Advice Sought : Linux on a laptop

ML1
ML1
Joined: 20 Feb 05
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And back on-topic: So,

And back on-topic:

So, amongst various devices, I've been running an old netbook for some time now for something convenient and very capable yet compact whilst out on the road. It's an old Acer Aspire One (SSD version) from back before Microsoft smashed the idea with expensive bloated strangled Microsoft 'equivalents'. (Interestingly, the format is returning under the guise of the Google Chrome-book...)

My netbook was soon triple-booting the original Linspire alongside Meego and Mandriva Linux. All worked beautifully well. The Linspire and Meego were mainly relegated to playing media or giving something a 'quick-look'. Similar function as taken up by Android devices now. Mandriva running the KDE desktop is used for the main computer work grunt.

The netbook and batteries are still running well (just over one hour run time on a full charge). Likely, I'll soon be making a clean install of either Mageia3 or Gentoo. The only lookout is to remember it is an old 32-bit Atom CPU!

For any recent kernel and mainstream hardware, you should be fine, including for laptops. However, for the strange world of some niche or heavily branded laptops, it is still a good idea to make a web search to check for any proprietary hardware lock-down silliness for whatever type/model/chipset...

Aside: The obvious way to go is SSD all the way!

Good luck,
Martin

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Mike Hewson
Mike Hewson
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RE: RE: @MrS - Personally

Quote:
Quote:
@MrS - Personally I like SSD's primarily for archive only, but maybe it's time to trust them more. It may as well be a big one.

Well, archiving is IMO what SSDs are the least suitable for - their capacity is comparably expensive, and you can't use their speed bonus if you just use them seldomly. Ideally the flash memory would be used as an additional buffer or cache between main memory and HDD - that's where it would make the most sense, technically. That we're at a point where we can even think about using them as primary storage is a great accomplishment :)

Anyway, I recommend you try the Samsung as system drive (media can be put elsewhere). These drives (830 and 840 series) have a really good track record. So you wouldn't give any reliabilty up in comparison to HDDs: any drive can fail, so important stuff needs a backup anyway.

Regarding buying a big one: if you want to, sure. Personally I don't like spending big on SSDs, so I prefer to use storage in a smart way. Put big/large/huge files elsewhere and you should be fine with affordable 120 / 240 GB. And won't regret the purchase once the next generation of SSDs arrives ;)

MrS


Ah well yes. You're right to call me on that, I only have 2 SSD's and both are dated now. My point about trusting them was that I ( perhaps overly so ) was paying alot of attention at purchase time then, to caveats that might no longer apply ie. trust them more now. I tend to focus on 'stable' in first, second and third priority so I guess I wasted their virtues. In any case this IT business does have a fast pace and yes the fact we even consider them as primary storage is a win in and of itself.

Aside : Speaking of change and progress, I've just read an article in Science ( which I can't copy here for you alas ) talking of research into a newer/next level transistor junction design. A Chinese team have working prototypes for junctions for which tunneling current ( quantum mechanical leakage through a classical barrier ) is the switchable signal in a field effect device with a 'floating' gate voltage. This isn't new physics but rather a new twist in engineering. In 'standard' design strategies one can posit that lowering crystal band gap energy ( via doping at manufacture ) is advantageous to reduce power, give better switching speed and the like. But this occurs at a possible cost of obfuscating logic levels because the maximum voltage ( in a positive logic system ) of boolean zero/false maybe too close to the minimum voltage for boolean one/true. Assuming I've read the article correctly I think the implication is that one can choose the degree of 'grey' b/w logic states by the setting of a bias voltage ...... there's always new stuff hovering isn't there ?

Cheers, Mike.

I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...

... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal

Mike Hewson
Mike Hewson
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Joined: 1 Dec 05
Posts: 6534
Credit: 284700169
RAC: 113726

RE: For any recent kernel

Quote:
For any recent kernel and mainstream hardware, you should be fine, including for laptops. However, for the strange world of some niche or heavily branded laptops, it is still a good idea to make a web search to check for any proprietary hardware lock-down silliness for whatever type/model/chipset...


Yup. I've really become an open-source/hardware/whatever guy in the last few years : seriously tiring of 'corralling' tactics from some industry elements. I'm happy to pay license fees, but not to be treated as a fool in return. I think one becomes more grumpy/discerning with age ..... :-)

[Aside/Rant] : I've just stomped off from Audible.com after 15+ years of customership at a 'platinum' level. Short story - taken over by Amazon, contract cancelled by them six months prior to annual renewal, 18 'credits' lost. They don't see any problem whatsoever : suck-it-up or walk. So no more money from me. I'm now Googling for DRM hacks so that I can ensure conversion of my existing paid-for content that I have a paid-for right to listen to prior to their unilateral change of heart/breach-of-contract. No, I won't be distributing the mp3's and I'm the only one that listens to them anyway. Who runs these companies, professional own-foot shooters ?? I am the very sort of customer they should keep happy, as I have the means to pay and I do indeed respect author's rights to profit from their work. There's actually an XKCD ( or twelve ) about precisely this, which I thought was a joke only ...... but I guess they're not the first, nor the last, IT business/industry to go orthogonal to their own market. Essentially this is why I've fired up this thread, to obtain general advice for sure but also to negate any of this proprietary lock-in nonsense. If I'd wanted that, I would have gone for an Apple ... :-) :-) [End Aside/Rant]

Cheers, Mike.

I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...

... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal

tullio
tullio
Joined: 22 Jan 05
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I spent 700 euros for my SUN

I spent 700 euros for my SUN WS in 2008, monitor and printer excluded. Last year I spent 269 euros for an HP laptop having a similar performance. All this excluding RAM upgrades and disk upgrades. DDR2 memories on the SUN cost more than DDR3 memories on the HP, and SSDs cost more than rotary disks. I have an Opteron 1220 at 2.8 GHz to insert in the socket of the 1210 at 1.8 GHz when I find the courage to dismantle the cooler assembly of the SUN. I bought it from a relative at 150 euros. Good luck!
Tullio

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