Comments on: Hands On with Two Ultra-Cheap Linux Systems http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:11:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Bjorne http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67169 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:22:06 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67169 The biggest waste of money i spent was when i made the mistake and bought EVEREX G- BOOK !.
linux ISNT USER FRIENDLY.

if your not a computer whiz and want a cheap laptop. Take it from some one who threw 400 bucks down the drain, When i purchased my linux laptop. I CANT STRESS ENOUGH HOW I GOT ROBBED with the linux G – book. What added insult to injury was there customers support was even a bigger joke.
Linux sucked !!!!!

]]> By: SteveG http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67168 Sat, 05 Jan 2008 05:47:33 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67168 The Eee PC also includes Pidgin IM software. I use that to log into a password-protected conference room for group teleconference backgrounding among participants. It has a very decent PIM, too, and the PIM includes another mail program in addition to the Thunderbird that comes with the Firefox suite. Yes, the screen is somewhat confining, and the keyboard somewhat small, but there are times when I just do not want to lug around my MacBook, small and convenient as that gem is. So, the Eee PC just fits the bill nicely.

]]> By: online money maker http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67167 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 07:40:19 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67167 I’ve been hearing nothing but good things about the Asus.

If you’re doing mostly word processing and surfing, apparently it’s fine. Definitely can’t be beat to bring along for travelling.

]]> By: digitalronin http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67166 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 21:45:14 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67166 Forget vista machines and think how you will be using the laptop. If are doing email, wordprocessing, and simple web design, you don’t need a power hungry vista machine.

]]> By: raindog469 http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67165 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:52:11 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67165 I can’t get a full-sized bargain notebook in my jacket pocket, but the Eee is plenty small for that. Not sure I want to, but I could.

I’m definitely interested in the Everex Cloudbook, but Via chips have a history of underwhelming performance and the higher clock may mean more heat than the Eee. Their gPC ($200 Walmart Linux box) was apparently pretty anemic hardware-wise, and it’s higher-specced than the Cloudbook.

Still, it’ll probably be the pink Eee that I buy for my niece’s birthday. Flash is harder to kill than a hard disk, and she has little fingers and no Windows habits to break.

Even Webkinz will be doable for her once I install Opera on it and set the full-page zoom to about 80%. They should really preinstall Opera on this thing since there’s no per-seat license and the 800×480 thing makes full-page zoom a must, unlike Firefox’s zoom which only affects the fonts.

]]> By: aristos_achaion http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67164 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:50:42 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67164 You can’t really compare the eeepc to big, clunky, 15.4″ $400 laptops: it doesn’t serve the same purpose. Students like me can’t afford 2K+ for a secondary UMPC system; the eee works wonderfully as a portable complement to a desktop. Try that with a heavy, underpowered windows luggable.

I’m writing this on my eee right now; it’s wonderful–the best $400 I spent in 2007l

]]> By: Bruce http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67163 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:26:09 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67163 I recently purchased a refurbished Dell Vostro 1000 (1.8GHz Sempron, 512MB RAM, 60GB HD, 15.x” widescreen display and wireless card) for $348 with shipping from Dell’s outlet site. I spent another $33 for an additional 1GB of RAM, reformatted the hard drive (which had Vista Home Basic installed) and installed Linux Mint. Granted, this system is a LOT bigger than the Asus Eee, but for those who prefer a larger display and are willing to sacrifice extreme portability (like my wife), there are options such as this.

]]> By: The Doctor http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67162 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:48:55 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67162 I don’t know where you people are looking for your new computers. Right now, in my city, Best Buy, CompUSA, and Circuit City, all have laptop computers with Microsoft Vista for $399. These computers have 80 GB hard drives, CD burners, DVD players, full screen and keyboard, and good battery life. If you read the reviews about the Asus mini notebook, you’ll find that people complain about the size of the keyboard, excessive heat (the heatsink is a metal panel behind the keyboard), poor battery life, no CD-ROM/DVD drives, and underpowered and low memory. If you want a really nice operating Linux machine, buy one of the cheap Microsoft Vista laptops and just go and install your favorite version of Linux on it.

Or, wait until the end of January. Everex is coming out with a mini notebook with a CD burner and a DVD player, 80 GB hard drive, wireless and Linux preinstalled.

]]> By: Ken Girard http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67161 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:31:43 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67161 I am looking at getting an EEE for mobile use (Like taking notes at construction sites). I like that it is light weight, small, and the storage is not affected by me sitting it down 3 feet away while I use a jack hammer.

I don’t expect it to be fast, powerful, or have the ability to store every file ever on it (And if I need more storage space, I can always get a 500gig external HD). For the uses I am expecting for it, I’d be happy with something that ran Windows 98 and Office 97. If I need major power and high graphics, I got a desktop sitting at home.

Sure, in a year it will be replaced by something better, but then so will any computer.

]]> By: Clark http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67160 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 01:16:46 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67160 Asus eee is a great value. It’s not a production machine but a terrific tool when travelling.

]]> By: cg17 http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67159 Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:23:16 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67159 The Everex and Asus could be good starter machines for people who use the web but are not necessarily “power users.” But I guess that’s the point, isn’t it? I like the portability the Asus offers and the inexpensive price offering of the Everex; they have their strengths and their weaknesses.

As for using Linux, I’ve been using Ubuntu (Feisty, then upgraded to Gutsy) for about 6 months now and haven’t gone back to Windows at all. I concur with what previous commenters here have about Linux. When I tried Linux (Fedora Core, which I can’t say is really for newbies to Linux) a few years ago, I had loads of hardware problems. Those hardware problems have since been taking care of (at least for my system).

For people looking to re-vive an old computer, I would recommend installing a Linux distro with the Xfce desktop (like Xubuntu) as it is designed for lower-end and older computers.

Testing websites on different browsers and OS’s has never really been a problem as I use Browsershots to test my designs.

]]> By: raindog469 http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67158 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:45:20 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67158 Tiffany, you can actually run IE (up to version 6, but IE7 is in the works) under Linux. I have no idea how well it works on the Eee or gPC, but I use it for testing web apps from time to time. Google for “ies4linux”. It only takes a couple of commands that you can copy and paste to install it.

]]> By: Zale http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67157 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:20:27 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67157 I’ve been using Linux on 3 machines for about a year. The distribution I prefer is PCLinuxOS.

For those that seem to think that the only company who can produce a good, easy to use operating system and software is Microsoft, their stock holders thank you.

For everyone else, I recommend you give Linux a try. I have no intention of going back and will open my law office with Linux.

If you don’t think Linux can work, check out Google, Amazon, eBay and the New York Stock Exchange. They all seem to run just fine on it.

]]> By: tb http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67156 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:19:03 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67156 The Asus is very good, solid and with a small but good keyboard – excellent connectivity – plus open office ignore these “reviews” just look at the sales, these things are selling big time – perhaps they got it right?

]]> By: Samuel Dean http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67155 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:15:28 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67155 Hi Pam, I’m a writer too and I happen to have very big hands. The keyboard on the Asus is fine. It’s not as good as the keyboard on a ThinkPad–my favorite laptop keyboard–but I write fine with the Asus keyboard.

Sam

]]> By: pam http://gigaom.com/collaboration/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67154 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:53:40 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/28/hands-on-with-two-ultra-cheap-linux-systems/#comment-67154 You’ve overlooked a question I have about these things – I’ve been thinking of getting one. I’m a writer, I travel – that’s the context. How’s the keyboard? I wonder if it’s too small to use for extended periods comfortably. I love the idea – a stripped down typewriter with email, wifi, and photo storage is EXACTLY what I need, but if it’s not comfortable to use, it’s no good to me. Thoughts?

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