[clug] Selling a PC and getting a laptop

[Robert Edwards]

Brian wrote:
> Leo,
> 
>>Have you actually used a Pioneer notebook with Linux running on it?
>>
> 
> No
> 
> 
>>I recently tried to help someone running FC4 on a late model Pioneer and
>>to cut a long story short:-
>>- It seemed that there is an interrupt conflict issue (between the
>>graphic adapter and network card when applying open source (from Livna)
>>or proprietary drivers from Nvidia) that can't be corrected because your
>>locked out of the BIOS.
> 
> Don't you hate that! I thought only Dell would do something like that.

Have you ever been locked out of the BIOS by Dell? I have never heard
of them doing anything like that.

We run Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, some Fedora) on a number of Dell laptops
and have rarely had any problems over the past 6 years or so. Of course,
if you are looking for a laptop that can handle a lot of physical abuse,
you may be better off looking at something more rugged, but we have had
no real problems with them.

Bob Edwards.

> 
> 
> 
>>- It also appears that Pioneer falsely claim to support Linux (Linspire)
>>on the particular model supplied and that the website of the Linux
>>distro (Linspire) they claim to pre-load didn't even list them as a
>>Vendor on the compatibility list (when I last look)!!!
> 
> I looked today and it is still the same.
> 
> I liked the idea of Pioneer for two reasons.
> 1) They would supply the hardware with no OS( No MS Tax).
> 2) You could build the machine as required.
> 
> However, if you cannot get at the bios then 1 is no good.
> I also had a look at the web site today and it seems you have to choose a base 
> model then alter bits, which is not the same a 2.
> 
> 
> 
>>- Locally Pioneer claimed that nobody has ever ordered Linspire or run
>>Linux to there knowledge.
>>- Internationally Pioneer didn't or couldn't help.
>>
> 
> No support either, just keeps getting better?
> 
> My summation of the above is that I will look for something else.
> 
> 
> 
>>Eventually the notebook was returned and my acquaintance switched to a
>>HP nx8220 with which he claims to be quite pleased.
>>
> 
> 
> That gives me somewhere to start.
> 
> Thanks,
> Brian
>