In terms of the VISTA license. My advice - coming from working in a office where it's installed on some of the machines - is get rid of it ASAP!! If you need windows put XP or 2000 or something on there, VISTA will make you throw your teddys on a regular basis!! Ben
On 07/04/2008, Nick Rout <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > On Mon, April 7, 2008 12:52 pm, Christopher Sawtell wrote: > >> Perhaps a reasonable spec second hand > >> one might be better value, but I'm just unsure > >> of ex lease laptops > >> (battery life?? and limited guarantees cf desktops which I can fix > >> myself) > > > > I have had a couple of s/h IBM ThinkPads. An R40 & now a T41. > > They have both run Gentoo Linux very well, if not exactly faultlessly. > > Be sure to have a CPU speed controller module installed , > > the latest X-11 server and enable "DynamicClocks" in xorg.conf > > so the machine runs as cool as possible. > > > > Battery life is reduced. I get about an hour's use out of the T41, > > whereas a new battery is supposed to give about 3 hours. The battery > > is replaceable from 3rd. party vendors if that's what you desire. > > > > > Hard to know if its worn out or if power saving in linux is to blame, > often a combination of both. A replacement battery can significantly add > to the price. > > > > The firm Computer Future guarantee their ex-lease laptops for 3 > > months. They honour the guarantee too. The first T41 was replaced just > > before the end of the 3 months because the keyboard stopped working > > properly. > > > Similar recommendation. The hinge broke on mine and although they took > ages to locate and obtain a part, they did honour the warranty and fix > it.. > > > > > > The T41 cost approximately $700. > > > > The usual HTH & YMMV apply to the above. > > > > > > On 4/7/08, stringer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Hi guys 'n gals, > >> > >> I've got a little money spare at the moment so am looking at a cheap > >> laptop. > >> > >> Is there anything I should steer clear of? > >> > >> Mostly I do word processing and a little spreadsheeting (Open Office > >> will > >> do) as well as email and browsing. > >> > >> I'm not sure whether to go wholly linux, or keep the Vista licence for > >> sundrys (like the multifuncion in the office which might not work under > >> linux). Can one still get a refund on an unused MS licence? > >> > >> Dick SMith advertised an Acer Aspire AS5315 for $798 less $149 > cashback, > >> but none left at Riccarton yesterday (Celeron processor, 512 MB ram, 80 > >> Gig > >> HDD, 15.4" display, DVD multi drive Visto Home licence) > >> The guy tried to sell me the next model up for $1099 less $99 which had > >> 1 > >> gig ram, twice the hard drive and a dual core processor. > >> They also had an Asus Z99LE at $999. Dual core 1 gig etc etc > >> > >> Dell have an Inspiron 1525 for $999 Dual core, 1 gig etc etc > >> > >> I don't need it for gaming or watching videos (though that would be > nice > >> :-|) > >> > >> Perhaps a reasonable spec second hand one might be better value, but > I'm > >> just unsure of ex lease laptops (battery life?? and limited guarantees > >> cf > >> desktops which I can fix myself) > >> > >> Thoughts anyone? > >> D J H STRINGER > >> Barrister > >> > >> For all your legal work; > >> > >> P O Box 1386 > >> CHRISTCHURCH > >> NEW ZEALAND > >> > >> Phone 64 - 3 - 366 1152 > >> FAX 64 - 3 - 366 1151 > >> > >> > > > > > > -- > > Sincerely etc. > > Christopher Sawtell > > > > > > -- > > Nick Rout > > -- Regards, Ben Ford [EMAIL PROTECTED] +447792598685
