[email protected] wrote:
> On Fri, 2009-05-22 at 13:04 +0100, [email protected] wrote:
> > Hello All,
> >=20
> > My old Intel box has finally packed up.
> > I see there are 'notebooks' and laptops
> > (what is the difference between a laptop
> > and a notebook??)
> > available with Unbuntu already installed.
> >=20
> > My needs are simple:
> > to run Mathematica and LaTeX / LyX.
> >=20
> > I'm now age 70. I want to keep it simple
> > and reliable.
> >=20
> > I don't use Open office unless someone
> > sends me a doc file or a ppt. And I don't
> > engage in games, or chat lines or 'social
> > networking, nor voice over IP.
> >=20
> > Apart from Mathematica & Latex, the most
> > sophisticated thing, is to view video clips
> > on the BBC website, and similar.
> >=20
> > Advice would be appreciated. Thanks
> >=20
> > Louis Gidney
> Hi Louis,
> The major thing here would be to ask what you use Mathematica for? I use
> it now and again for some things that are quite processor intensive, but
> some people I know don't use it for that intensive purposes. The other
> question to ask is what other hardware do you currently have that you
> use? Printers and suchlike. HP printers tend to work well, but some
> manufacturers don't play as nice.=20
> As for the notebook/laptop conundrum, notebooks and laptops are the same
> (I think), netbooks are different though. They tend to be very small,
> low powered machines that are designed to be carried to and fro very
> easily. I'm not sure a netbook would run mathematica particularly well
> (I don't think mine has enough HD space for it come to think of it). The
> other disadvantage may be the small screen, but this depends on what
> you're doing.
> With a little more info we can probably help :) Also, one of the Alans
> (can't remember which one, but goes by the nick TheOpenSourcerer) has
> made a fantastic website for looking for machines without windows on,
> http://nakedcomputers.org/ which may be worth a look.
> Hope that helps :)
> -Matt Daubney=20
>
Many thanks for your prompt reply Matt:
1). Yes, processor-intensive work
2). Printers:
(a) an oldish HP DeskJet 820Cxi
(b) newish EpsonStylus DX6000 (scanner+printer)
3). I was referring to those 'notebooks' that to
external appearances look exactly like laptops.
Someone suggested they may have flash memory
instead of hard-drives, but I don't know if that
is correct, or the distinquishing feature.
4). I wouldn't dream of trying (nor wish) to run
mathematica on a pocket device (I've got a
Nokia80 for instance) or using such a thing for
serious long session work (eyesight demanding).
5.) Other hardware (hardly relevant): An Acorn RiscPC
(RiscOS 4.39) -- very useful for certain jobs.
6.) Thanks for the link. I'll take a look.
regards,
Louis
PS. My requirement is a workhorse for serious work.
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