• pvsage
  • Internal Affairs
  • Offline
  • From: Section Six
  • Registered: 2009-10-18
  • Posts: 6,009

Re: Recommended netbook

@zhfac:  I think it's the mobile 945GSE Calistoga chipset.

while ( ! ( succeed = try() ) );
  • zhfac
  • New member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-04-07
  • Posts: 6

Re: Recommended netbook

And I don't think that chipset provides hardware acceleration of HD video, so you must be using your CPU to decode your HD video.

  • pvsage
  • Internal Affairs
  • Offline
  • From: Section Six
  • Registered: 2009-10-18
  • Posts: 6,009

Re: Recommended netbook

^ Well, at any rate, HD video is far better in Statler than in 9.04, and there was considerable discussion at a forum dedicated to Ubuntu on the Mini 9 about getting 2.6.32 into Ubuntu Jaunty specifically for video support.

while ( ! ( succeed = try() ) );
  • zhfac
  • New member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-04-07
  • Posts: 6

Re: Recommended netbook

Hmm, thanks. I'm just trying to decide whether or not I should get an EEE 1001/1005, a NB305, or a Vostro V13 (CULV). Unless there's going to be another hardware change within the next 2-3 months, I'm about to jump the gun.

  • Morley
  • #! CrunchBanger
  • Offline
  • From: Albuquerque
  • Registered: 2010-02-17
  • Posts: 127

Re: Recommended netbook

I have an MSI Wind, and it works very well.  I treated it as my main computer for a while, playing World of Warcraft, watching movies, surfing the web, chess analysis, etc.  There are a bunch of more powered ones out at the moment ... I am really intrigued by the Lenovo x100e ... you can get it with a dual-core processor and 4 GB of RAM.  That might be overkill, and you won't get great battery life though.  I have a friend who has an EEE PC 1005HA, and it is fantastic.  Personally, I would go for an EEE PC, since at this point they have a good handle on the netbook ... good design, fantastic battery life, and good performance.

I willfully participate in a campaign of misinformation!
  • Registered: 2010-04-28
  • Posts: 1

Re: Recommended netbook

A quick $0.02 (and rapidly devaluing...)

I would second the comment about getting a 2-3 y/o laptop as cheekybangbang suggested. Throw an extra battery where the modular CD goes, sit back and enjoy.

There are few things as frustrating as buying a new computer and being disappointed in its performance.  I bought the wife a Asus eee 1000HA in Dec '08, which (currently) has Windows XP on it.  Although I've upgraded it to 2GB ram, it's still the slowest 3lb terd I've ever used.

Now that I have discovered the world of Linux (my personal laptop is Latitude C600, #! only), I've got grand plans to triple boot (Leopard, XP, #!) my desktop and dual boot the eee.  I'm hoping to get some respectable performance out of it with #!.

Z

  • Registered: 2009-08-15
  • Posts: 46

Re: Recommended netbook

dippedandfried wrote:

...@cheekybangbang: I love your enthusiasm, but you've strayed a bit off topic with the 6 lb laptop that would no way fit in my gig bag...

I didn't realize you had a weight limitation- the original poster said weight was NOT an issue.
wink

The little netbooks are really nice, especially now with the new cpus and chipsets. I went down and looked at a few of the new tiny sony's, and I was totally blown away. BEYOND light, super fast and trim, well built, extremely long lasting battery life... add an SSD and -BAM! Wow.

However, they're in excess of $1k USD.

I just picked up 3 older HP dv5000's off ebay (C2D chips, Intel 945gm video). For $80~$100 I got 12 cell battery, c2D (t2050~2400's), intel 945 GMA graphics, 2+gb 667...120gb+ HD's and 1280x800 or better LCD's. I simply put a few together to make one working one, and resold the rest for parts. With the SSD, and the extended battery (but lord it's bulky) I can sit and work for hours and hours. With #! it's fast as my 3+ ghz machines... The ONLY issue is the dangburn Broadcom wireless card- but I'll be on the first Beta Statler, so hopefully that solves that.

Anyway. That's another example of a cheap and highly performing machine. The cons are
1) Haven't dropped it over a meter onto something hard (off the bed -by the way, I've got a wild toddler, which is why my other rigs have been tested to the extent they have- nothing like a running toddler to snag a power cord and fling the laptop flying 30 feet across a room)...
2) It's not light. (but with the regular 6cell, it's totally tollerable for school and moving)...

big_smile
p.s. I LOVE GEAR. lol

85% #! user, 10% Other distros, 5% M$Bill"Satan"Gates
IBM T-22 server + Dell e1505 + Old dualie socket 370 server (why not? Runs GREAT with #! 10 +4gb ECC ram)
OSs: #! 10 (openbox), AVLinux5, LinuxMINT 11, Fluxbuntu 7 (pah!), Fedorah 15, + WinXP*cough-cough*"pro" for
VST & DAW, CAD, Media, Composing & Pro-Music Studio work, Image editing, etc.
  • From: Ireland
  • Registered: 2010-08-17
  • Posts: 16

Re: Recommended netbook

Regarding the 1m test, I am presently on a basic Dell Inspiron 1545 which has been dropped 1m+ and is still fully operable.  The damage caused was a crack on the outside plastic, a chunk of plastic from the corner and the cover for the cd drive now falls off (which could be fixed with glue).  The machine itself is working flawlessly.

Debian | #! Statler Alpha 2 | Linux Mint Debian (LMDE)

34 Reply by fox

  • fox
  • #! Junkie
  • Offline
  • From: Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
  • Registered: 2009-05-10
  • Posts: 361

Re: Recommended netbook

My MSI Wind U100 works pretty well with CrunchBang and pretty much any Linux I've tried on it.  The display is matte; one of the few netbooks that came with a matte display (which I prefer).  Negatives are the wireless card range (poorer than at least the Dell minis), the trackpad and battery life (only 4 hours with a 6 cell).  I'm actually thinking of buying a newer model with longer battery life, and the reviews are pointing me to the Toshiba NB305, ASUS 1005PE, HP mini 5102 or possibly the larger ASUS 1215N.  Anyone owning one of these care to comment on it, especially whether CrunchBang installs easily on it.  Oh yes, it has to be one that can be opened up to change the HD, as I would put my OCZ Vertex SSD in it.

Last edited by fox (2010-08-31 11:10:13)

Mac user with Linux tendencies
#!CrunchBang Statler & UNE 10.10 on Acer 1810TZ (OCZ Vertex 60gb SSD)
#!, Mint LMDE & Peppermint Ice on MSI Wind U100 (Gigabye Atheros b/g wireless)
Various linux virtual machines on a Mac mini, an iMac and a MacBook Pro
  • Registered: 2010-09-10
  • Posts: 30

Re: Recommended netbook

i dont like apple but my g4 survived like four falls

i use toshiba, is the best for me

36 Reply by fox

  • fox
  • #! Junkie
  • Offline
  • From: Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
  • Registered: 2009-05-10
  • Posts: 361

Re: Recommended netbook

matusvictor wrote:

....
i use toshiba, is the best for me

Are you able to get the function keys to work in CrunchBang or any version of Linux?  I'm testing the NB305 and haven't figured out how to make these keys work outside of Windows.

Mac user with Linux tendencies
#!CrunchBang Statler & UNE 10.10 on Acer 1810TZ (OCZ Vertex 60gb SSD)
#!, Mint LMDE & Peppermint Ice on MSI Wind U100 (Gigabye Atheros b/g wireless)
Various linux virtual machines on a Mac mini, an iMac and a MacBook Pro