add-on. Cheers, Scott.
Post #322,897 by Bman 3/14/10 10:35:18 PM Reply	Re: iPad? if she can hold off i get mine in 4 to 6 weeks "Pictures are better then words because some words are big and hard to understand" Peter Griffin (Family Guy)
Post #322,898 by folkert 3/14/10 10:42:05 PM Reply	Its effectively... a Big iPod Touch. I just don't know if I'm up to giving up all my (F\|f)reedom I have on Linux. And the full on stuff that OSX on the Mini9 gives me. Infact, I just updated it to latest 10.5.x and its working just fine. Its got pretty much everything I need in a small computer.
Post #322,901 by static 3/14/10 11:37:57 PM Reply	I heard ARM iPad copies are coming. And they'll be running Linux. Of course, they need a coherent ecosystem something like what Apple provides, but if they do, MS will have a very interesting time of it. I can't see them wanting to port Windows to ARM. Wade. Q:Is it proper to eat cheeseburgers with your fingers? A:No, the fingers should be eaten separately.
Post #322,909 by folkert 3/15/10 9:12:44 AM Reply	Actually... ARM machines exist already... they just aren't in the US yet. iPad sets new lows in some areas and new highs in other areas. I hope I can get the runtime and functionality I want out of an ARM based "netbook"
Post #322,912 by Another Scott 3/15/10 9:24:26 AM Reply	Remember, the iPad's an ARM. (Yeah, it's not avail yet. :-)
Post #322,950 by static 3/15/10 6:42:46 PM Reply	Ubuntu is on record as supporting ARM. I'd be happy with a netbook with an ARM chip instead of an Intel chip, provided that's the only change. WiFi and USB covers all other connectivity. My Aspire One unfortunately wastes a lot of its battery power as heat, but I know some Intel-based netbooks get many hours out of their battery. I would expect an ARM-based netbook to get a few days. :-) Bring it on! Wade. Q:Is it proper to eat cheeseburgers with your fingers? A:No, the fingers should be eaten separately.
Post #322,960 by folkert 3/15/10 10:01:09 PM Reply	You forget what I run. Debian. Its been running on ARM lots longer than most anything out there, in terms of Linux distros. Debian will be my choice.
Post #322,904 by SpiceWare 3/15/10 12:51:27 AM Reply	you're a techie, she's not.
Post #322,911 by folkert 3/15/10 9:13:29 AM Reply	But it still doesn't change the fact... That its a big iPod Touch.
Post #322,942 by SpiceWare 3/15/10 4:02:16 PM Reply	that's not a bad thing
Post #322,961 by folkert 3/15/10 10:04:08 PM Reply	Yeah... for that money though. My money is better spent on something I can use.
Post #322,945 by crazy 3/15/10 5:14:08 PM Reply	Yeah, not for her She hates my iphone as well.
Post #323,174 by Another Scott 3/21/10 8:43:38 AM Reply	Microcenter has the 1005HAB (refurb) for $200. It's in their paper flyer this week. #555110, #555128. Lots of other places have it as well - http://www.google.com/products?q=1005hab Apparently Eeebuntu 3.0 runs on it without issues if you install a later kernel. See this thread - http://forums.eeebun...45&t=4027&start=0 I know it's not ideal, but it seems to be a fairly low-pain way to get to where you want to be. HTH. Cheers, Scott.
Post #323,179 by crazy 3/21/10 10:51:25 AM Reply	Thanks The purchase is on hold for a month at this point. I ended up buying a laptop for work. Well, not really. I ended up losing my work laptop, which in turn is costing me. I work in the IT department there. I can no longer laugh at people who call in, saying they lost their laptop.
Post #323,181 by drook 3/21/10 12:28:34 PM Reply	Tease ... what's the story? -- Drew
Post #323,194 by crazy 3/21/10 3:41:13 PM Reply	Simple enough Go onsite, 10 min from my house. Plug laptop into docking station, go to meeting. Enjoy an hour of education (really), go out for smoke. Meet people outside. Go to Chinese restaurant being driven my someone else (I had my pad of paper at this point). Come back from Chinese restaurant. Notice I've lost my pad. Foreshadowing event. Damn. Go the desk, get small bag, get laptop, say goodbye, walk to car. Open car door, load up car. Get into car. Drive to bank. Cash a check. Drive home. Gather stuff, get out of car, wave to lawn guy, walk 40 feet to apartment stairs. Step up. Realize I don't have laptop. Step down, walk back car. Realize no laptop. Search around. Ask lawn guy if he saw me with a laptop. He panics, thinking I'm about to accuse him of stealing it. I tell him to relax, call my boss, and tell the story. So, where is it? No idea, but if it follows my past actions, I can only assume I placed it on top of the car as I was getting ready to leave the work parking lot, and it went flying on the 1st hard turn.
Post #323,197 by drook 3/21/10 3:50:53 PM Reply	Does "past actions" include more than the pad? If so, sounds like you need to stop putting shit on top of your car. Dumbass. And you will completely deserve the ridicule from your fellow IT guys. -- Drew
Post #323,199 by crazy 3/21/10 4:12:36 PM Reply	Well, there was this one time that I put the kid's babyseat on the roof. Just kidding. 26 years ago I put my wallet and some keys on the roof of my car and drove away. I didn't need my keys for that car, the lock was broken on the steering column. And I might have used a screw driver (or wire coat hanger) to get into it. But it was my car, really. So I didn't pay attention to keys while in it. I saw/felt them bounce behind me. That screw driver was good for getting into that apartment as well. Can you tell I've lost a lot of keys? That was the last time I recall it happening to me.
Post #323,182 by Bman 3/21/10 12:41:25 PM Reply	Go on tell it's funny as long as I don't do it "Pictures are better then words because some words are big and hard to understand" Peter Griffin (Family Guy)

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