Re: Small-form-factor as a desktop machine
Keyboard, mouse just go. External monitor runs up to 1024 X 768 on my 701 but I have to reset the resolution from auto to manual for that each time I boot it, on the original software Roy Britten wrote: This morning either my monitor died or something has gone sad in the video hardware (weird on-mobo stuff). I currently have a black screen. Should it be a mobo issue I'll replace the whole desktop box with something appropriate. I'm dithering between something cheap and large, or slightly more expensive and terribly compact (in the eee line) with an external keyboard and monitor for desktop use. Leaving aside the practicalities of raw computational power, can those with experience running Linux on the newer small form-factor netbook thingies advise on how readily they accept external keyboard input and (full-resolution) monitor output? Thanks, Roy.
Re: laptops without Winblows
I am sold on my EEE701, bought off Trademe for about $300 too long ago to find exact amount without really looking. It had a 8 gig photo card in it and indigenous Linux. I do my email, trademe sales. Open Office stuff, play and store heaps of music, can plug into the TV and watch videos off the USB ext hard drives the boys fill up for me. It is QUIET tho the barely audible fan will kick in if it is sitting on bedding. It has fallen off the seat of my truck onto the footpath and still no problems, I take it everywhere and just plug it into mouse, big monitor, keyboard,printer, headphones or stereo, etc etc , at the office or away, 12v car power adapter or tiny inverter fills it back up with electrons. It can take photo card from nearly every camera we own. No body had to buy MSWindblows. Wireless or wired network stuff works. All my floor top machines have had a great rest. I would get one for my wife - but she is too locked into Only runs on Windblows stuff - and I would have to set it up and what with windows networks and windows driving printers, and windows within windows etc etc and so I keep very very quiet about how good this one really is chris wrote: I have been thinking of getting the Asus eeepc for my wife, who's only use for a computer is email from her large number of siblings, and the very occasional photo of assorted siblings offspring. As I am not a geek but an end user the Asus makes sense. Strong simple, they make good motherboards and laptops, reliable, and comes with Linux Cheap. My reasons Cheers Chris Thomas On Mon, 2009-03-02 at 22:22 +1300, Aidan Gauland wrote: First: thanks for the quick responses. I'm begining to think that a netbook would be better than a full blown laptop (intended usage == intended usage of netbook). I've been reading the threads on this list about netbooks; I'm uncertain as to whether it really matters which one, when it's for someone who just wants to use it for very basic tasks (E-mail, web browsing, word processing, etc.). Can anyone help me there, or are the only CLUG people who've bought one the ones who know too much? ;) Being a hard-core computer geek becomes a problem when you need to think like a typical end-user. :) -Aidan wgsil...@ihug.co.nz wrote: Could anyone here recommend a place in (or around) Christchurch that sells laptops WITHOUT Windows (it doesn't matter if it comes with Linux or not). I'm asking on behalf of someone who doesn't know what to look for when shopping for a computer (I'm helping with that), and doesn't want to pay for software that will never be used (i.e. Windows).
Re: wtf!
I personally feel insulted. I have been using linux on a personal and professional basis for ten years, and do not see myself as being anything like the people described by Dave. Derek. Take heart in that all his other self promotion stuff I googled was about at pointless. I once took a Apple notebook to a self employed computer tech to get him to check it out before I bought it. He said does it go when you switch it one, if it does no problem But I said, that does not apply with windows machines does it? Thinking of scan this and scan that. What the hell do you want to learn to use a Mac for, there is no money in them! World domination will never come from something that just works, what happens to the dealer network, the repair guys, the user groups, the development group things My daily drive is an Alfa - but I don't want everyone else to drive one too. Let windows have world domination - there is an overwhelming human need for world domination - it might as well be windows. We could do a lot worse. There will always be the resistance. Bill is still better than Hitler eh! Thank goodness Hitler choose War, he could have won if he had of just stuck to the Volkswagon
Re: Acer Aspire Linux Netbooks?
Have you tried Lenovo? They were selling preinstalled Linux on Lappies a while ago, free deliver etc John Carter wrote: I have totally given up trying to buy a laptop. You have to buy Windows and the continuous M$ftOwnsOurSoul company recommends Windows Vista(TM) bleat ruins any joy I'd get from the thing. But I have just noticed Bruce Perens has one of these Acer Aspire One Linux netbooks. That guy plays even harder Open Source ball than I do, so I'm sitting up and interested in these things... Anyone have one of these gadgets? (Or equivalent) Where did you get it from / price? I'm trying to decrease the fierce and rather disruptive competition for multimedia devices amongst my kids is it fast enough of streaming media / mount DVD on Big Grunty desktop DVD drive and view via wireless (or USB 8Gb pen drive) on netbook? Any opinions on these (or similar) things from those who have one? John Carter Phone : (64)(3) 358 6639 Tait ElectronicsFax : (64)(3) 359 4632 PO Box 1645 ChristchurchEmail : john.car...@tait.co.nz New Zealand
Re: Linux Netbooks...
I use one of the EEE 700 and not much the desk top and laptop now. It is so easy. Networks fine, wired or wireless, plays music, 8 gig camera card hides my photos and music, plays movies, goes for about 2 hours way from mains, a wee inverter in car or camper if I need more, has some Linux application issues that should have been sorted before it left the factory, can hook up to big screen or TV, plug in a normal keyboard for anyone who can type properly, chucks out a bit of heat which is nice in Winter and quiet. Best thing I have ever had since my Mac Powerbook 150 that I could type crap into and play card games for about six hours. Attention span was better in those days. David Lowe wrote: I agree with Andrew's comments. I have an eee PC 900 and I'm happy with it. It came with Linux native and all the drivers etc just work. Loading anything other than the default distro can be a bit of a mission, but frankly I have found it best just to leave well alone and use the custom/optimised distro they give you. The biggest issue in the real world is the keyboard - I think Asus have made theirs just a little too small and others may be easier to use; I havent tried. My Asus is fine, but not for long periods of typing. Hardware support isn't a big deal - there's almost no moving parts and not much can go wrong once its working. - D On Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 3:20 PM, Andrew Errington a.erring...@lancaster.ac.uk mailto:a.erring...@lancaster.ac.uk wrote: There's also the HP MiniNote (or something like that), the MSI Wind, and something from Toshiba, just to muddy the waters a little. They're all very similar, since they're all based on the Intel Atom reference platform. Your choice is guided by a) How they look (size, shape, screen) b) How they feel (keyboard, weight, touchpad) c) How much they cost Fortunately you can find most of them on display at Noel Leeming, Harvey Norman or Dick Smith. This means you can have a good look and try out the keyboard and touchpad. Asus started the trend with the Eee, but IMHO they dropped the ball and their later models missed the sweet spot in terms of capability and price. Not only that, but Microsoft stuck their oar in and decided that XP's death could be prolonged for long enough to make buyers in this niche suffer as much as others before them. There seems to be a good support network for Linux on almost any one of these units, but often for the best price you have to buy XP and then upgrade to Linux, since although some models have Linux versions available they are often not easily found in NZ. I like my Aspire One. I think I will like it more with Linux, but that entails investing some effort into the process, plus outlaying cash for an external DVD drive. Oh, and an external hard drive for backups (Noel's has one for $90 160Gb. I swear I am not on commission!) Have fun shopping! Andrew On Thu, February 5, 2009 13:33, John Carter wrote: Hmm. Googling some more... (sigh! this is becoming a bigger question than I have time for at work) There seems to be three linux netbooks on the market. Dell inspiron mini Asus ee pc Acer inspire one INSPIRON, INSPIRe ONe, is someone trying to tell me something? Being hardware, which can go wron, rong, wrung, I prefer local suppliers I can waltz up to on a saturday morning and say fix / replace. Anyone compared the three and come to any useful conclusions? John Carter Phone : (64)(3) 358 6639 Tait ElectronicsFax : (64)(3) 359 4632 PO Box 1645 ChristchurchEmail : john.car...@tait.co.nz mailto:john.car...@tait.co.nz New Zealand
Re: Distro for a single use machine
I have looked a bit, between out in the sun chores, thanks for suggestions- I had a laptop running Ubuntu for this plan but the power in socket got broken because the techs for DSE who fixed it a year or more ago under warranty didn't put it back together properly Bought a ext case for its HD but it appears to be a Hitachi that has a different connection from anything else on the planet. I use a EEE mostly for day to day life and have thought of buying one- install GOS and Gramps but I don't think they are robust enough to survive being lent. Old Mandrake or Debian of the day with Gramps of that day in this IBM looks an option, it is small enough to carry the box, but robust in that it needs to be set up on the peoples existing screen, key pad and mouse with adapter. But Damn Small Linux or Puppy, look good on the net, read a page by some dude who put GRAMPS on a Puppy but I did not understand what he was on about nor could T figure if it ran OK or was near impossible or what??? Are there any / many GRAMPS users in the group, it is one of those things I do full on for a few weeks a year and then forget, and I can see a website is my next port of call.
Distro for a single use machine
Hi I was wondering if any recommendations for a Distro for a single use machine. I have an slimline IBM that was running 98 something on a network, most bullet proof thing we ever had. I was wanting it to run GRAMPS and maybe a very thin wordprocessor and nothing else but a keyboard, mouse and monitor. So I can hand it around the family to do GRAMPS things with it, Any suggestions, where to find Distro etc, I will be in Chch next few days too if that helps, cheers Kevin also on 0272497326 but text is best
Re: Feb meeting ..and the move towards a public house.
Good points Nick:- * Dunedin people ain't stupid - excepting the stupid ones, but they are less stupid than they would have been if they lived further north or south, if you know what I mean *A pub night once a fortnight would be better than once a month, you will get a different mix on the different nights, meals on site etc, chance encounters with other humans - inevitable * Pub (is open source and free access, rather copyleft and very lurker friendly - it is not easy to walk into a hall half filled with semi mad linuxatics in the middle of a distro-war that has been less than raging since 1983 *Pick your pub well, coffee facilities are a must, (terminal and alcohol not good) three pin plugs for those who cannot be reliably parted from their lappies. Internet capable has its + and -'s, with is obvious, without means you have to have what you are trying to show off at least down loaded before you open the old mouth. *If internet is a must I can sort a coin operated cafe style machine with all the toys attached - requires no input from publican, just needs to be capable of getting the money out of it before it gets full - most publicans with help from above (gravity) can manage that *As a non drinking and out of town Linux abuser (rather than true contributing user) be nice to know I can always find a little pocket of resistance when in Chch at a place and day / time without any of the last minute cat / dog / mouse / bird thing cheers Kevin Nick Rout wrote: On Fri, Jan 23, 2009 at 8:32 AM, David Lowe da...@thistledown.co.nz wrote: I manage to attend meetings regularly last year (and thoroughly enjoyed all of them), but I'm now traveling a lot and can't commit to being a regular... but I'd hate to think the opportunity to connect with the like-minded was gone. The world doesn't need another email support list - it needs a place where we can share war stories face to face. Just a suggestion... are we thinking too hard about this? Maybe we just drop down to having a monthly social gathering. Just put the kettle on, put in a few bucks for biccys and stand around and chat. Go home after an hour if thats what you want to do. Maybe someone would even bring a few beers along (and yes I'm sure the fun police will restrict that!). As long as someone (take turns?) commits to being there to put the kettle on, nothing else formal should be required. Long Live Clug! Lets emulate DunLUG and just meet regularly at a pub. No cost, drink and eat what you want/can afford. Those who tell the best lies^h^h^h^h war stories win!
Re: Promotional event for the average person
I don't know much about the average person, but I have had a lot of experience of being a below average person. I use Linux because I am too dumb to figure out Windows, and have done so since 3.11 days. The average to below average user does not use an Operating System - they use a collection of software. The dilemma with Linux is that there is an incomprehensibly huge amount of software and so when a newbie sticks in a disc and clicks install everything they are confronted by forty applications that can look at the photos in their camera, more email things than they have so far had emails, twenty music playing things from the subliminal to the next generation for the recording industry. On most distros I have tried - a week after mastering an elaborate piece of copylefted free and free software - I can't even find it and before I have finished looking for it I have got the job done with something I have never seen before and may never see again. Without a home folder ??? if Linux apps saved everything in a pocket of itself - I shudder to think or I have to think to shudder. So I got little white e which is great - nothing works to perfection but if you want to play music it does without trying to ramp up the old IQ, gets emails, buys and sells shit on trade me, it does not even invite me to understands its OS, personally I don't even know why I have to have an OS, I am sure they would run lots better without one in the back ground demanding to be upgraded and downdated, understood and all that sort of thing. What I want and usually get is a distro I can stuff in a machine, give it a bit of foreplay in the bios cimos department push go and get up and running without learning anything and keeping my stupidity and lack of understanding intact. That is the future Go Linux Nick Rout wrote: I used to be a gentoo devotee and a kde fanboy. However I switched to ubuntu (and therefore gnome) because it installed and worked (mostly) without complete futzing around. the move to gnome was easy. Mostly people are clicking on a button to start a program, thats the same in win/kde/gnome, just as long as someone points out the start|K|applications menu. Once the program has started, firefox is the same in all environments, all mail programs look more or less the same (3 panes, message preview, click a message to read it). There, we've covered 90% of what people do on their computers - web browsing and email. And only an idiot couldn't find the web browser and email client in the average linux install, kde or gnome based.
