Multitool.org Forum
Non Tool Forum => Gadget Freak and EDC Forum => Topic started by: eodtech on August 13, 2008, 07:42:22 PM
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$299 Dell laptop (http://www.liliputing.com/2008/07/299-dell-inspiron-mini-laptop-due-out-in-august.html)
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I read about these... I very nearly bought an Acer Aspire One this past weekend with basically the same specs... they didn't have any left in stock tho, just the display model... altho it was 299eur...
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I was interested in the Acer as well, but if Dell is doing the same thing cheaper... :D
Def
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Another alternative : http://www.slashgear.com/medion-akoya-mini-e1210-unboxed-0112340.php
(Medion Akoya) basically the same as the Acer with 120gb and winXP... goes for 400eur here, saw one today, as well as the Acer Aspire One, got to play around a bit with the Acer, it boots in about 15-20sec... smooth, looks great. I think I'll hold out for the 6 cell linux edition with 120gb hd and 1gb ram vs the current 8gb SSD, 512mb ram 3 cell model, the 6 cell supposedly gets 7 hours from the battery... (winxp version gets 5.5h)
things are going to get interesting on this front...
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Some friends of ours picked up the 280eur Asus EEEpc 4G with WindowsXP... I have it for a few days to install some stuff and tune it a bit... will give some feedback when I'm done.
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That's the 7" version?
Def
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yup, after mucking about with it for a bit, the screen is too small... plus windows keeps reminding you everytime you reboot that the resolution is very low (800x480) which is really annoying... most dialogs drop below the bottom of the screen which means you have to drag the window up to click ok... it does have a 800x600 mode where you can scroll up and down the screen, which is almost just as annoying...
Another funny thing is the support DVD that comes with it (there is no cdrom...) I'm sure for an extra 10eur they could have made it a usb disk...
I would not recommend getting anything lower than 9inch for a UMPC... ideally one that does 1000x smth... I'm still rather keen on the ACER Aspire One... especially the 120Gb model...
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Acer Aspire One is 8.9", but I guess that's close enough?
I'm looking at one of those too, but I think I'll leave it running Linux. Of course that Dell's stats look pretty close to the Acer's, and significantly cheaper. I like significantly cheaper...
Def
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Can't wait to see the Dells in the wild... if they actually produce what they've been pitching, it'll sell like crazy
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Especially at about $80 less than the Acer, which is several hundred dollars less than the comparable HP and ASUS models!
Def
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>:( I find this out after getting an eee 901. That's life :-\
Still musn't grumble, its nice to be finally using something not made out of the guts of multiple scrap machines. I'm really liking the battery life as well; around seven hours for surfing :D
Neil
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That's the biggest problem with my laptop- I am lucky to get an hour out of it in power saver mode, doing little more than word processing. It's not terribly portable when you are jumping from one power outlet to the next. And, an extended battery will run almost as much as a UMPC.
Def
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consider turning off a lot of the eyecandy in vista... also, check for updates... I think they fixed some of the power eating features built into vista... that might extend the battery life a bit... also turn down the screen brightness as much as you can stand, but it's still usable...
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Done, done and done, which is why I get a whole hour out of it.
Word to the wise, when buying a laptop, NEVER get the entry level battery. Splurge for the better one, as it costs a fraction of what it would to buy the better battery afterwards.
Def
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I have a Acer aspir one with XP comming my way, due to arrive tomorrow, looking forward to test it.
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they have the one I want on tigerdirect.ca (120gb harddrive, 6 cell battery, xp) and it would be a little more than they go for here, except they only have the 8gb, 3cell, linux version... I wish they delivered here, but I know they'll nail me with duty fees at customs. Guess I need to plan another trip to Canada...
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Make sure to let us know what you think of it!
If there was some way I could ship the Aspire to Spain and slip it under the radar, I'd do it in a second!
Def
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http://laptoplogic.com/news/dell-finally-releases-atom-powered-inspiron-mini-9-netbook-5403
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Looks good- I wonder if it'll be able to measure up in person?
Def
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http://gizmodo.com/395586/hp-elitebook-6930p-one-badass-business-laptop
some quotes of interest:
Toughened to Mil-Spec 810F against extreme temperatures, humidity, dust, bumps, and other torture, it also has DOD-grade file deletion. HP got rid of the Vista-only SideShow app launcher QuickLook from last year's laptop in favor of building its own startup OS. QuickLook 2 runs e-mail and other apps without starting the full OS, and it boots in just 10-12 seconds. (It runs on XP too.)
the HP EliteBook 6930p provides up to 15 hours(9) of combined battery life with optional Ultra Capacity battery.
I highly doubt it will be in the $299 range though... maybe $2999...
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Dell Inspirons aren't what they used to be. I'd pass on that but YMMV.
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http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/10/24/dell-inspiron-mini
nice little review...
The Inspiron Mini 9 is based on Intel's 1.6GHz Atom processor and ships with 1Gb of memory and either a 16GB Flash solid state drive (SSD) with Windows, or an 8GB Flash SSD for the Linux version. It has a four-cell 32WHr lithium-ion battery pack that can be removed from the system by sliding two catches.
Using the Battery Eater test tool, we found it lasted for two hours and 39 minutes when simulating productivity use, and around three hours and 29 minutes when in 'reader' mode, simulating the user simply viewing information
dunno if that's helpful? I think there is also a 6 or 8 cell battery for it...
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To completely trick it out with all that fancy stuff raises it to just over $500. The Acer comes similarly equipped for about $400.
Probably going to order the Acer today.
Def
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nice, I'm still on the fence... I do think a desktop upgrade is still my priority...
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Just ordered the Aspire One... with taxes, shipping and an upgrade to a 16g SSD it came out to about $500. It's got the 6 cell battery, so I'm assuming with the solid state drive it should last a good while between charging.
Def
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be sure to try out the tester thingie on it: http://www.batteryeater.com/
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Interesting....
Be prepared for a buttload of questions as I make the switch to Linux!
Def
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Be prepared for a buttload of questions as I make the switch to Linux!
Which distro?
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http://www.linpus.com/
It's a version formulated for ultra portable devices.
Def
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they're working on a version of Ubuntu as well...
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Whoey, you beat me to it.
Ubuntu Netbook Remix (http://www.canonical.com/projects/ubuntu/nbr)
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One Linux at a time... :P
The nice thing is, if I prove to be too dumb for Linux, I can upgrade it to XP.
Oh, and I also forgot to mention, this is also the version with 1g RAM, not the 512 model I was looking at.
Def
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The nice thing is, if I prove to be too dumb for Linux, I can upgrade it to XP.
You take that back!!
I didn't realize the Aspire One offered Linpus as an option. I've just recently started checking out netbooks, so I'm not that familiar with all the different models.
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I played with the basic model here... I found it quite nice... perhaps after I upgrade my desktop, I'll pick up a Aspire One...
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This is it:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=33115&vpn=LU.S320A.024&manufacture=Acer
I first got the idea to look at them from the ASUS EEE-PC, which I thought was pretty cool... but a 7" screen is just a tad too small. I know, my portable DVD player has a 7" screen, and I'd hate to try and do anything but watch movies on it.
I've worked with a couple of bootable Linux versions in the past after Esteban talked me into trying it, but I never really got very far with it. Plus, I use a few programs for Windows that might not carry over to Linux. About all I could do with Linux was surf and word process, which is about all I want this thing for... and, watch the odd movie when stuck in a terminal overnight in Chicago... ::)
Def
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The EEE is available with 9" and 10" screens now....
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And a bigger price tag! :o
Def
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I generally like Asus stuff, but I got to play with a EEE 701 with WinXP, and it was the worst thing I've ever had the misfortune of having to work with...
I liked the Acer Aspire One when I tested it a bit... but didn't get much of a chance to test properly, I'm sure it does a lot better...
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Have you switched all your computers over to Linux or are you still running Windows on some machines? If you (or anyone else) is running both, do you have a problem going from one OS to the other constantly, or have trouble using files across the board?
That seems like it'll be my biggest concern. I was running with both a Palm and a Windows handheld for a while and they operate so differently it took me a few seconds to figure out what I was doing and how to do it.
Videos, pictures and text documents need to be 100% transferrable, and so far I've been somewhat unimpressed with Open Office when I've tried using it one my Windows machines.
Def
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Actually my machine is the only linux one at the moment, I have several folders shared on our network using samba in linux, and this machine dual boots into Windows XP Pro... all my "storage" drives are fat/fat32/ntfs (windows formats) and I can access everything on both OSes... I even have the same shares in both OSes...
Our PVR is currently running XP home Spanish (which it came loaded with) and Maria's machine has Win2k on it. The program we use to broadcast is windows only, so Maria has to stay in windows for now... I'm tempted to switch the PVR to linux and put Xbox media Center or something like that... currently I use MediaPortal which is a Windows only app... I'm running with the "if it aint broke don't fix it" attitude, and the new version of MediaPortal works quite nicely...
Open Office takes a while to get used to... when you factor the price you pay for MS Office... it's hard to say it's not worth it... Open Office has definitely come a long way in the last few versions... mind you I use it very little, but it does open everything I need to open, and does most of the little tricks I used to use in MS Office...
I've been using Firefox, Thunderbird, Filezilla (ftp client) and Open Office for quite a while on my windows machine before I switched.
I had a lot of doubts when I was going to switch too... dual booting is useful at first, but if you try and force yourself to stay in linux and find suitable apps to do what you need, it gets a lot easier. When I installed Ubuntu Hardy Heron, all my hardware worked... I didn't have to hunt for any drivers at all, in fact, as I mentioned before, I plugged in my usb bluetooth adapter that I had to install all sorts of obscure drivers in windows, and it worked without any such grief in Linux...
I have a folder full of various versions of linux I have tried in the past... Mandrake, Mandriva, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Gentoo, and several others I've forgotten I'm sure... So far this new version of Ubuntu has been a good experience.
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I've been using Firefox, Thunderbird, Filezilla (ftp client) and Open Office for quite a while on my windows machine before I switched.
I use all of them and couldn't be happier, my only slight annoyance is with Thunderbird and not being able to see how big the email it's downloading is, all you get is "Downloading Message X of Y" But apart from that they are fantastic programs, the only thing that is stopping me from switching over to linux is games. I know quite a few can be made to work but for convenience Windows is so much easier for games.
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I've been using Firefox, Thunderbird, Filezilla (ftp client) and Open Office for quite a while on my windows machine before I switched.
I use all of them and couldn't be happier, my only slight annoyance is with Thunderbird and not being able to see how big the email it's downloading is, all you get is "Downloading Message X of Y" But apart from that they are fantastic programs, the only thing that is stopping me from switching over to linux is games. I know quite a few can be made to work but for convenience Windows is so much easier for games.
yeah, that is one of my issues with linux, there's very poor support for games... I have however managed to get both Diablo2 and STALKER working with WINE, I know all the Quake and Unreal tournament type games can also work...
On the upside, since it is my work PC as well, I spend more time doing work, and less "taking a break" :P
I wish more of my windows games would work... I miss driving in Test Drive Unlimited... and it feels like such a waste to reboot.
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You know you are in trouble when you are too lazy to go to the effort of rebooting a computer! :P
I use Firefox and FireFTP, but I'm still using MS Outlook for my email, and I'll probably continue using it on my laptop so it can sync with my phone/PDA easily.
Also, I don't really play games any more. I don't have time, and I don't have anything beside Solitaire on any of my computers anymore. Plus, I doubt this new little machine is going to have enough raw power for many games, although it would be cool to have something like the old Starcraft running on it...
Def
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Plus, I doubt this new little machine is going to have enough raw power for many games, although it would be cool to have something like the old Starcraft running on it...
Def
I loved Starcraft :D Siege tanks were awesome! 8)
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zerg swarm!
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Please, it's all about reaver/high templar drops. :D
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If you are going to play 'Tossies, all you really need are Carriers, and maybe that doodad what done makes'em invisible... Corsair maybe? Been a while, but now I have to dig it out and load it up again!
As for the Terrans, the "Terran Turtle" is an almost unbeatable defense- seige tanks, Goliaths and turrets full of Marines and Firebats will keep large amounts of Zerg from infesting your happy home.
Def
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If you are going to play 'Tossies, all you really need are Carriers, and maybe that doodad what done makes'em invisible... Corsair maybe? Been a while, but now I have to dig it out and load it up again!
As for the Terrans, the "Terran Turtle" is an almost unbeatable defense- seige tanks, Goliaths and turrets full of Marines and Firebats will keep large amounts of Zerg from infesting your happy home.
Def
Those would be Artibers, good sir. And Carriers are generally much too late game for me. It's all about psionic storms and scarabs, it is. :D
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GEEK ALERT!!! :ahhh
:D
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Arbiter- you are absolutely right. The Corsairs cast webs that render thingees useless.
(http://homepage.mac.com/jonaswaage/.Pictures/arbiter.jpg)
Half a dozen invisible Carriers (or more!) is a good way to roll over any enemy base!
Def
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Getting Starcraft on your Aspire One will be fun, unless you happen to have an external USB CD/DVDrom? You could share the CDROM off your desktop over the network to install, then get the latest patches, as I think that removes the CD checks, and you won't need the CD after that... of course there's always www.gamecopyworld.com
I should try and setup under linux as I know it will run... I've got both starcraft and the broodwars expansion... haven't played in ages except on my old POS laptop (p2-233 with 256mb ram & win98)
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I was looking at an external CD/DVD drive for the Aspire One, mostly for movies etc, but you are right, it would come in handy for a lot of things, like playing/installing games and other software. Of course, I'm not a big fan of the $100+ price tag on some of them, but I have a $50 gift certificate to Staples, so I might use that to offset the cost of it.
I would also love to run Galactic Battlegrounds on it, but I doubt that a Microsoft game would run all that well on Linux!
Def
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Well, it's here. The good news is that when fully charged the battery will last around 8 hours. The bad news is that it will take much longer than that for me to figure out wtf I'm doing with Linux!
So far I have a pretty long list of things I can't figure out, and a pretty short list of things I can.
Things I can do:
Have a video chat in MSN Messenger (occasionally)
hit the < key instead of the shift button when trying to use punctuation or capitals
surf the web
Things I can't do:
Watch <videos
stop hitting the < key when I want to hit the shift key
sign into IM whenever I want
install my Bluetooth dongle
Stop hitting the touch pad when <i'm typing so the cursor goes all over the place
succeed at <tetris
I'm sure there's more I can't do, but I'm not smart enough to figure out what I don't know yet!
Def
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It always takes a while to get used to a new keyboard... I frequently hit the \ key which is above the enter key as on my old keyboard it was a reversed L -shaped key... it is a ultraportable, imagine how bad it would be on a 70x EEE PC...
As for getting things you want working, I'm sure reading the manuals, and searching for help online will help solve any issues... failing that, you can always throw a copy of XP on it...
What sort of videos are you having trouble with? are you referring to youtube (doesn't have flash installed?) or other video types...
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Nope, just regular movie files. I have a few movies on a flash drive left over from my last business trip that I thought I'd experiment with. the sound is ok, but it says something about missing a video codec. I am using MPlayer, which is the default player on it.
Def
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I also have mplayer, but normally use Totem Movie Player for most things... (it's my default player) haven't had to look for any codecs yet...
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That's what I was told about MPlayer!
:ahhh
Def