Re: Linux on the Cheapest Laptops

From: Unruh (unruh-spam_at_physics.ubc.ca)
Date: 08/17/05 

Date: 17 Aug 2005 04:38:19 GMT

Terry Simpkins <terry5000@verizon.net> writes:

>Tony Sivori wrote:

>> What are the odds of Mandrake / Mandriva or Suse working on the bottom of
>> the line laptops that Office Depot, Best Buy and others are selling? Has
>> anyone here tried it?
>>
>> Some of the model numbers I see (last week's expired sales) for between
>> $450 and $550 are:
>> Compaq Presairo Model M2105US ($549)
>> Compaq V2000Z ($499)
>> Toshiba A85-S107 ($499)
>> Toshiba A85-S1072 ($450)

You will probably not be able to use the modem. YOu may not be able to
switch the screen from internal to external (this is true even for
expensive laptops) The video might be a problem. The pcmcia might be.
Otherwise it should be OK.
But as they suggest take along a CD installation.

>>
>> I've tried to check the newsgroups for myself, but Google is showing zero
>> hits for the above model numbers in all Linux newsgroups.
>>
>> One more thing. I don't really want to pay the Microsoft tax, so I'll also
>> ask if anyone knows where I can get a comparably equipped Linux laptop
>> comparably priced?

Almost certainly no. they are cheap because loads were made. And they were
made with Windows.

>>
>Make a knoppix boot disk and boot the computer with it. If it boots and all
>the hardware is found and running, then most other linuxes will work.

>I have a bottom of the line dell that works fine.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: How can I make a bootable USB memory key
    ... I doesn't matter what you boot with. ... > - put the floppy loader program onto that CD ... >> All the laptops are of the same brand and type. ... >> I used to load my PCs via a bootable DOS-floppy that created a RAM disk ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: How safe is my BIOS Power-on Password?
    ... Since I use a BIOS power-on password to protect the data on my laptop ... On laptops, the BIOS ... you to set boot devices and boot options. ... all they are shown is the hard disk. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: NFS4 authentification / fsuid
    ... the laptops I use regularly. ... and watch boot password go 'poof!'. ... tinkering with my BIOS does virtually nothing; ... Then I don't really need a "hardware keylogger", ...
    (Linux-Kernel)
  • Linux on the Cheapest Laptops
    ... the line laptops that Office Depot, Best Buy and others are selling? ... Toshiba A85-S1072 ... hits for the above model numbers in all Linux newsgroups. ... ask if anyone knows where I can get a comparably equipped Linux laptop ...
    (comp.os.linux.portable)
  • Re: Linux on the Cheapest Laptops
    ... > the line laptops that Office Depot, Best Buy and others are selling? ... > hits for the above model numbers in all Linux newsgroups. ... > ask if anyone knows where I can get a comparably equipped Linux laptop ... Make a knoppix boot disk and boot the computer with it. ...
    (comp.os.linux.portable)