On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 13:10:14 +1200 (NZST) Roger Searle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I bought an Acer Travelmate (230 iirc, haven't got it with me today), which was > under $2k, last year before being at the stage of wanting linux compatibility. > Mandrake 9.2 and Knoppix both think the network card is there, but there is no > network communications happening. NOT a good thing... > > of course, your linux skills may be greater than mine (like most people here) > and your results may vary. but if you want something that almost works out of > the box, give this model a miss. odd, maybe i was misinformed about acer linux compatibility. the only entry for a 230 on the linux-laptops website just said the network "worked". of course what we have all forgotten to say is: 1. try it with a knoppix disk before you buy. make a list of things to check. (X, accelerated X, 3d acceleratedX, modem, network, acpi, pcmcia, IR, usb, wireless, there will be others. If some things don't work get their pci/usb id's and go on the net and research the hell out of those compnents. If the shop owner won't let you do this sort of thing before spending $2k then go elsewhere. 2. get an assurance in writing that you can take it back if it does not meet YOUR needs for a linux laptop. Howver IMHO testing and reseach should make this unneccessary. > > > > I have heard Acer's have reasonable linux capability, and there are some > > > > around the $2k mark (but they may only have 256M RAM at that price. > > > > > > The latest NZ PC World has a comparison of under $2.5k laptops. > > > > good sites for compatibilty reports is http://www.linux-laptop.net and > > http://www.tuxmobil.org . > > > > On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 20:48, anton wrote: > > > Hi, > > > As we are shortly going overseas we want to get a laptop. I have > > > searched around for a bit now and have found some places that look > > like > > > they might not be so bad. We want to spend under $2000, and the only > > > real stipulation is that the processor is over 2k and there is 512meg > > of > > > RAM. I am never going to have a machine with less than 512 again! Any > > > help or advice here would be greatly appreciated. > > > > > > I have heard plenty about making sure that linux will run on these > > > things before buying. Is that still necessary with the latest ones? If > > I > > > find mention of someone installing on the same model on the 'net, > > should > > > I trust it? (seeing as there are two 'net places I'm looking at > > buying > > > from)? > > > What are the things that just MUST be on the thing? In terms of slots > > > and what have you...? Showing my knowledge here... Do all modern > > laptops > > > have PCMCIA slots? Is that why they aren't mentioned on most ads? > > > > > > Anything else? > > > > > > A little closer to home here, for those who might know - ITS > > canterbury > > > uni have laptops with the above specs for around $1900, and they > > appear > > > to be OSless (or with some campus agreement M$ deal). There seems to > > be > > > something about CTA mentioned there - does that mean that only CTA > > > students/staff (which I am) can get them? How do they stack up in > > terms > > > of slots/compatibility? Anyone don't a linux install on one? I would > > > prefer to give Canty money if I could! > > > > > > Thanks for any suggestions > > > Anton > > -- Nick Rout <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
