Re: laptop recommendations pls
On Tue, May 4, 2010 at 4:37 PM, Robert Fisher wrote: > On 04/05/10 16:29, Nick Rout wrote: >> >> On Tue, May 4, 2010 at 1:46 PM, Christopher Sawtell >> wrote: >> >>> >>> On 4 May 2010 13:20, Paul Swafford wrote: >>> I second Chris' sentiment .. Tinkpads just work .. I wonder where Chris got his from ?? >>> >>> The PC shop which is in what was the Edmonds "Sure to Rise" factory front >>> office. Near cnr. Ferry and Aldwyns Roads. Got $50 discount on account of >>> not wanting Windows (re)-installed. Its got a CoA sticker though >>> >> >> Aww Rik Dame Maggie took your work lappie?? Bugger. >> >> From that store (it's called laptop universe, awful web page but good >> guys) I got a Dell Latitude D530 with external CD/DVD drive, 1.5G RAM, >> 80G hard drive, 1.5MHz Pentium M, intel wireless and the supersize >> battery for $595. It's a little bigger than a netbook, but still >> small. The extra resolution (1280x800) over a netbook is welcome. >> Battery 3-4 hours. Ubuntu installs fine and runs well. > > No skin off my nose as I would not ask for profit to list members - but I > think my offer is a much better machine cheaper. > > (I have just tested one with Ubuntu 10.04 32 and 64 bit.) > > I can get you a Dell Latitude D610 for less than $500 > > Intel T7200 Core 2 Duo 2.0Ghz Processor > > 2GB DDR2 Ram, 80GB SATA HDD > > OnBoard Graphics, DVDRW > > Gigabit Ethernet, USB2.0, WiFi, Bluetooth > > 14" Screen, XP Home (OS Pre-installed) > Yes that certainly looks like a better deal. One of the things I like about the one I got is the size. Actually I have to correct the last post I made, its a d430 not d530.
Re: laptop recommendations pls
Robert Fisher wrote, On 05/04/2010 11:56 AM: 1. Economy - can be new / 'on special' or ex-lease. I can get you a Dell Latitude D610 for less than $500 Intel T7200 Core 2 Duo 2.0Ghz Processor 2GB DDR2 Ram, 80GB SATA HDD OnBoard Graphics, DVDRW Gigabit Ethernet, USB2.0, WiFi, Bluetooth 14" Screen, XP Home (OS Pre-installed) I second this - those are "good enough" and cheap enough so that it pays for itself if it lasts more than 18 months. And generally the ex-corporate ones have had an easy life. -- Craig Falconer
Re: laptop recommendations pls
On 04/05/10 16:29, Nick Rout wrote: On Tue, May 4, 2010 at 1:46 PM, Christopher Sawtell wrote: On 4 May 2010 13:20, Paul Swafford wrote: I second Chris' sentiment .. Tinkpads just work .. I wonder where Chris got his from ?? The PC shop which is in what was the Edmonds "Sure to Rise" factory front office. Near cnr. Ferry and Aldwyns Roads. Got $50 discount on account of not wanting Windows (re)-installed. Its got a CoA sticker though Aww Rik Dame Maggie took your work lappie?? Bugger. From that store (it's called laptop universe, awful web page but good guys) I got a Dell Latitude D530 with external CD/DVD drive, 1.5G RAM, 80G hard drive, 1.5MHz Pentium M, intel wireless and the supersize battery for $595. It's a little bigger than a netbook, but still small. The extra resolution (1280x800) over a netbook is welcome. Battery 3-4 hours. Ubuntu installs fine and runs well. No skin off my nose as I would not ask for profit to list members - but I think my offer is a much better machine cheaper. (I have just tested one with Ubuntu 10.04 32 and 64 bit.) I can get you a Dell Latitude D610 for less than $500 Intel T7200 Core 2 Duo 2.0Ghz Processor 2GB DDR2 Ram, 80GB SATA HDD OnBoard Graphics, DVDRW Gigabit Ethernet, USB2.0, WiFi, Bluetooth 14" Screen, XP Home (OS Pre-installed)
Re: FAQ List. (Was laptop recommendations pls)
On Tue, May 4, 2010 at 12:59 PM, Ryan McCoskrie wrote: > On Tue, 04 May 2010 12:36:35 Steve Holdoway wrote: >> On Tue, 2010-05-04 at 12:12 +1200, Ryan McCoskrie wrote: >> > On Tue, 04 May 2010 11:34:04 you wrote: >> > > Hi all, >> > > >> > > A change of employment leads me into the laptop market, with gnu/linux >> > > compatibility >> > >> > Okay, I think someone needs to start making an FAQ list for the CLUG. >> > I'm willing to spend some time on it if someone more experienced is >> > willing to help. >> >> We used to run a wiki, but that sort of died. Maybe now that there are >> no longer regular meetings it maay be of more use. >> >> Happy to host it if there's enough interest. >> > What I was actually thinking of was the sort of FAQ seen on some USENET > groups. A message periodically sent out on the list so that people are > immediately reminded to read it. > I'll be happy to help with such a wiki though... The answer to this particular FAQ (which laptop??) changes with the seasons. Easier to maintain a wiki. Our wiki was at http://clug.org.nz and that site will point you to the fact that we merged it with http://wiki.linux.net.nz/ - why not stick to that wiki, otherwise it just fragments and fragments.
Re: laptop recommendations pls
On Tue, May 4, 2010 at 1:46 PM, Christopher Sawtell wrote: > > > On 4 May 2010 13:20, Paul Swafford wrote: >> >> I second Chris' sentiment .. Tinkpads just work .. >> >> I wonder where Chris got his from ?? > > The PC shop which is in what was the Edmonds "Sure to Rise" factory front > office. Near cnr. Ferry and Aldwyns Roads. Got $50 discount on account of > not wanting Windows (re)-installed. Its got a CoA sticker though Aww Rik Dame Maggie took your work lappie?? Bugger. >From that store (it's called laptop universe, awful web page but good guys) I got a Dell Latitude D530 with external CD/DVD drive, 1.5G RAM, 80G hard drive, 1.5MHz Pentium M, intel wireless and the supersize battery for $595. It's a little bigger than a netbook, but still small. The extra resolution (1280x800) over a netbook is welcome. Battery 3-4 hours. Ubuntu installs fine and runs well. Haven't tried the infrared. Bluetooth can be achieved via dongle available on trademe for less than $10 incl postage. Wireless just works, as does everything else. The shop allowed me to boot ubuntu via a flash thumbdrive before purchase.
Re: laptop recommendations pls
On 04/05/10 14:55, Steve Holdoway wrote: Whilst agreeing that they are a solidly made lappie ( well, since they got rid of that stupid expanding keyboard! ), linux installs effortlessly on just about all hardware these days ( well Realtek RTL8111/8168 ethernet notwithstanding ) so I wouldn't single IBM out as such. And of all of the ex-lease machines I have sold to people, the only failure has been an IBM one.
Re: laptop recommendations pls
Whilst agreeing that they are a solidly made lappie ( well, since they got rid of that stupid expanding keyboard! ), linux installs effortlessly on just about all hardware these days ( well Realtek RTL8111/8168 ethernet notwithstanding ) so I wouldn't single IBM out as such. Well, not for that anyway. AIX, Lotus Notes and a few other things, yes... (: Steve On Tue, 2010-05-04 at 13:46 +1200, Jerome B Newell wrote: > I have to agree with Sir Christopher. > Never used a Laptop until I got my thinkpad. > It is truly magic and Ubuntu just works, no fuss, as usual. > > Respects > Jerome B Newell. > > > - Original Message - > From: "Paul Swafford" > To: > Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 1:20 PM > Subject: Re: laptop recommendations pls > > > >I second Chris' sentiment .. Tinkpads just work .. > > > > I wonder where Chris got his from ?? > > > > Cheers > > Paul > > > > > > Christopher Sawtell wrote: > >> Only one word needed: "ThinkPad" > >> > >> Everything just works. > >> > >> I got an unused ex-lease Z60t for $500 a month or two ago. > >> > >> ThinkWiki <%20http://www.thinkwiki.org/> for support > >> > >> -- > >> Sincerely etc. > >> Christopher Sawtell > > -- Steve Holdoway http://www.greengecko.co.nz MSN: st...@greengecko.co.nz Skype: sholdowa smime.p7s Description: S/MIME cryptographic signature
Re: laptop recommendations pls
I have to agree with Sir Christopher. Never used a Laptop until I got my thinkpad. It is truly magic and Ubuntu just works, no fuss, as usual. Respects Jerome B Newell. - Original Message - From: "Paul Swafford" To: Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 1:20 PM Subject: Re: laptop recommendations pls I second Chris' sentiment .. Tinkpads just work .. I wonder where Chris got his from ?? Cheers Paul Christopher Sawtell wrote: Only one word needed: "ThinkPad" Everything just works. I got an unused ex-lease Z60t for $500 a month or two ago. ThinkWiki <%20http://www.thinkwiki.org/> for support -- Sincerely etc. Christopher Sawtell
Re: laptop recommendations pls
On 4 May 2010 13:20, Paul Swafford wrote: > I second Chris' sentiment .. Tinkpads just work .. > > I wonder where Chris got his from ?? > The PC shop which is in what was the Edmonds "Sure to Rise" factory front office. Near cnr. Ferry and Aldwyns Roads. Got $50 discount on account of not wanting Windows (re)-installed. Its got a CoA sticker though -- Sincerely etc. Christopher Sawtell
Re: FAQ List. (Was laptop recommendations pls)
On Tue, May 4, 2010 at 12:36 PM, Steve Holdoway wrote: > We used to run a wiki, but that sort of died. Maybe now that there are > no longer regular meetings it maay be of more use. http://wiki.linux.net.nz/CLUG http://wiki.linux.net.nz/TitleSearch?s=laptop It may be worth updating content in there, for the good of everyone & not just CLUG. -jim
Re: laptop recommendations pls
On Tue, May 4, 2010 at 11:58 AM, Robert Fisher wrote: >>> 4. Low data quantity needs mean that any other modern hardware spec will >>> probably suit ok. > > Modern (not modem) Mmm, perhaps I should choose a better font if I'm going to start shrinking text down to where I can no longer read it!! -jim :-)
Re: laptop recommendations pls
I second Chris' sentiment .. Tinkpads just work .. I wonder where Chris got his from ?? Cheers Paul Christopher Sawtell wrote: Only one word needed: "ThinkPad" Everything just works. I got an unused ex-lease Z60t for $500 a month or two ago. ThinkWiki <%20http://www.thinkwiki.org/> for support -- Sincerely etc. Christopher Sawtell
Re: laptop recommendations pls
Only one word needed: "ThinkPad" Everything just works. I got an unused ex-lease Z60t for $500 a month or two ago. ThinkWiki <%20http://www.thinkwiki.org/> for support -- Sincerely etc. Christopher Sawtell
Re: FAQ List. (Was laptop recommendations pls)
On Tue, 04 May 2010 12:36:35 Steve Holdoway wrote: > On Tue, 2010-05-04 at 12:12 +1200, Ryan McCoskrie wrote: > > On Tue, 04 May 2010 11:34:04 you wrote: > > > Hi all, > > > > > > A change of employment leads me into the laptop market, with gnu/linux > > > compatibility > > > > Okay, I think someone needs to start making an FAQ list for the CLUG. > > I'm willing to spend some time on it if someone more experienced is > > willing to help. > > We used to run a wiki, but that sort of died. Maybe now that there are > no longer regular meetings it maay be of more use. > > Happy to host it if there's enough interest. > What I was actually thinking of was the sort of FAQ seen on some USENET groups. A message periodically sent out on the list so that people are immediately reminded to read it. I'll be happy to help with such a wiki though... Actually A message sent out when there have been major changes to the wiki would be useful I guess. signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part.
Re: laptop recommendations pls
On 4 May 2010 11:34, Rik Tindall wrote: > A change of employment leads me into the laptop market, with gnu/linux > compatibility the prime requisite (0): I concur with Andrew's netbook comment. Some people cannot live without a decent size screen and fullsize keyboard, but I find the small form factor ideal. In my limited experience Asus and Acer seem to be pretty GNU/Linux compatible. https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupport/Machines/Netbooks and https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupport/Machines/Laptops seem reliable resources. > Kia ora, good to be back Good to have you back, despite the circumstances. Cheers, Roy.
Re: FAQ List. (Was laptop recommendations pls)
On Tue, 2010-05-04 at 12:12 +1200, Ryan McCoskrie wrote: > On Tue, 04 May 2010 11:34:04 you wrote: > > Hi all, > > > > A change of employment leads me into the laptop market, with gnu/linux > > compatibility > > Okay, I think someone needs to start making an FAQ list for the CLUG. > I'm willing to spend some time on it if someone more experienced is willing > to help. We used to run a wiki, but that sort of died. Maybe now that there are no longer regular meetings it maay be of more use. Happy to host it if there's enough interest. Steve -- Steve Holdoway http://www.greengecko.co.nz MSN: st...@greengecko.co.nz Skype: sholdowa smime.p7s Description: S/MIME cryptographic signature
FAQ List. (Was laptop recommendations pls)
On Tue, 04 May 2010 11:34:04 you wrote: > Hi all, > > A change of employment leads me into the laptop market, with gnu/linux > compatibility Okay, I think someone needs to start making an FAQ list for the CLUG. I'm willing to spend some time on it if someone more experienced is willing to help.
Re: laptop recommendations pls
>> 4. Low data quantity needs mean that any other modern hardware spec will >> probably suit ok. > > Modem? External modem over a serial port I hope :-) otherwise you may > well end up with a winmodem and have to test carefully for support ... > Modern (not modem) LOL
Re: laptop recommendations pls
> 1. Economy - can be new / 'on special' or ex-lease. > I can get you a Dell Latitude D610 for less than $500 Intel T7200 Core 2 Duo 2.0Ghz Processor 2GB DDR2 Ram, 80GB SATA HDD OnBoard Graphics, DVDRW Gigabit Ethernet, USB2.0, WiFi, Bluetooth 14" Screen, XP Home (OS Pre-installed)
Re: laptop recommendations pls
On Tue, May 4, 2010 at 11:34 AM, Rik Tindall wrote: > 1. Economy - can be new / 'on special' or ex-lease. Trademe or an auctioneer ... new machines are $1000+ in general. > 2. Wireless that goes (bluetooth too? - have yet to cross that bridge). Wireless is important; check the chipset support and test first if possible. Don't worry about bluetooth; there are perfectly functional USB dongles to provide this if it isn't built in. > 3. Infrared - because that's how I connect my cellphone, having not got > bluetooth functioning yet That's not so common, but might be provided by a USB dongle. However I'm not so sure you'll be able to talk to (random cellphone) over infrared without having their PC sofwtare ... > 4. Low data quantity needs mean that any other modern hardware spec will > probably suit ok. Modem? External modem over a serial port I hope :-) otherwise you may well end up with a winmodem and have to test carefully for support ...
Re: laptop recommendations pls
On Tue, May 4, 2010 08:34, Rik Tindall wrote: > Hi all, > > > A change of employment leads me into the laptop market, with gnu/linux > compatibility the prime requisite (0): > > 1. Economy - can be new / 'on special' or ex-lease. > > > 2. Wireless that goes (bluetooth too? - have yet to cross that bridge). > > > 3. Infrared - because that's how I connect my cellphone, having not got > bluetooth functioning yet (on my preferred Ubuntu desktop - whereas I did > have bluetooth going on Kubuntu or Mepis once four years or so ago). > > 4. Low data quantity needs mean that any other modern hardware spec will > probably suit ok. > > All advice welcome. Get a netbook. I assert that you do not need the large screen or faster CPUs that 'full-size' laptops have. They are also cheap (which addresses point 1). They usually have wifi built in. My Acer Aspire One does, and it works well after I recompiled the ath5k drivers. For Bluetooth you can get a tiny BT dongle[1] For IR you can get a tiny IR dongle[2] If you go for a netbook, try and get one to play with for a few minutes (maybe in a store or something). I tried most of them and decided the Aspire One keyboard was the most acceptable. Best wishes, Andrew [1] http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11866 [2] http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.753
Re: laptop recommendations pls
n Tue, 2010-05-04 at 11:34 +1200, Rik Tindall wrote: > Hi all, > > A change of employment leads me into the laptop market, with gnu/linux > compatibility the prime requisite (0): > > 1. Economy - can be new / 'on special' or ex-lease. > > 2. Wireless that goes (bluetooth too? - have yet to cross that bridge). > > 3. Infrared - because that's how I connect my cellphone, having not got > bluetooth functioning yet (on my preferred Ubuntu desktop - whereas I > did have bluetooth going on Kubuntu or Mepis once four years or so ago). > > 4. Low data quantity needs mean that any other modern hardware spec will > probably suit ok. > > All advice welcome. > > Kia ora, good to be back > > ~/rik I have had good results with the hp range. At the moment amusing an hp8730w which has worked very well. Did need to replace the power block, under warranty Bluetooth/wirless etc work well. Also running an external modem via a usb/serial connector no issues. This has worked on Ubuntu 8.04 through to 9.04. Have problems using dial-up with 9.10 and 10.04 Regards Chris T Cheers Chris T
laptop recommendations pls
Hi all, A change of employment leads me into the laptop market, with gnu/linux compatibility the prime requisite (0): 1. Economy - can be new / 'on special' or ex-lease. 2. Wireless that goes (bluetooth too? - have yet to cross that bridge). 3. Infrared - because that's how I connect my cellphone, having not got bluetooth functioning yet (on my preferred Ubuntu desktop - whereas I did have bluetooth going on Kubuntu or Mepis once four years or so ago). 4. Low data quantity needs mean that any other modern hardware spec will probably suit ok. All advice welcome. Kia ora, good to be back ~/rik
Re: Workshop Weds 7.30pm
On Tue, 2010-05-04 at 10:40 +1200, Rik Tindall wrote: > On 01/05/10 10:09, chris wrote: > > On Thu, 2010-04-29 at 21:21 +1200, Nick Rout wrote: > > > >> On Sat, May 1, 2010 at 9:15 AM, chris wrote: > >> > >>> On Thu, 2010-04-29 at 17:43 +0900, Andrew Errington wrote: > >>> > > Am busy googling "Ubuntu dial-up ppp" to find it for you, but better if > I duck back to my 8.04 bookmarks for it and repost. ... > > Good luck, Rik Thank you for the reply, I have at the moment reverted back to 8,04, in which I have dial-up working. With 10.04 I have done everything that I used in 8.04, but have not been able to get dial-up working. I borrowed a friends broadband, and downloaded and installed wvdial/gnome ppp etc made sure the groups dip: dialout were present, and that my username was a member. Edit ppp/options adding replace default route. This all worked in 8.04, but I cannot get it to work in 10.04 Have googled just about everything on the net, but most of it is out of date, or offer solutions that don't work. Any ideas? regards Chris T
Re: Workshop Weds 7.30pm
On 01/05/10 10:09, chris wrote: On Thu, 2010-04-29 at 21:21 +1200, Nick Rout wrote: On Sat, May 1, 2010 at 9:15 AM, chris wrote: On Thu, 2010-04-29 at 17:43 +0900, Andrew Errington wrote: On Sat, 01 May 2010 05:33:45 chris wrote: On Thu, 2010-04-29 at 17:57 +1200, Robert Fisher wrote: On 29/04/10 17:47, Rik Tindall wrote: Ubuntu is the default distro used, and release 10.04 LTS is just a number of hours away, so we may get to check this out next Weds: I've been "checking it out" (the RC version) first on a VM and now on my main PC - I like it. Rob So do I, but I have not found anyway of getting dialup to work on it. Any ideas greatly received regards Chris T Use KDE and KPPP. Tried that, but no luck. Also I have been using the gnome desktop. The problem seems to in the be configuration somewhere. I actually can dial out using ppp, and connect to my isp, but get no further. At that point my knowledge is insufficient. Works very well on wireless using the local libarary's Aotea network All help gratefully received regards Chris T usual networking diagnostics before and after it connects. ping, route, traceroute, resolv.conf etc. Thanks will try those and see how far I get regards Chris T Yes, the dial-up has been broken 'out of the box' since about release 8.04. It can be fixed though. Is this an external modem? (tip - always easier.) Instructions: ~$ sudo apt-get install gnome-ppp (you can use gnome-ppp to dial out simply, once the modem is connecting consistently: it's found under Applications - Internet once installed) gnome-ppp provides a dialog box front-end for wvdial. The problem is one of ppp file-writing permissions. Have you tried running the wvdial command as the root user? - this allows access to the pppd program files, for the connection to hold. ref = http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1436496 e.g. There is a good instruction page online somewhere, with a specific set of file tweaks that fix ppp to work properly for other users (join group 'dip' etc...) Am busy googling "Ubuntu dial-up ppp" to find it for you, but better if I duck back to my 8.04 bookmarks for it and repost. ... Good luck, Rik
