I know there are a few of you out there with them.

Thoughts?

if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
standard lapdog?

and where's the best place to buy one from?

-- 
Adie 
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

New (not yet updated) UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.info/faq/index.html

YZF-R1 : ZX9R-E1 : GPz 750 turbo
keeper of the FAQ for my sins
MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11

On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:15:42 +0100, Adie  wrote:

>I know there are a few of you out there with them.
>
>Thoughts?
>
>if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
>standard lapdog?
>
>and where's the best place to buy one from?

I bought the following:

<http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@2025409729.1222625982@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccceadeffgdldehcflgceggdhhmdgmj.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=705895&category_oid=-35074>

If that URL doesn't work it's pcworld.co.uk and product ID 705895
(£199) - Sticking XP on it isn't easy by any means, and quite a
fiddle, but it works fine with it, even with just 500Mb/ram.  It's got
an 8Gb solid state drive instead of a spinning HD, and I stuck a £7
2Gb SD card in the dedicated storage expansion slot and use that for
swap space.

If you search for Acer Aspire One on pcworld.co.uk then you'll see a
number of more expensive options, some with hard drives, some with XP
on them.
-- 
-- Nick ICQ: 9235201 EMAIL & MSN: nickmooney@spamcop.net
-- Triumph Tiger 955i -- http://www.bgn.me.uk - Touché -
-- LOTR#4 SKOGA#8 DS#7 BOTAFOT#159 BOTM#2 FBOTY#06 PM#11

Adie  wrote:

> I know there are a few of you out there with them.
> 
> Thoughts?
> 
> if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
> standard lapdog?

I currently use an Eee 701 for just that when I'm staying in hotels,
about 2-3 nights a week usually.

Small keyboard and screen are irritating - but the 701 is probably the
worst for this as it does have the smallest screen out there and Eee
keyboards generally are very cramped.

However, later models from other manufacturers are significantly better
in this respect.

I'm currently considering an Acer Apsire One from John Lewis - 1GB RAM,
120GB hard drive but with the Linux install (no point in paying for
Windows as I have a spare copy here) - £229, incl. a 2 year guarantee.

Alternatively, the most popular option these days seems to be the Advent
4211 from PC World. It's another 50-odd quid, though.
 
> and where's the best place to buy one from?

See above - I'm leaning towards the Acer from John Lewis for the 2 year
guarantee, which PC World are going to charge around another £100 for.
-- 
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Alfa 156 TSpark Sportwagon Veloce Selespeed
Alfa 156 TSpark Lusso - Alfa 75 TSpark Lusso - Ducati 750SS

BGN  wrote:

> On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:15:42 +0100, Adie  wrote:
> 
> >I know there are a few of you out there with them.
> >
> >Thoughts?
> >
> >if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
> >standard lapdog?
> >
> >and where's the best place to buy one from?
> 
> I bought the following:

<snip long URL>

> If that URL doesn't work it's pcworld.co.uk and product ID 705895
> (£199) - Sticking XP on it isn't easy by any means, and quite a
> fiddle, but it works fine with it, even with just 500Mb/ram.  It's got
> an 8Gb solid state drive instead of a spinning HD, and I stuck a £7
> 2Gb SD card in the dedicated storage expansion slot and use that for
> swap space.
> 
> If you search for Acer Aspire One on pcworld.co.uk then you'll see a
> number of more expensive options, some with hard drives, some with XP
> on them.

The base model Aspire One is £179 at Comet - £20 saving over the PC
World price.
-- 
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Alfa 156 TSpark Sportwagon Veloce Selespeed
Alfa 156 TSpark Lusso - Alfa 75 TSpark Lusso - Ducati 750SS

On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:26:39 +0100, steve@italiancar.co.uk (SteveH)
wrote:

>BGN  wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:15:42 +0100, Adie  wrote:
>> 
>> >I know there are a few of you out there with them.
>> >
>> >Thoughts?
>> >
>> >if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
>> >standard lapdog?
>> >
>> >and where's the best place to buy one from?
>> 
>> I bought the following:
>
><snip long URL>
>
>> If that URL doesn't work it's pcworld.co.uk and product ID 705895
>> (£199) - Sticking XP on it isn't easy by any means, and quite a
>> fiddle, but it works fine with it, even with just 500Mb/ram.  It's got
>> an 8Gb solid state drive instead of a spinning HD, and I stuck a £7
>> 2Gb SD card in the dedicated storage expansion slot and use that for
>> swap space.
>> 
>> If you search for Acer Aspire One on pcworld.co.uk then you'll see a
>> number of more expensive options, some with hard drives, some with XP
>> on them.
>
>The base model Aspire One is £179 at Comet - £20 saving over the PC
>World price.

The base model Aspire One is £149 at PC World, the model I have is
£199 at PC World.
-- 
-- Nick ICQ: 9235201 EMAIL & MSN: nickmooney@spamcop.net
-- Triumph Tiger 955i -- http://www.bgn.me.uk - Touché -
-- LOTR#4 SKOGA#8 DS#7 BOTAFOT#159 BOTM#2 FBOTY#06 PM#11

BGN  wrote:

> >The base model Aspire One is £179 at Comet - £20 saving over the PC
> >World price.
> 
> The base model Aspire One is £149 at PC World, the model I have is
> £199 at PC World.

Erm, that's the one Comet are doing for £179.

Don't see any Acers for £149. It's the Asus Eee that starts at £149.
-- 
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Alfa 156 TSpark Sportwagon Veloce Selespeed
Alfa 156 TSpark Lusso - Alfa 75 TSpark Lusso - Ducati 750SS

Adie wrote:

> I know there are a few of you out there with them.
> 
> Thoughts?
> 
> if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
> standard lapdog?
> 
> and where's the best place to buy one from?

How small would it have to be? I've got an IBM Thinkpad X61 that's
surplus to requirements. Very light (with the DVD clamshell
disconnected) and quite small but with a decent screen and keyboard.

-- 
Morini Corsaro 125 | CB450K4 | XL250 Motosport | 900SSD | R1150RT
Laverda SF2|Harley FXD                         BOTAFOF #33 TWA#10
The UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/index.html
"Je profite du paysage" - Joe Bar

On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:53:36 +0100, "Timo Geusch"
 wrote:

>Adie wrote:
>
>> I know there are a few of you out there with them.
>> 
>> Thoughts?
>> 
>> if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
>> standard lapdog?
>> 
>> and where's the best place to buy one from?
>
>How small would it have to be? I've got an IBM Thinkpad X61 that's
>surplus to requirements. Very light (with the DVD clamshell
>disconnected) and quite small but with a decent screen and keyboard.

wasn't necessarily thinking I needed small, I've also been looking at
full size laptops. the only thing that puts me towards a small one
would be that I'd likely take it away on the bike whereas with a full
size one I don't often have room.

The only reason I'm looking for a replacement is that this one ate a
hard drive (now replaced), has a line across the screen and Jennifer
has killed hers. so i figured if I treated me to a new one she could
have this one.

spec and price?
-- 
Adie 
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

New (not yet updated) UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.info/faq/index.html

YZF-R1 : ZX9R-E1 : GPz 750 turbo
keeper of the FAQ for my sins
MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11

On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:23:52 +0100, BGN wrote:

> On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:15:42 +0100, Adie  wrote:
> 
>>I know there are a few of you out there with them.
>>
>>Thoughts?
>>
>>if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a standard
>>lapdog?
>>
>>and where's the best place to buy one from?
> 
> I bought the following:
> 
> <http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?
BV_SessionID=@@@@2025409729.1222625982@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccceadeffgdldehcflgceggdhhmdgmj.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=705895&category_oid=-35074>
> 
> If that URL doesn't work it's pcworld.co.uk and product ID 705895 (£199)
> - Sticking XP on it isn't easy by any means,

Why the *fuck* would anyone want to? Mail news and surfing are all 
covered by linpus without the added benefits of crashes, slow performance 
and virus threats.

On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:08:41 +0100, Adie wrote:

> On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:53:36 +0100, "Timo Geusch"
>  wrote:
> 
>>Adie wrote:
>>
>>> I know there are a few of you out there with them.
>>> 
>>> Thoughts?
>>> 
>>> if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
>>> standard lapdog?
>>> 
>>> and where's the best place to buy one from?
>>
>>How small would it have to be? I've got an IBM Thinkpad X61 that's
>>surplus to requirements. Very light (with the DVD clamshell
>>disconnected) and quite small but with a decent screen and keyboard.
> 
> wasn't necessarily thinking I needed small, I've also been looking at
> full size laptops. the only thing that puts me towards a small one
> would be that I'd likely take it away on the bike whereas with a full
> size one I don't often have room.

Ding ! :-)


-- 
XJR1300SP, XJ900F, GSX250, 750SS
POTM#1(KoTL), WUSS#1 , YTC#1(bar), OSOS#2(KoTL) , DS#3 , IbW#18 ,Apostle#8
*(Emails to the posted address will be ignored)*
"The internet is a huge and diverse community and not every one is friendly"
http://www.ytc1.co.uk	There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/
Get the Software http://wwws.sun.com/software/solaris

On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:15:42 +0100, Adie wrote:

> I know there are a few of you out there with them.
> 
> Thoughts?
> 
> if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
> standard lapdog?

For travel, yes.
For work, not 100% but manageable

> 
> and where's the best place to buy one from?

Saw the eeePC gong for 150 ukp the other day, Dixons Duty Free/Manc

-- 
XJR1300SP, XJ900F, GSX250, 750SS
POTM#1(KoTL), WUSS#1 , YTC#1(bar), OSOS#2(KoTL) , DS#3 , IbW#18 ,Apostle#8
*(Emails to the posted address will be ignored)*
"The internet is a huge and diverse community and not every one is friendly"
http://www.ytc1.co.uk	There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/
Get the Software http://wwws.sun.com/software/solaris

On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:15:42 +0100, Adie 
 wrote in :
> I know there are a few of you out there with them.
 
> Thoughts?
 
> if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
> standard lapdog?

	Just come back from two weeks at CERN with a Median Akoya (rebadged
MSI Wind w/o BlueTooth).  Comes with WinXP and an 80 GB HDD (divided into a
60 GB Win partition and the rest recovery -- I moved the swap file into the
recovery partition as there was oodles of space there.)

	It works.  The keyboard is better than some (the Asus-es especially,
I hear).  Main problem is limited display space -- you really need to have
all windows maximised, which is a pain if you swap between many windows on
a regular basis.  I tried C++ programming, it was too difficult with such
small windows and only one available at a time.

	For news/mail/surfing I see no problem.

> and where's the best place to buy one from?

	www.medion.co.uk or Sainsbury's.  I got mine as an Aldi special.

	Oh, I have Ubuntu linux on an 8 GB USB stick; it boots and runs
perfectly on the Medion, except that drivers for the wireless network
interface aren't standard (yet).  I haven't put Linux on the HDD yet as
the possibilities are limited (two partitions already, and I think the
/boot has to be a primary partition); booting off a USB stick is hardly
onerous.

-- 
Ivan Reid, School of Engineering & Design, _____________  CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University.    Ivan.Reid@[brunel.ac.uk|cern.ch]    Room 40-1-B12, CERN
GSX600F, RG250WD         "You Porsche. Me pass!"   DoD #484     JKLO#003, 005
WP7# 3000   LC Unit #2368 (tinlc)   UKMC#00009   BOTAFOT#16    UKRMMA#7 (Hon)
        KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".

Adie  writes:

> On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:53:36 +0100, "Timo Geusch"
>  wrote:
>
>>Adie wrote:
>>
>>> I know there are a few of you out there with them.
>>> 
>>> Thoughts?
>>> 
>>> if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
>>> standard lapdog?
>>> 
>>> and where's the best place to buy one from?
>>
>>How small would it have to be? I've got an IBM Thinkpad X61 that's
>>surplus to requirements. Very light (with the DVD clamshell
>>disconnected) and quite small but with a decent screen and keyboard.
>
> wasn't necessarily thinking I needed small, I've also been looking at
> full size laptops. the only thing that puts me towards a small one
> would be that I'd likely take it away on the bike whereas with a full
> size one I don't often have room.
>
> The only reason I'm looking for a replacement is that this one ate a
> hard drive (now replaced), has a line across the screen and Jennifer
> has killed hers. so i figured if I treated me to a new one she could
> have this one.
>
> spec and price?

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/02/23/ibm_thinkpad_x31/

From memory, this one is a 1.7GHz with 1.5GB and a 60GB HD. It also
comes with the DVD clamshell (there is no optical drive in the main
unit). Ebay suggests around 170-180 quid.

-- 
Morini Corsaro 125 | CB450K4 | XL250 Motosport | 900SSD | R1150RT
Laverda SF2 | Harley FXD                       BOTAFOF #33 TWA#10
The UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/index.html
"Je profite du paysage" - Joe Bar

On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:29:06 GMT, YTC#1 
wrote:

>Saw the eeePC gong for 150 ukp the other day, Dixons Duty Free/Manc

that's a thought, I'm orf to the US in a couple of weeks.

Ogden, dja want some more cookies?
-- 
Adie 
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

New (not yet updated) UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.info/faq/index.html

YZF-R1 : ZX9R-E1 : GPz 750 turbo
keeper of the FAQ for my sins
MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11

On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:40:34 +0100, Timo Geusch
 wrote:

>Adie  writes:
>
>> On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:53:36 +0100, "Timo Geusch"
>>  wrote:
>>
>>>Adie wrote:
>>>
>>>> I know there are a few of you out there with them.
>>>> 
>>>> Thoughts?
>>>> 
>>>> if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
>>>> standard lapdog?
>>>> 
>>>> and where's the best place to buy one from?
>>>
>>>How small would it have to be? I've got an IBM Thinkpad X61 that's
>>>surplus to requirements. Very light (with the DVD clamshell
>>>disconnected) and quite small but with a decent screen and keyboard.
>>
>> wasn't necessarily thinking I needed small, I've also been looking at
>> full size laptops. the only thing that puts me towards a small one
>> would be that I'd likely take it away on the bike whereas with a full
>> size one I don't often have room.
>>
>> The only reason I'm looking for a replacement is that this one ate a
>> hard drive (now replaced), has a line across the screen and Jennifer
>> has killed hers. so i figured if I treated me to a new one she could
>> have this one.
>>
>> spec and price?
>
>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/02/23/ibm_thinkpad_x31/
>
>From memory, this one is a 1.7GHz with 1.5GB and a 60GB HD. It also
>comes with the DVD clamshell (there is no optical drive in the main
>unit). Ebay suggests around 170-180 quid.

is it a 61 or a 31?

either way. <emailed>
-- 
Adie 
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

New (not yet updated) UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.info/faq/index.html

YZF-R1 : ZX9R-E1 : GPz 750 turbo
keeper of the FAQ for my sins
MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22 BOMB#11

SteveH wrote:
> BGN  wrote:
> 
>>> The base model Aspire One is £179 at Comet - £20 saving over the PC
>>> World price.
>> The base model Aspire One is £149 at PC World, the model I have is
>> £199 at PC World.
> 
> Erm, that's the one Comet are doing for £179.

Seen any better deals than this?
http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/484261/ACER-AOA150-AW
That has 1GB/120GB for £225.
John Lewis has a 2 year guarantee but only 512MB for £229

-- 
Eiron.

Eiron  wrote:

> SteveH wrote:
> > BGN  wrote:
> > 
> >>> The base model Aspire One is £179 at Comet - £20 saving over the PC
> >>> World price.
> >> The base model Aspire One is £149 at PC World, the model I have is
> >> £199 at PC World.
> > 
> > Erm, that's the one Comet are doing for £179.
> 
> Seen any better deals than this?
> http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/484261/ACER-AOA150-AW
> That has 1GB/120GB for £225.
> John Lewis has a 2 year guarantee but only 512MB for £229

Oooh, you b'stard.

I hadn't noticed the difference there - I may have to buy one now.

Anyone want an Eee 701 - it's black, 4GB model, upgraded to 1GB RAM. No
box, but I have all the bits for it. About 6 months old.
-- 
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Alfa 156 TSpark Sportwagon Veloce Selespeed
Alfa 156 TSpark Lusso - Alfa 75 TSpark Lusso - Ducati 750SS

Derek Turner  wrote:

> > If that URL doesn't work it's pcworld.co.uk and product ID 705895 (£199)
> > - Sticking XP on it isn't easy by any means,
> 
> Why the *fuck* would anyone want to? Mail news and surfing are all 
> covered by linpus without the added benefits of crashes, slow performance
> and virus threats.

Because, unlike the Eee Linux install, it's a PITA to install extra
applications on them.
-- 
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Alfa 156 TSpark Sportwagon Veloce Selespeed
Alfa 156 TSpark Lusso - Alfa 75 TSpark Lusso - Ducati 750SS

Adie wrote:
> I know there are a few of you out there with them.
> 
> Thoughts?
> 
> if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
> standard lapdog?
> 
> and where's the best place to buy one from?
> 

I just bout an Asus Eee 901 for essentially a divx player.  Runs 
Xandros[1] and I'm happy.  20GB solid state storage, an 8gig card in it, 
two USB ports and other stuff.  Claims 8 hours battry life, certainly 
made 5 watching movies, comes with StarOffice.

I paid 280 squids for it.




[1] Debian fork with annoying fuckwit proof desktop that has to go.

"SteveH"  wrote in message 
news:1inzx76.1fdsm8n135is3pN%steve@italiancar.co.uk...
> Eiron  wrote:
>
>> SteveH wrote:
>> > BGN  wrote:
>> >
>> >>> The base model Aspire One is £179 at Comet - £20 saving over the PC
>> >>> World price.
>> >> The base model Aspire One is £149 at PC World, the model I have is
>> >> £199 at PC World.
>> >
>> > Erm, that's the one Comet are doing for £179.
>>
>> Seen any better deals than this?
>> http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/484261/ACER-AOA150-AW
>> That has 1GB/120GB for £225.
>> John Lewis has a 2 year guarantee but only 512MB for £229
>
> Oooh, you b'stard.
>
> I hadn't noticed the difference there - I may have to buy one now.
>

Aye, the A150 is by far the best of the Acer little ones, and my personal 
favorite tiny laptop.  It's only £20/30 more than the pov spec one (think 
it's an A110?), but it's no heavier, barely any bigger (about half a cm 
thicker iirc), yet has properly useable specs.  I was playing with one just 
a couple of days ago that my uncle has just been given by his work.  He has 
no idea what for, all he's done with it is play solitaire/chess etc heh.

I know a lot of people here like Linux and things, and that's fine, but with 
the A150 you can put windows on easily, as it has plenty of space, and you 
can also put office and things on it if you like for working on the move, 
and even a good few movies or something to entertain yourself on a long 
trip.  And you have the option to do all this under Windows and or Linux - 
plenty of room for both if you're that way inclined :-)

-- 
Dan B
Clio R27

"SteveH"  wrote in message 
news:1inzsgd.1i9zsyqfeqwzlN%steve@italiancar.co.uk...
> Adie  wrote:
>
>> I know there are a few of you out there with them.
>>
>> Thoughts?
>>
>> if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
>> standard lapdog?
>
> I currently use an Eee 701 for just that when I'm staying in hotels,
> about 2-3 nights a week usually.
>
> Small keyboard and screen are irritating - but the 701 is probably the
> worst for this as it does have the smallest screen out there and Eee
> keyboards generally are very cramped.
>
> However, later models from other manufacturers are significantly better
> in this respect.
>
> I'm currently considering an Acer Apsire One from John Lewis - 1GB RAM,
> 120GB hard drive but with the Linux install (no point in paying for
> Windows as I have a spare copy here) - £229, incl. a 2 year guarantee.
>
> Alternatively, the most popular option these days seems to be the Advent
> 4211 from PC World. It's another 50-odd quid, though.
>

I've never had a single good experience of an Advent product.  Although this 
is only a sample of 2 so, take that how you will :-)  But at 10.1" and over 
a KG, that's almost as big as a proper laptop, but with a worse spec.  I 
still have the Dell D410 I've just replaced.  It's not much heavier than 
that, magnesium-alloy chassis to thank, yet the battery life is similar, but 
it has a 1.8ghz Centrino mobile chip, 2gb DDR2 Ram, 80gb 7,200rpm HD, 12.1" 
screen, Bluetooth, Wifi, Lan port, 3 x USBs (1 doubles as a USB+power port 
for the external caddy with the DVD/RW in).  The DVDRW isn't built in, it's 
in a caddy, and you can swap it with a floppy drive if you so desire.  But 
you'd be amazed how little you actually use the optical drive heh.  Anyway, 
my point being that you can probably get one of them on ebay for less than 
the new price of the 4211, and it wouldn't be an Advent, and it would be 
loads more useful, and only a little 'less portable'.

But as I said earlier, I'd still take the A150 over all the other tiny PCs, 
although I'm not sure the Advent counts as it's over a 10" screen, so it's 
not really that small.

-- 
Dan B
Clio R27

On Sep 28, 7:15 pm, Adie  wrote:
> I know there are a few of you out there with them.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
> standard lapdog?

I bought an Acer Aspire One recently, the 120Gb HD, 1Gb RAM, Windows
XP model - £299. It works perfectly well for your listed purposes - I
also have a mirror of my ripped music question on it, and a few DVD
rips - it also streams movies off my NAS via wireless perfectly
acceptible, which is handy. And I also have a USB Freeview dongle in
it at the moment.

Before the usual Linux-weenies start, I bought the Windows version
because my days of fucking around editing configuration text files and
dicking with device drivers are long gone.

> and where's the best place to buy one from?

Well, I bought mine from John Lewis, because they're the same price
pretty much everywhere.

--
d.

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Adie 
 typed
>I know there are a few of you out there with them.
>
>Thoughts?
>
>if all you used it for was news/mail/surfing could it replace a
>standard lapdog?

I have the Asus EEE 901 with XP on it, and I'm very pleased with it. The 
keyboard is a *tad* fiddly, but pretty usable. The screen is excellent, 
and the battery life is extremely good.

>and where's the best place to buy one from?

I got mine from Misco, delivery was 17 hours after I placed the order.

-- 
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

My position was (and, to be honest, largely remains) one of complete ambiguity.

On Sep 29, 12:05 pm, Wicked Uncle Nigel <w...@wicked-uncle-
nigel.me.uk> wrote:

> I have the Asus EEE 901 with XP on it, and I'm very pleased with it. The
> keyboard is a *tad* fiddly, but pretty usable.

this is why I bought the Acer - the keyboard is far superior to the
Asus offerings.

--
d.

On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:06:25 +0100, SteveH wrote:

> Derek Turner  wrote:
> 
>> > If that URL doesn't work it's pcworld.co.uk and product ID 705895
>> > (£199) - Sticking XP on it isn't easy by any means,
>> 
>> Why the *fuck* would anyone want to? Mail news and surfing are all
>> covered by linpus without the added benefits of crashes, slow
>> performance and virus threats.
> 
> Because, unlike the Eee Linux install, it's a PITA to install extra
> applications on them.

Actually, it's pretty straightforward for an intermediate linux user.

I'd relace linpus with my own favourite linux distro.

On Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:37:32 -0700, darsy wrote:


> Before the usual Linux-weenies start, I bought the Windows version
> because my days of fucking around editing configuration text files and
> dicking with device drivers are long gone.

And my days of fucking around with endless 'update Tuesdays' and dicking 
around with virus scanning and spyware are also long gone.

And the solid-state-devices won't hold Windoze so you lose their speed 
and robustness.

On Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:37:32 -0700 (PDT), darsy 
wrote:

>I bought an Acer Aspire One recently, the 120Gb HD, 1Gb RAM, Windows
>XP model - £299. It works perfectly well for your listed purposes - I
>also have a mirror of my ripped music question on it, and a few DVD
>rips - it also streams movies off my NAS via wireless perfectly
>acceptible, which is handy. And I also have a USB Freeview dongle in
>it at the moment.
>
>Before the usual Linux-weenies start, I bought the Windows version
>because my days of fucking around editing configuration text files and
>dicking with device drivers are long gone.

Agree with this 100% - the support for the hardware is there under
windows, whereas it's not 100% there yet for any of the more general
flavours of linux, just the factory hacked about version.

On 29 Sep 2008 16:53:21 GMT, Derek Turner  wrote:

>And the solid-state-devices won't hold Windoze so you lose their speed 
>and robustness.

hahaha robustness.

These being the same solid state devices that only cope with a finite
number of writes before dying?

ginge wrote:
> On 29 Sep 2008 16:53:21 GMT, Derek Turner  wrote:
> 
>> And the solid-state-devices won't hold Windoze so you lose their speed 
>> and robustness.
> 
> hahaha robustness.
> 
> These being the same solid state devices that only cope with a finite
> number of writes before dying?

<waves around dead hard disk>  Like this you mean?

Tbf, you're right, but I reckon the practical lifetime of any computing 
device is 2 years or so, so it's not that much of an issue.  I 
considered the MSI Wind, bigger keyboard and normal HD, but battery life 
sucked compared to the Asus.  I might be back in 6 months to regret that 
mind you.

Derek Turner  wrote:

> On Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:37:32 -0700, darsy wrote:
> 
> 
> > Before the usual Linux-weenies start, I bought the Windows version
> > because my days of fucking around editing configuration text files and
> > dicking with device drivers are long gone.
> 
> And my days of fucking around with endless 'update Tuesdays' and dicking
> around with virus scanning and spyware are also long gone.
> 
> And the solid-state-devices won't hold Windoze so you lose their speed
> and robustness.

<points to Eee 4G running Windows from a 4GB SSD drive>
-- 
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Alfa 156 TSpark Sportwagon Veloce Selespeed
Alfa 156 TSpark Lusso - Alfa 75 TSpark Lusso - Ducati 750SS

Derek Turner wrote:
> On Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:37:32 -0700, darsy wrote:
> 
> 
>> Before the usual Linux-weenies start, I bought the Windows version
>> because my days of fucking around editing configuration text files and
>> dicking with device drivers are long gone.
> 
> And my days of fucking around with endless 'update Tuesdays' and dicking 
> around with virus scanning and spyware are also long gone.
> 
I've used the same laptop with XP on it for 3 years, and I've never had 
a problem. Why would that be?

On 29 Sep 2008 15:36:18 GMT, Derek Turner  wrote:

>>> > If that URL doesn't work it's pcworld.co.uk and product ID 705895
>>> > (£199) - Sticking XP on it isn't easy by any means,
>>> 
>>> Why the *fuck* would anyone want to? Mail news and surfing are all
>>> covered by linpus without the added benefits of crashes, slow
>>> performance and virus threats.
>> 
>> Because, unlike the Eee Linux install, it's a PITA to install extra
>> applications on them.
>
>Actually, it's pretty straightforward for an intermediate linux user.

It was a complete arse for me, missing bits and bobs, couldn't to
later versions of OpenOffice or FireFox.  It lasted a day before it
was replaced with ubuntu.
-- 
-- Nick ICQ: 9235201 EMAIL & MSN: nickmooney@spamcop.net
-- Triumph Tiger 955i -- http://www.bgn.me.uk - Touché -
-- LOTR#4 SKOGA#8 DS#7 BOTAFOT#159 BOTM#2 FBOTY#06 PM#11

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Derek Turner 
 typed
>On Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:37:32 -0700, darsy wrote:
>
>
>> Before the usual Linux-weenies start, I bought the Windows version
>> because my days of fucking around editing configuration text files and
>> dicking with device drivers are long gone.
>
>And my days of fucking around with endless 'update Tuesdays' and dicking
>around with virus scanning and spyware are also long gone.

It's all automatic on my system. Yours may vary.

>And the solid-state-devices won't hold Windoze so you lose their speed
>and robustness.

Really? Mine must be broken then.

-- 
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

My position was (and, to be honest, largely remains) one of complete ambiguity.

On Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:38:52 +0100, BGN wrote:


>>Actually, it's pretty straightforward for an intermediate linux user.
> 
> It was a complete arse for me, missing bits and bobs, couldn't to later
> versions of OpenOffice or FireFox.  It lasted a day before it was
> replaced with ubuntu.

Yes, if I get one I shall replace it with some flavour of (ubuntu-
derived) linuxMint. I'll probably try the Gnome version and if that's too 
slow go for the Xcfe version. Either way, XP is a no-no!.

On Sep 29, 5:53 pm, Derek Turner  wrote:
> On Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:37:32 -0700, darsy wrote:
> > Before the usual Linux-weenies start, I bought the Windows version
> > because my days of fucking around editing configuration text files and
> > dicking with device drivers are long gone.
>
> And my days of fucking around with endless 'update Tuesdays' and dicking
> around with virus scanning and spyware are also long gone.

I've never had to bother with those things either.

> And the solid-state-devices won't hold Windoze so you lose their speed
> and robustness.

actually, although I bought the HD version, on the SSD version of the
Asus I have, if you add an external card, it treats both the internal
and external SSD as a contiguous drive, and so installing and using
Windows on it isn't a problem.

--
d.

On Sep 29, 6:28 pm, ginge  wrote:
> On Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:37:32 -0700 (PDT), darsy 
> wrote:

> >Before the usual Linux-weenies start, I bought the Windows version
> >because my days of fucking around editing configuration text files and
> >dicking with device drivers are long gone.
>
> Agree with this 100% - the support for the hardware is there under
> windows, whereas it's not 100% there yet for any of the more general
> flavours of linux, just the factory hacked about version.

*ding*

even installing some pretty common software (Skype, for example) on
the Linux version of this mini-laptop is a faff, never mind things
like USB hardware periferals. With the Windows version, it all just
installs/works seamlessly.

Linux has it's place, but that place - IMO - is not on mini-laptops.
Unless, you're content to run nothing that doesn't come with the
hardware in the first place, of course.

--
d.

"Tosspot"  wrote in message 
news:gbr5tr$d2s$03$1@news.t-online.com...
> ginge wrote:
>> On 29 Sep 2008 16:53:21 GMT, Derek Turner  wrote:
>>
>>> And the solid-state-devices won't hold Windoze so you lose their speed 
>>> and robustness.
>>
>> hahaha robustness.
>>
>> These being the same solid state devices that only cope with a finite
>> number of writes before dying?
>
> <waves around dead hard disk>  Like this you mean?
>
> Tbf, you're right, but I reckon the practical lifetime of any computing 
> device is 2 years or so, so it's not that much of an issue.

Particularising from the general, this comes to you from a Dell Inspiron 
500m laptop which celebrated its fifth birthday in May, and has performed 
faultlessly throughout.  It had a bigger HDD 2 years ago, but has never 
skipped a beat.  Some of the keys have faded to black, but it keeps on 
going.  Of course, it cost £1,400 in 2003 and would be buttons today!

Charlie wrote:
> "Tosspot"  wrote in message 
> news:gbr5tr$d2s$03$1@news.t-online.com...
>> ginge wrote:
>>> On 29 Sep 2008 16:53:21 GMT, Derek Turner  wrote:
>>>
>>>> And the solid-state-devices won't hold Windoze so you lose their speed 
>>>> and robustness.
>>> hahaha robustness.
>>>
>>> These being the same solid state devices that only cope with a finite
>>> number of writes before dying?
>> <waves around dead hard disk>  Like this you mean?
>>
>> Tbf, you're right, but I reckon the practical lifetime of any computing 
>> device is 2 years or so, so it's not that much of an issue.
> 
> Particularising from the general, this comes to you from a Dell Inspiron 
> 500m laptop which celebrated its fifth birthday in May, and has performed 
> faultlessly throughout.  It had a bigger HDD 2 years ago, but has never 
> skipped a beat.  Some of the keys have faded to black, but it keeps on 
> going.  Of course, it cost £1,400 in 2003 and would be buttons today! 

Christ on a badgered wombat, how much is 1,400 squids in todays terms!? 
  <peers into corner> I wonder if my old Dell laptop still works. 
<thinks> I wonder if I can still lift it...

Brought to you from a Commodoreataridragon windup, with core store, 
paper tape, and a teletype.

darsy wrote:
> On Sep 29, 12:05 pm, Wicked Uncle Nigel <w...@wicked-uncle-
> nigel.me.uk> wrote:
> 
>> I have the Asus EEE 901 with XP on it, and I'm very pleased with it. The
>> keyboard is a *tad* fiddly, but pretty usable.
> 
> this is why I bought the Acer - the keyboard is far superior to the
> Asus offerings.
> 

I got one of those Acer Ones today, the one with XP on it. My iBook G4 
finally died today, after the hard drive broke. The keyboard is also 
knackered, and so is the battery... again.

On 29 Sep 2008 21:31:11 GMT, Derek Turner  wrote:

>On Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:38:52 +0100, BGN wrote:
>
>
>>>Actually, it's pretty straightforward for an intermediate linux user.
>> 
>> It was a complete arse for me, missing bits and bobs, couldn't to later
>> versions of OpenOffice or FireFox.  It lasted a day before it was
>> replaced with ubuntu.
>
>Yes, if I get one I shall replace it with some flavour of (ubuntu-
>derived) linuxMint. I'll probably try the Gnome version and if that's too 
>slow go for the Xcfe version. Either way, XP is a no-no!.

As XP works well on it (And people have even put Vista on their Aspire
One with the same spec as mine) then I doubt it's going to have any
problem with a normal Linux install.

I chose xubuntu over ubuntu because it used xcfe which I feel is
better for lower powered systems, but now if I went back to linux I'd
use a different GUI, but I had no problems xcfe/xubuntu.

There are a number of walkthroughs on how to install ubuntu on the
Aspire One (and even http://onelinux.org/ which is a version of ubuntu
in development JUST for the AA1) but it's easy.  I found that the
graphics drivers in ubuntu were somewhat lacking.  Youtube videos
didn't work too well, but I migt have misconfigured something, or the
drivers might just have been a bit poo.  In XP it'll run youtube
videos full screen (1024x800) at 30fps without issue.
-- 
-- Nick ICQ: 9235201 EMAIL & MSN: nickmooney@spamcop.net
-- Triumph Tiger 955i -- http://www.bgn.me.uk - Touché -
-- LOTR#4 SKOGA#8 DS#7 BOTAFOT#159 BOTM#2 FBOTY#06 PM#11

On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:01:51 +0100, BGN 
wrote:


>I chose xubuntu over ubuntu because it used xcfe which I feel is
>better for lower powered systems,

<perks>
I've recently picked up a little Compaq Evo N200 (700Mhz PIII, 192M
RAM (<max)) and it runs XP well (as in function rather than speed).

Thinking of making it *just* a Netbook (so forgoing some of the ease
and functionality I'd get from XP) and that I'd get a lighter OS with
Linux I just tried to install Ubuntu 8.04.1 on it but with no luck (it
never actually fully starts). Gutsy Gibbon gets closer but also won't
actually install.  Knoppix V5.1.1 Live CD runs ok but I actually want
a HD installation.

I'm currently d/l the 'alternate' version of Ubuntu that is suppose to
run on machines with less than 256M of RAM and I'm hopeful it might
actually work with the PCMCIA WiFi card because the 7 and 8 v's
actually initialize the card and that not something I've ever been
able to do manually / previously.

> but now if I went back to linux I'd
>use a different GUI, but I had no problems xcfe/xubuntu.

So, what are the chances of xubuntu also seeing the WiFi card, if you
say it's better for lower powered systems?
>
>There are a number of walkthroughs on how to install ubuntu on the
>Aspire One (and even http://onelinux.org/ which is a version of ubuntu
>in development JUST for the AA1) but it's easy.  I found that the
>graphics drivers in ubuntu were somewhat lacking.  Youtube videos
>didn't work too well, but I migt have misconfigured something, or the
>drivers might just have been a bit poo.  In XP it'll run youtube
>videos full screen (1024x800) at 30fps without issue.

Yup, whilst I got Knoppix on the net via the wired LAN it didn't run
Youtube, something XP did with no issues. And should I be able to use
the BBC (live) iPlayer with 'Linux'?

When I installed XP on this fresh (it came with licenses for 2KP and
XPP) it found ALL the hardware and even the WiFi card since. I guess
Linux will get there slowly but I've been waiting for a non geek fully
working version of it for a good few years now ... :-(

On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:48:01 -0700 (PDT), darsy 
 wrote in :
> On Sep 29, 6:28 pm, ginge  wrote:
>> On Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:37:32 -0700 (PDT), darsy 
>> wrote:
 
>> >Before the usual Linux-weenies start, I bought the Windows version
>> >because my days of fucking around editing configuration text files and
>> >dicking with device drivers are long gone.

>> Agree with this 100% - the support for the hardware is there under
>> windows, whereas it's not 100% there yet for any of the more general
>> flavours of linux, just the factory hacked about version.
 
> *ding*
 
> even installing some pretty common software (Skype, for example) on
> the Linux version of this mini-laptop is a faff, never mind things
> like USB hardware periferals. With the Windows version, it all just
> installs/works seamlessly.
 
> Linux has it's place, but that place - IMO - is not on mini-laptops.
> Unless, you're content to run nothing that doesn't come with the
> hardware in the first place, of course.

	Ubuntu doesn't have drivers for the wireless card in my Medion
(MSI Wind rebadged).  Apparently you can download them from the
manufacturer and recompile the kernel, but I think I'll rather wait and
see what comes with the next release.  Especially as I have
ubuntu-onna-stick so I don't want to compromise its running on any of the
several computers I stick it in regularly by customising stuff.

-- 
Ivan Reid, School of Engineering & Design, _____________  CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University.    Ivan.Reid@[brunel.ac.uk|cern.ch]    Room 40-1-B12, CERN
GSX600F, RG250WD         "You Porsche. Me pass!"   DoD #484     JKLO#003, 005
WP7# 3000   LC Unit #2368 (tinlc)   UKMC#00009   BOTAFOT#16    UKRMMA#7 (Hon)
        KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".

On Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:36:47 +0100, T i m  wrote:

>>I chose xubuntu over ubuntu because it used xcfe which I feel is
>>better for lower powered systems,
>
><perks>
>I've recently picked up a little Compaq Evo N200 (700Mhz PIII, 192M
>RAM (<max)) and it runs XP well (as in function rather than speed).

Xubuntu is pretty much just ubuntu but using a Xfce desktop
environment.  The xubuntu "Live" CD (ie. run it without installing)
requires 192Mb/ram but the 'alternate' CD will install with 64Mb.
xubuntu will work with 192Mb/ram, but they recommend 256.

Interestingly there's a xubuntu deritive called eeeXubuntu which is
xubuntu for the Asus Eee PC - not sure what the specs are for the Eee.

>Thinking of making it *just* a Netbook (so forgoing some of the ease
>and functionality I'd get from XP) and that I'd get a lighter OS with
>Linux I just tried to install Ubuntu 8.04.1 on it but with no luck (it
>never actually fully starts). Gutsy Gibbon gets closer but also won't
>actually install.  Knoppix V5.1.1 Live CD runs ok but I actually want
>a HD installation.

I wonder what the problem is with booting from the HD.

>I'm currently d/l the 'alternate' version of Ubuntu that is suppose to
>run on machines with less than 256M of RAM and I'm hopeful it might
>actually work with the PCMCIA WiFi card because the 7 and 8 v's
>actually initialize the card and that not something I've ever been
>able to do manually / previously.

Do a hunt for your WiFi card with reference to ubuntu or linux in
general.  If it doesn't work right away then there may be a driver you
can use.
>
>> but now if I went back to linux I'd
>>use a different GUI, but I had no problems xcfe/xubuntu.
>
>So, what are the chances of xubuntu also seeing the WiFi card, if you
>say it's better for lower powered systems?

It sees mine!  But there's a 'walkthrough' for ubuntu install on the
ubuntu website for installing on the Asus Aspire One.  But that's
mostly because it needs a bit of tweaking.

>>
>>There are a number of walkthroughs on how to install ubuntu on the
>>Aspire One (and even http://onelinux.org/ which is a version of ubuntu
>>in development JUST for the AA1) but it's easy.  I found that the
>>graphics drivers in ubuntu were somewhat lacking.  Youtube videos
>>didn't work too well, but I migt have misconfigured something, or the
>>drivers might just have been a bit poo.  In XP it'll run youtube
>>videos full screen (1024x800) at 30fps without issue.
>
>Yup, whilst I got Knoppix on the net via the wired LAN it didn't run
>Youtube, something XP did with no issues. And should I be able to use
>the BBC (live) iPlayer with 'Linux'?

I just used the updated Firefox browser and installed Adobe Flash
Player.  The iPlayer should work, but just in flash video mode, just
like on the PS3 or anything else.

>When I installed XP on this fresh (it came with licenses for 2KP and
>XPP) it found ALL the hardware and even the WiFi card since. I guess
>Linux will get there slowly but I've been waiting for a non geek fully
>working version of it for a good few years now ... :-(

It's always annoying when your hardware doesn't work properly with an
OS.  I know all about it ;)
-- 
-- Nick ICQ: 9235201 EMAIL & MSN: nickmooney@spamcop.net
-- Triumph Tiger 955i -- http://www.bgn.me.uk - Touché -
-- LOTR#4 SKOGA#8 DS#7 BOTAFOT#159 BOTM#2 FBOTY#06 PM#11

On Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:50:28 +0100, BGN 
wrote:

>>I've recently picked up a little Compaq Evo N200 (700Mhz PIII, 192M
>>RAM (<max)) and it runs XP well (as in function rather than speed).
>
<snip>
>> Knoppix V5.1.1 Live CD runs ok but I actually want
>>a HD installation.
>
>I wonder what the problem is with booting from the HD.

I don't know but I think I read it was really supposed to be just a
Live CD <shrug>
>
>>I'm currently d/l the 'alternate' version of Ubuntu that is suppose to
>>run on machines with less than 256M of RAM and I'm hopeful it might
>>actually work with the PCMCIA WiFi card because the 7 and 8 v's
>>actually initialize the card and that not something I've ever been
>>able to do manually / previously.
>
>Do a hunt for your WiFi card with reference to ubuntu or linux in
>general.  If it doesn't work right away then there may be a driver you
>can use.

Ok ...

>>
>>
>>So, what are the chances of xubuntu also seeing the WiFi card, if you
>>say it's better for lower powered systems?
>
>It sees mine!  But there's a 'walkthrough' for ubuntu install on the
>ubuntu website for installing on the Asus Aspire One.  But that's
>mostly because it needs a bit of tweaking.

Update: It did, well to a degree anyway. It found it, the AP and
connects but seems to cause the OS some issues and then quickly locks
the machine up cold when doing anything networky (card / machine fine
in XPP). I've asked some more detailed Q's on a Linux N/g.

The problem for me is I don't know enough about the fiddley bits in
Linux to even know where / how to look for clues. Like, I believe the
Atheros chipsetted cards are more Linux (so also OSX) friendly but I
don't know how to see if it thinks this Edimax EW-7108PCg (PCMCIA)
cards is one?
>
>I just used the updated Firefox browser and installed Adobe Flash
>Player.  The iPlayer should work, but just in flash video mode, just
>like on the PS3 or anything else.

Yep and it does <g>, but whilst I'm pleased that I've gone further
with this install if Linux than I have ever done before (If do don't
count the AX.25 node I setup from 3 floppys worth of Linux I was sent
over Packet Radio network by another RA many many years ago) it's
learning that stuff doesn't just click_n_work like it (mostly) does
with Windows. ie. I go to Youtube and it offers me the Linux Flash
download(s). I download both but neither will do anything. I look at
the Synapic Package Manager and see a mention of Flash but says
'nofree?' So I Google a bit then go back to Synapic again and presto!
Similar with streaming radio, I've now got several apps on here, most
won't start or if they do won't work. Luckily one does but I'm not
sure how?
>
>>When I installed XP on this fresh (it came with licenses for 2KP and
>>XPP) it found ALL the hardware and even the WiFi card since. I guess
>>Linux will get there slowly but I've been waiting for a non geek fully
>>working version of it for a good few years now ... :-(
>
>It's always annoying when your hardware doesn't work properly with an
>OS.  I know all about it ;)

Indeed, however it's not something that generally holds me back with
Windows for very long (been building PC's for over 20 years now) and
whilst I like the d-i-y feel about Linux my ADD generally gets the
better of me before I've got the better of Linux. Also, like the
motorcycling thing, for me building / fixing / upgrading these things
often provides more 'interest' than the actual using, but that is
really only the hardware. The OS is generally just the mech to run the
apps and it's the use of the apps I'm looking for (and not really
bothered how well they work (as long as they do) or how elegantly they
do so, as long as they work). ;-)

So far I've enjoyed finding a replacement battery (cheap) for this
Evo, same with repairing the docking station latch and getting a spare
drive caddy so I can keep the 'working' XP and 'experimental' Linux
separate, more than the *hours* I've used (I won't say wasted although
they were in reality and in comparison to the other stuff I should be
doing) just to get to this position.

However, I feel I've (or it's) getting better ... WiFi (nearly
reliably [1]), LAN, Samba sharing, Youtube, audio, video and printing
to my XP shared Canon ip4000, something I still can't do in OSX (10.4,
summat about Canon not producing drivers etc). ;-)

[1] I have a bunch of PCMCIA cards and they all work in this laptop
under XP. Having to go look for some 'specific' hardware (Atheros
chipset WiFi cards) puts me back in the Mac world and partly why it
all frustrates compared with Windows but then luckily I'm not
frustrated by Windows itself (means to an end etc). ;-)

In article ,
T i m   wrote:
>The problem for me is I don't know enough about the fiddley bits in
>Linux to even know where / how to look for clues. Like, I believe the
>Atheros chipsetted cards are more Linux (so also OSX) friendly but I
>don't know how to see if it thinks this Edimax EW-7108PCg (PCMCIA)
>cards is one?

http://wireless.kernel.org/ is meant to give you the status of what is
supported. Unfortunately they are still trying to integrate support for
many drivers.

The problem of having a piece of hardware with a marketing name and
having to figure out which driver will work with is a bit of a black
art[1].

Sometimes the best approach is to do "lspci -nn", assuming that the
PCMCIA card is being detected, and find the PCI IDs for it which are two
4-digits hex numbers (like 10ec:8169 which is a Realtek Ethernet card).

Then you can go here
http://pci-ids.ucw.cz/iii/
and figure out what Linux thinks the card really is.

Also, you can search for the IDs with Google Code search at
http://www.google.com/codesearch


[1] It's not even particularly specific to Linux - I've had some interesting
times with modem and sound card drivers under Windows where the hardware
is cheap and the documentation and original driver disks have been lost...
-- 
CB500 (blue + flies)

In article ,
Jim   wrote:
>In article ,
>T i m   wrote:
>>The problem for me is I don't know enough about the fiddley bits in
>>Linux to even know where / how to look for clues. Like, I believe the
>>Atheros chipsetted cards are more Linux (so also OSX) friendly but I
>>don't know how to see if it thinks this Edimax EW-7108PCg (PCMCIA)
>>cards is one?
>
>http://wireless.kernel.org/ is meant to give you the status of what is
>supported. Unfortunately they are still trying to integrate support for
>many drivers.

Bad form, and all that, but your card is a Ralink rt2500 chipset, so you
should see this Ubuntu page for help and support

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/RalinkRT2500

The actual driver writing project page is here
http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/


-- 
CB500 (blue + flies)

On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:30:43 +0100, Jim  wrote:

>In article ,
>T i m   wrote:
>>The problem for me is I don't know enough about the fiddley bits in
>>Linux to even know where / how to look for clues. Like, I believe the
>>Atheros chipsetted cards are more Linux (so also OSX) friendly but I
>>don't know how to see if it thinks this Edimax EW-7108PCg (PCMCIA)
>>cards is one?
>
>http://wireless.kernel.org/ is meant to give you the status of what is
>supported. Unfortunately they are still trying to integrate support for
>many drivers.

Thanks for that. I've had a brief look and I have to admit some of it
doesn't mean that much to me and without wanting to appear ungrateful,
I'm sorta happy to let Linux catch up with me (and much of the non
geeky world) rather than me trying to learn a new OS etc.

I've encountered many instances of this on download sites where you
get the 'Windows version' and numerous others files with weird names,
extensions and provisos that often don't seem to do anything once
retrieved. Same with the CD supplied with hardware. You get a 'Setup'
(often auto runs) and maybe summat for the Mac users but the Linux
stuff is often buried and way out of date (the Debian files shipped
with this Edimax card are dated 2005, and, along with the Mac V, often
lacking many of the extra features and utilities).
>
>The problem of having a piece of hardware with a marketing name and
>having to figure out which driver will work with is a bit of a black
>art[1].

Oh indeed, however I'm better equipped (tools and experience) under
Windows than anything else, although I believe the Nix's might give
you more info if you know what you are doing.
>
>Sometimes the best approach is to do "lspci -nn", assuming that the
>PCMCIA card is being detected, and find the PCI IDs for it which are two
>4-digits hex numbers (like 10ec:8169 which is a Realtek Ethernet card).

Ok, I've just fired it up (and it does get to the desktop *much*
quicker than XP and most of the point of this as a Netbook) and it
says (amongst other things).

RaLink RT2561/RT61 802.11g PCI [1814:0301]
>
>Then you can go here
>http://pci-ids.ucw.cz/iii/
>and figure out what Linux thinks the card really is.

Ah ... :-(
>
>Also, you can search for the IDs with Google Code search at
>http://www.google.com/codesearch

Hmm, so it's a 'RaLink' chipset then (ie, not Atheros), not a good
thing?

I do have drivers from their web site that look newer than those that
came off the CD.

2007_1210_RT61_Linux_STA_v1.1.2.0.tar.bz2 (<< and what's all that
about .. is a .tar or a .bz2! <g>)

but that assumes that xubuntu hasn't already automatically used the
correct and latest drivers already?
>
>
>[1] It's not even particularly specific to Linux - I've had some interesting
>times with modem and sound card drivers under Windows where the hardware
>is cheap and the documentation and original driver disks have been lost...

Oh indeed, and those two deice types in particular. I have also been
surprised just how many times Windows will go off and find a
functional driver on the Internet, especially after you have maybe
manually installed the system board chipset drivers.

Thanks for your help so far .. ;-)

On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:37:38 +0100, Jim  wrote:

>In article ,
>Jim   wrote:
>>In article ,
>>T i m   wrote:
>>>The problem for me is I don't know enough about the fiddley bits in
>>>Linux to even know where / how to look for clues. Like, I believe the
>>>Atheros chipsetted cards are more Linux (so also OSX) friendly but I
>>>don't know how to see if it thinks this Edimax EW-7108PCg (PCMCIA)
>>>cards is one?
>>
>>http://wireless.kernel.org/ is meant to give you the status of what is
>>supported. Unfortunately they are still trying to integrate support for
>>many drivers.
>
>Bad form, and all that, 

I really CGAF, if someone is willing to help me *I'm* certainly not
going all pedant on them! ;-)

>but your card is a Ralink rt2500 chipset, so you
>should see this Ubuntu page for help and support

Ah, sorry, got distracted. I should have checked again for further
replies.
>
>https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/RalinkRT2500

Hmm, well it is actually working (it sees both my AP's and connects
(with WPA) quickly to the one I normally use) it's the locking the
machine when it's being used that's the problem. If it's not in use
the machine seems ok and the same combo is fine all day under XP.
>
>The actual driver writing project page is here
>http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/

Right, thanks for that. I can see that will take a bit of clicking
about and concentration for me to get anywhere so I'll give that a
better look later. Ta again. ;-)