Advice on a new laptop please

jb · External Since: Feb 22, 2006 Posts: 3

Hi All,

re-posting to the portable group.....

Trying to get the cart BEFORE the horse this time!

I will be shopping for a smaller laptop for the wife to use - just e-mails
and general surfing (wireless).

Would like to page those that know if there's a particular brand or style to
purchase that will run Linux the best. (recognize the bells and whistles
from the setup-to-go )- mouse-wireless - screen - touchpad, etc.....

Probably will be a Pentium something - 540+ ram - 60+meg hard drive - cd/dvd
read and write drive - built-in wireless(most are coming that way, but am
open for suggestions)

hoping to get under $6-700us.... $900 tops please. or ?????

I am using Fedora4 on a box unit and liking it (from
not-$o=good-ole-Window$...tired of the payout- don't mind paying for goods,
but is getting more $$$ day-by-day)).
Will be changing 80% to Linux by year's end (5 boxes now)

I have a HP pavilion lap top that will NOT run Linux (or a version that I
know of--- again open for ideas) Fedore4 will not utilize the screen -
distorted views - any help WILL be appreciated??

Many thanks in advance

John b - new at the Linux thing and liking it . . . . so far!

Unruh · External Since: May 27, 2005 Posts: 2192

"jb" <jbousman@REMOVE@sbcglobal.net> writes:

>Hi All,

>re-posting to the portable group.....

>Trying to get the cart BEFORE the horse this time!

>I will be shopping for a smaller laptop for the wife to use - just e-mails
>and general surfing (wireless).

>Would like to page those that know if there's a particular brand or style to
>purchase that will run Linux the best. (recognize the bells and whistles
>from the setup-to-go )- mouse-wireless - screen - touchpad, etc.....

>Probably will be a Pentium something - 540+ ram - 60+meg hard drive - cd/dvd
>read and write drive - built-in wireless(most are coming that way, but am
>open for suggestions)

>hoping to get under $6-700us.... $900 tops please. or ?????

Yeah, and I want a Porsche for $100.

You will not get AFAIK 530 Ram 60MB disk for that price. Think about
256/20GB. No wireless. a CDReader but not RW, and certainly not DVD write.
And the chances of problems are relatively higher with the cheapest laptop.
It will also be very heavy.

Do you have a wireless AP in your house?

>I am using Fedora4 on a box unit and liking it (from
>not-$o=good-ole-Window$...tired of the payout- don't mind paying for goods,
>but is getting more $$$ day-by-day)).
>Will be changing 80% to Linux by year's end (5 boxes now)

>I have a HP pavilion lap top that will NOT run Linux (or a version that I
>know of--- again open for ideas) Fedore4 will not utilize the screen -
>distorted views - any help WILL be appreciated??

>Many thanks in advance

>John b - new at the Linux thing and liking it . . . . so far!

Unruh · External Since: May 27, 2005 Posts: 2192

"jb" <jbousman@REMOVE@sbcglobal.net> writes:

>Hi All,

>re-posting to the portable group.....

>Trying to get the cart BEFORE the horse this time!

>I will be shopping for a smaller laptop for the wife to use - just e-mails
>and general surfing (wireless).

>Would like to page those that know if there's a particular brand or style to
>purchase that will run Linux the best. (recognize the bells and whistles
>from the setup-to-go )- mouse-wireless - screen - touchpad, etc.....

>Probably will be a Pentium something - 540+ ram - 60+meg hard drive - cd/dvd
>read and write drive - built-in wireless(most are coming that way, but am
>open for suggestions)

>hoping to get under $6-700us.... $900 tops please. or ?????

>I am using Fedora4 on a box unit and liking it (from
>not-$o=good-ole-Window$...tired of the payout- don't mind paying for goods,
>but is getting more $$$ day-by-day)).
>Will be changing 80% to Linux by year's end (5 boxes now)

>I have a HP pavilion lap top that will NOT run Linux (or a version that I
>know of--- again open for ideas) Fedore4 will not utilize the screen -
>distorted views - any help WILL be appreciated??

What do you mean it will not run Linux? I have an HP Pavilion that runs
Linux just fine. What problems do you have? What have you tried to install
on it. I would try Mandrake.
What does "distorted views" mean? Do you mean that Linux DID install? If
not how do you get distorted views. If it did, what doesn "will NOT run
Linux" mean?

>Many thanks in advance

>John b - new at the Linux thing and liking it . . . . so far!

Paul Rubin · External Since: Jan 03, 2005 Posts: 18

Unruh <unruh-spam.RemoveThis@physics.ubc.ca> writes:
> >I have a HP pavilion lap top that will NOT run Linux (or a version that I
> >know of--- again open for ideas) Fedore4 will not utilize the screen -
> >distorted views - any help WILL be appreciated??
>
> What do you mean it will not run Linux? I have an HP Pavilion that runs
> Linux just fine. What problems do you have? What have you tried to install
> on it. I would try Mandrake.

There are many models of HP Pavilion and some of them use video chips
with secret programming interfaces, so they're unsupported by
nonproprietary X servers. That may be what's going on here.

jb · External Since: Feb 22, 2006 Posts: 3

Dear Unurh,

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my inquiry.

Please see some answers to your questions and some additions in your text

thanks again - jb

"Unruh" <unruh-spam DeleteThis @physics.ubc.ca> wrote in message
news:du2ep0$ndi$3@nntp.itservices.ubc.ca...
> "jb" <jbousman@REMOVE@sbcglobal.net> writes:
>
>>Hi All,
>
>>re-posting to the portable group.....
>
>>Trying to get the cart BEFORE the horse this time!
>
>>I will be shopping for a smaller laptop for the wife to use - just e-mails
>>and general surfing (wireless).
>
>>Would like to page those that know if there's a particular brand or style
>>to
>>purchase that will run Linux the best. (recognize the bells and whistles
>>from the setup-to-go )- mouse-wireless - screen - touchpad, etc.....
>
>>Probably will be a Pentium something - 540+ ram - 60+meg hard drive -
>>cd/dvd
>>read and write drive - built-in wireless(most are coming that way, but am
>>open for suggestions)
>
>>hoping to get under $6-700us.... $900 tops please. or ?????
>

>>Yeah, and I want a Porsche for $100.

+++++++++++++ I'll take 2 - one for Sunday :>))

++++++++++++ One can ask for suggestions and a starting price range ?? OK
???? or ???

>Y>ou will not get AFAIK 530 Ram 60MB disk for that price. Think about
>>256/20GB. No wireless. a CDReader but not RW, and certainly not DVD write.
>>And the chances of problems are relatively higher with the cheapest
>>laptop.
>>It will also be very heavy.

+++++++ it will be for the wife.... and at home..... or in the car. . .
weight is not the issue ... inexpensive - not sheep please... :>))

>>Do you have a wireless AP in your house?

++++++++++++++++ - yes ....... The HP is on line (wireless )and will be
using it (them) on=the=road too

>>I am using Fedora4 on a box unit and liking it (from
>>not-$o=good-ole-Window$...tired of the payout- don't mind paying for
>>goods,
>>but is getting more $$$ day-by-day)).
>>Will be changing 80% to Linux by year's end (5 boxes now)
>
>>I have a HP pavilion lap top that will NOT run Linux (or a version that I
>>know of--- again open for ideas) Fedore4 will not utilize the screen -
>>distorted views - any help WILL be appreciated??
>
> What do you mean it will not run Linux? I have an HP Pavilion that runs
> Linux just fine. What problems do you have? What have you tried to install
> on it. I would try Mandrake.

++++++++++++ I mentioned Fedora 4 - will give mandrake a try - thanks -
will dl it and cut disks tonight

++++++++++++++++ Will it set up the touch pad and the wireless card without
a lot of tweeking??

> What does "distorted views" mean? Do you mean that Linux DID install? If

+++++++++++++++++ not instaled - during the "setup screens" - they are very
distorted and hard to read. (the botton 1/3 of the screen was stretched out
to be unreadable...
I understood what was wanted (on the screend) cause I installed Fedora4 on
my X-DOZ box.... quit the install before initilization.

> not how do you get distorted views. If it did, what doesn "will NOT run
> Linux" mean?

++++++++++++++++++ I know that there are many diferent versions of Linux
out there and being new, was seeking advice on what to use instead of trying
to re-invent the whole system. I am a user - not a professional
programer,but am willing to learn......

>
>
>
>>Many thanks in advance
>
>
>>John b - new at the Linux thing and liking it . . . . so far!

++++++++++++++++++++ and as I mentioned above - NEW AT THE LINUX THING -
and interested in suggestions

TIA again - john b

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