In case anyone on the list has been thinking about buying a notebook to run
Linux, they should definitely check out the current pricing on the Inspiron
3200s. I realize that most people on the list probably already have one, but
there are probably a few of you reading, like me, in anticipation of a
purchase. After spending a good bit of time with ZDnet/Computer-Shopper's web
site, and at a couple specific vendor's web pages including Dell, Gateway,
and a lesser-tier vendor or two like Winbook, I'm pretty impressed with the
deal from Dell. Combined with the excellent support of this mailing list and
the good Linux on Inpiron web pages, an Inspiron 3200 might be one of the
best alternatives for a cheap new Linux capable notebook. (Where cheap means
in the bottom part of the current Dell/Gateway tier offerings-- about $2-3k.)
Here's the configuration I will probably get in the next week.
I invite lots of other smart Linux people to get the exact same thing so that
you can all help me solve my Linux installation problems. :-)
My requirements were for at least 64MB/4GB/13"XGA-TFT, 2nd battery, and a 2nd
generation DVD-ROM with hardware MPEG2 decoder. From Dell you can currently
(today) order all this with a mobile PII-233 for $2295 + shipping. I want
the DVD even though I won't be able to play movies in Linux, but skipping it
would save $200-300.
Note that the default modem is a Winmodem according to the sales guy I just
talked to, so I'm going to get PCMCIA modem and ethernet card separately (one
for home, the other for office). Thus the total price fully outfitted will be
about $2500. That's a pretty good price for a fully Linux compatible machine
with that much multimedia capability and very reasonably performance.
(Big deal if installing from the DVD drive is problematic and requires a
hard-drive install. Small price to pay for portable DVD.)
-Karl
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Karl Pfleger [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.stanford.edu/~kpfleger/
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