[clug] Fwd: Ubuntu compatible laptop

Mon Sep 27 18:24:24 MDT 2010

This may be too late for you, but a mate of mine just bought an Acer laptop
that Harvey Norman is selling as a loss leader.  He has installed Ubuntu
10.04 on it with no problems, though it does use binary drivers for the
video and wireless.

The specs are quite impressive for $798 ($898 - $100 supplier cashback):

Core i5 2.2Ghz (2 CPUs, 4 hardware threads)
4GB RAM
500 GB HDD
14" 1366x768 screen
DVD (no BluRay)
No bluetooth

The keyboard is a bit plasticy, but other than than it seems great.  Also,
he installed Ubuntu side-by-side with MS-Windows and the first Windows
update blew away grub.  An easy fix with Ubuntu Live on a memory stick, but
annoying nevertheless.

Hope that helps,

Cheers

Sanders

On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 8:14 PM, Warren Gardner <warrenjgardner at gmail.com>wrote:

> Well I was on the phone to India to inquire about Dell Vostro.
>
> This was the start of a very confusing hour long phone call.  I was having
> a
> little difficulty understanding the lady.  She may have had trouble
> understanding me though I think it was more 'I'll answer your question with
> what I want to tell you' in hope of getting a sale.
>
> They will give me a computer without an OS on it. A Lat E6510 or one other
> she did not mention.
> Or with Win. Or with Ubuntu.
> They would not sell with dual boot.
> If I put an operating system on myself they will void my warranty (though
> were still going to sell extended warranty knowing I would void it).
>
> That story changed a little over the length of the phone call. By the end
> of
> the conversation: I would be able to dual boot but if any driver
> configurations etc are changed, I void the warranty.
>
> Now I wonder how anyone manages to buy a computer with peace of mind.
>
>
> Warren
>
> Forwarded conversation
> Subject: Ubuntu compatible laptop
> ------------------------
>
> From: *Warren Gardner* <warrenjgardner at gmail.com>
> Date: 24 September 2010 12:14
> To: linux at lists.samba.org
>
>
> Hi
>
> I am having a lot of trouble choosing a laptop.
>
> I want to run Ubuntu (poss. Medibuntu). I will probably have a partition
> for
> the Windows that ship with the computer, at least until I am more
> experienced with linux.
>
> I intend to be using GIMP, video editing, and would like to try Blender.
>  So
> something that can comfortably handle that kind of work would be good.
>
> I took a liking to the TOSHIBA Satellite A500/031 in the Civic Lapyking
> store.
>
> https://www.lapyking.com.au/online-shop/laptops/toshiba-satellite-a500-031.html
> Priced at $1,200 down from $1,600, plus $165 for extended warranty
> (whatever
> that covers me for). That is right on my limit.
>
> Researching Toshiba-Ubuntu combinations turns up many complaints about
> overheating, suspend problems, and f-key issues. It appears to be an on
> going issue. Perhaps Toshiba are not interested in anything but Microsoft.
> I
> cannot find much on this particular model (Satellite A500/031).
>
> Lapyking are happy for me to boot a LiveCD in the store but can give me no
> information about Linux on their computers. I am not confident of finding
> potential problems during an in-store live boot.
>
> If anyone has some information on this computer, or something else that
> will
> meet my needs (and not die in 1yr and 1day) I would love to hear about it.
>
> Thank you
> Warren
>
>
>
> PS. I was thinking of posting my question in the Ubuntu forums as well but
> I
> expect I will probably hear about models unavailable in Australia.
>
> ----------
> From: *Mike Carden* <mike.carden at gmail.com>
> Date: 24 September 2010 12:24
> To: linux at lists.samba.org
>
>
> And my response here won't be directly helpful in that regard so feel
> free to ignore me, but I have two comments.
>
> 1. Extended warranty.
>
> My experience in the electronics industry is that extended warranty is
> the last remaining cash cow in an industry otherwise cut to the bone
> on profit margins. It makes boatloads of money for the people who sell
> it. Personally, I will never purchase one. Still, I'm sure there are
> people out there who have been saved by their extended warranties when
> something died a few years down the track, but they're massively
> outnumbered by those who made the seller of the warranties rich.
>
> 2. It's entirely irrational I know, but I won't set foot in a place
> that can't spell 'Lappy'.
>
> --
> MC
> --
> linux mailing list
> linux at lists.samba.org
> https://lists.samba.org/mailman/listinfo/linux
>
> ----------
> From: *Ivan Lazar Miljenovic* <ivan.miljenovic at gmail.com>
> Date: 24 September 2010 12:29
> To: Warren Gardner <warrenjgardner at gmail.com>
> Cc: linux at lists.samba.org
>
>
> My 2c:
>
> I don't  have a Toshiba, but both of my brothers do (one of whom uses
> Fedora on a Satellite; the laptop my other brother had had the BIOS
> configured to only allow Vista).  Both of them had several problems
> with their graphics cards overheating, dying, etc. (NVidia mobile; not
> sure if it's a Toshiba-specific problem though).  The one who uses
> Fedora has had numerous Linux compatability problems with parts of it.
>
> However, I've found that my Dell Vostro laptop (found under the small
> business section) seems to work quite nicely: the only *nix problems
> I've had with it are not realising bluetooth was a soft switch and
> having disabled it in Windows before wiping it, and that despite being
> a 64bit processor 64bit *nix kept dying.  I've had no problems finding
> drivers, etc. for any part of the laptop.
>
> Other people I've talked to in the past have also agreed that
> business-oriented laptops typically have better *nix support than
> consumer-oriented laptops.
>
> --
> Ivan Lazar Miljenovic
> Ivan.Miljenovic at gmail.com
> IvanMiljenovic.wordpress.com
>
> ----------
> From: *Lana Brindley* <lanabrindley at gmail.com>
> Date: 24 September 2010 12:43
> To: Mike Carden <mike.carden at gmail.com>
> Cc: linux at lists.samba.org
>
>
> +1
>
> That was my immediate thought too.
>
> Sorry, nothing else serious to add to the discussion.
>
> L
>
> --
> Cheers! Lana
>
> Critics search for ages for the wrong word, which, to give them credit,
> they
> eventually find.
>  - Peter Ustinov
>
> -----------------------------------------------
> http://lanabrindley.blogspot.com
> -----------------------------------------------
>
> Please avoid sending me Word, Powerpoint or Windows Media attachments.
>
> See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html for more
> information.
>
> ------------------------------------------------
>
> ----------
> From: *Warren Gardner* <warrenjgardner at gmail.com>
> Date: 24 September 2010 13:27
> To: linux at lists.samba.org
>
>
> Ah a number of the Dell Vostro series are recommended for Ubuntu!!
> http://webapps.ubuntu.com/certification/make/Dell/laptops/
> I will look into that. Ta  I was a little worried about Dell because I
> heard
> they are made of cheap parts. But I also heard their repair support was
> outsourced, consequently if something goes wrong they will just come around
> and fix it without all the usual hassles. I get a little confused looking
> at
> all the warranty stuff on maunufactures sites as the small print does not
> clearly state.... anything. After my horrible horrible experiences with a
> number of Maclemons (and Applecare) I agree extended warranty is often
> useless. But I am thinking the same about my Health Cover.
>
> looks like Toshiba are out of the question then.
>
> I too thought the same in regards to Lapyking's name.  But they had that
> commercial with the guy siting out on the grass with a desktop computer in
> front of him, and that still makes me laugh.
>
> ----------
> From: *Carlo Hamalainen* <carlo.hamalainen at gmail.com>
> Date: 24 September 2010 15:07
> To: Warren Gardner <warrenjgardner at gmail.com>
> Cc: CLUG List <linux at lists.samba.org>
>
>
> I got a Lenovo (IBM) Thinkpad R500 with 1680x1050 screen, 4Gb ram,
> etc, for $900 a few weeks ago. Lenovo do sales every month or so and
> do some good deals (new price was $1600). I took the hard drive with
> Ubuntu 10.04 out of my EEE PC, put it into the Thinkpad, and it booted
> and everything worked. I was surprised. The R500 is a rather chunky
> and heavy laptop but the screen is good, it is VERY quiet (beware that
> other Thinkpads have extremely annoying fans), runs very cool, and
> Ubuntu is happy.
>
> --
> Carlo Hamalainen
> http://carlo-hamalainen.net
>
> ----------
> From: *Alex Satrapa* <grail at goldweb.com.au>
> Date: 24 September 2010 15:50
> To: CLUG List <linux at lists.samba.org>
>
>
> The "new" MacBook is $1249:
> http://store.apple.com/au/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook
>
> Though I haven't booted one into Linux, I generally run Linux through
> VMWare, or use FOSS software as installed through MacPorts.
>
> Alex
>
> --
>
> ----------
> From: *Rodney Peters* <rodneyp at pcug.org.au>
> Date: 25 September 2010 08:20
> To: linux at lists.samba.org
>
>
> Check that you can access BIOS settings via some keystoke combo.  I've come
> across one Toshiba laptop where this could be done only via Windows.
>
> There is also a trend in Windows laptops to have 4 primary partitions used
> already.  Limits options for installing Linux unless you want to blow Wind
> away.
>
>
> Rod
> --
> linux mailing list
> linux at lists.samba.org
> https://lists.samba.org/mailman/listinfo/linux
>