[ale] - [semi-OT] - Laptops in the metro
James P. Kinney III
jkinney at localnetsolutions.com
Wed Feb 12 22:30:56 EST 2003
And they are local to Atlanta! www.emperorlinux.com
On Wed, 2003-02-12 at 22:05, Jonathan Glass wrote:
> Does anyone else read Linux Journal? One of their advertisers does nothing but
> linux laptops...preconfigured, ready to go. I'll look for the URL in some of my
> back issues and post it tomorrow.
>
> Jonathan
>
> Quoting Bob Toxen <bob at verysecurelinux.com>:
>
> > Jason,
> > > Hi folks,
> >
> > > I recently started doing contract work, and I determined that it
> > > is time for me to purchase a laptop. I wanted to see where you
> > folks
> > > would recommend looking in the metro area. I currently live in
> > Gwinnett
> > > County and work at Cobb Galleria, so those two areas would be
> > preferred
> > > for shopping if possible.
> >
> > Last month I did extensive research for a good Linux-only laptop to
> > replace my now-flaky 7+ year old Toshiba. All statements are my
> > opinion.
> >
> > FIRST, check http://www.mobilix.org and
> > http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/
> > for Linux compatibility, especially regarding Suspend (save memory to
> > disk and power down) and modem (e.g., WinBloz modems). Some models
> > insist on saving memory to a file of a particular name on a
> > Winbloz-format
> > file system that must be the first partition. (You can create such a
> > partition from scratch just large enough to hold the file.)
> >
> > Consider money (if you're paying) vs. capability. *I* did not find
> > a reason to buy a higher end model; they generally are just lighter,
> > slimmer, and a bit better ergonomically. How much graphics do you
> > really
> > do, unless you're a 3-D animator?
> >
> > Refurbished/used laptops are not price competitive with new ones, IMO,
> > unless you can make a deal with your company/client. I found the cost
> > of refurbs to be about 2/3 (67%) of the cost for new ones BUT they
> > have
> > 30-50% slower processors, half the disk, and someone has been banging
> > them around for 3+ years. Don't bother with 'em.
> >
> > My Toshiba had crashed about twice in the five years of almost
> > continuous
> > operation and 40,000 air miles prior to my September Hartsfield
> > Security
> > experience. (I did not see them abuse it and it was ancient.) Thus
> > Toshiba
> > was a strong contender for me.
> >
> > IBM has a good reputation and most models seem well-supported.
> >
> > I hear that HP is junk; Compaq seems to break but has good warranty
> > service.
> >
> >
> > I went with an IBM ThinkPad R31. Right now, IBM's web site has a great
> > deal
> > on them: $850+tax&ship for a 1.2GHz Celeron, 20G mem, CD reader in bay,
> > NIC,
> > WinBloz modem, and stick pointer. (If you do lots of pointing, the
> > stick
> > pointer is horrible and there is not a jack for an external mouse
> > unless
> > you buy a docking station.) I added another 256M mem and a floppy bay
> > for
> > about $70 each, to total at about $1080, including tax&ship; 10 day
> > delivery.
> > Battery life is about 3 hours; replacements are roughly $110.
> >
> > It's an *incredibly* fast machine, CPU, graphics, and CD. With the
> > 384MB of mem, it hardly uses the disk. A full Slackware 8.1 install
> > was painless and took 10-20 minutes. (I've not yet had time to worry
> > about Suspend, sound, or modem but they should be no problem.)
> >
> > The runner up for me was a Toshiba. Some of IBM's higher end laptops
> > officially support Linux and can be shipped with it.
> >
> > Seriously consider installing an encrypted file system, such as PPDD,
> > to protect your confidential data in case of theft and be very careful
> > around airport checkpoints. Buy a locking cable for about $30. Keep
> > backups in a separate location.
> >
> > > TIA,
> > > Jason
> >
> > Bob Toxen
> > bob at verysecurelinux.com [Please use for email to me]
> > http://www.verysecurelinux.com [Network&Linux/Unix security
> > consulting]
> > http://www.realworldlinuxsecurity.com [My book:"Real World Linux
> > Security 2/e"]
> > Quality Linux & UNIX security and SysAdmin & software consulting since
> > 1990.
> >
> > "Microsoft: Unsafe at any clock speed!"
> > -- Bob Toxen 10/03/2002
> > _______________________________________________
> > Ale mailing list
> > Ale at ale.org
> > http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> >
>
>
>
> Jonathan Glass
> Systems Support Specialist II
> IBB/BME
> V: 404-385-0127
> F: 404-894-2291
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--
James P. Kinney III \Changing the mobile computing world/
CEO & Director of Engineering \ one Linux user /
Local Net Solutions,LLC \ at a time. /
770-493-8244 \.___________________________./
http://www.localnetsolutions.com
GPG ID: 829C6CA7 James P. Kinney III (M.S. Physics) <jkinney at localnetsolutions.com>
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