Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux (More info?)

Does anybody have first-hand experience with the $498 Linspire Laptop
from WalMart? I'm on a very tight budget, but of course I don't want
to buy one and then find out that it's a total piece of junk!

My main application would be to surf the Internet via WiFi while I'm
traveling, and to send & receive Email; and maybe to store digital
photos. Then I would want to download the stuff to my desktop when I
got home.

My three biggest questions are:

A.) If I decide that I don't like Lindows, will I be able to install a
more conventional Distro instead -- or maybe a dual-boot??

B.) How is the mechanical quality of the hardware? Will the CDROM drive
burn out in a few months, and the keys start sticking, etc., etc.?

C.) Does it support 802.11g ?

Thanx in Advance, john w.
(jwallacq AT hotmail DOT com)

P.S. > One more general question about Lindows: Does Lindows-4.5 even
allow you to log on as 'root' and install generic Linux applications,
or does it force you to use their fee-based downloading service?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux (More info?)

In article <1112882992.368191.224930@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
jwallacq@hotmail.com says...
>
> P.S. > One more general question about Lindows: Does Lindows-4.5 even
> allow you to log on as 'root' and install generic Linux applications,
> or does it force you to use their fee-based downloading service?

I don't live in the US, so I'm guessing the spec etc, but aiui Lindows
basically runs everything as root by default. Which is obviously one of
the main criticisms.

--
AG

Remove removes from address to remove anti-spam measures.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Alan Gauton E-Mail agauton @ postmaster.co.uk

Never for me the lowered banner, never the last endeavour!
(Damon Hill - 16th June 1999)

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux (More info?)

<jwallacq@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1112882992.368191.224930@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Date: 7 Apr 2005 07:09:52 -0700

Does anybody have first-hand experience with the $498 Linspire
Laptop from WalMart? I'm on a very tight budget, but of course I
don't want to buy one and then find out that it's a total piece of
junk!

Well I don't have any first hand experience with it. But I did notice
that there isn't any mention of having a PC Card (PCMCIA) slot. Which
sounds like it doesn't have one. If that's the case, then you could only
WiFi (if it works at all), is off of the USB ports. Which means it
wouldn't be too portable.


Cheers!


___________________________________________
Bill (using a HP AMD 1.2GHZ & Windows 2000)
-- written and edited within Word 2000

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux (More info?)

* BillW50 Wrote in comp.os.linux:

>
> <jwallacq@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1112882992.368191.224930@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Date: 7 Apr 2005 07:09:52 -0700
>
> Does anybody have first-hand experience with the $498
> Linspire Laptop from WalMart? I'm on a very tight budget, but
> of course I don't want to buy one and then find out that it's
> a total piece of junk!
>
> Well I don't have any first hand experience with it. But I did
> notice that there isn't any mention of having a PC Card (PCMCIA)
> slot. Which sounds like it doesn't have one. If that's the case,
> then you could only WiFi (if it works at all), is off of the USB
> ports. Which means it wouldn't be too portable.


Why is USB WiFi any less portable than PCMCIA WiFI?
--
David

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux (More info?)

"SINNER" <arcade.master@googlemail.net> wrote in message
news:Xns963173756982ALouiscypherhellorg@140.99.99.130...
Date: Thu, 07 Apr 2005 16:18:20 GMT

* BillW50 Wrote in comp.os.linux:
> Well I don't have any first hand experience with it. But I did
> notice that there isn't any mention of having a PC Card (PCMCIA)
> slot. Which sounds like it doesn't have one. If that's the case,
> then you could only WiFi (if it works at all), is off of the USB
> ports. Which means it wouldn't be too portable.

Why is USB WiFi any less portable than PCMCIA WiFI?

Hi David... Well the nice thing about wireless is you don't have to use
the computer being tied to one spot. As you can pick up the laptop and
travel basically anywhere without wires and/or entanglements. And that
is what I mean by being less portable.

I don't like using my laptop without a mouse for example. Although when
I want to be truly mobile (and often I do), that thing has to go. But
having a WiFi gizmo hanging off of the USB would even be far worse. See
what I mean now?


Cheers!


___________________________________________
Bill (using a HP AMD 1.2GHZ & Windows 2000)
-- written and edited within Word 2000

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux (More info?)

* BillW50 Wrote in comp.os.linux:

>
> "SINNER" <arcade.master@googlemail.net> wrote in message
> news:Xns963173756982ALouiscypherhellorg@140.99.99.130...
> Date: Thu, 07 Apr 2005 16:18:20 GMT
>
> * BillW50 Wrote in comp.os.linux:
>> Well I don't have any first hand experience with it. But I did
>> notice that there isn't any mention of having a PC Card (PCMCIA)
>> slot. Which sounds like it doesn't have one. If that's the case,
>> then you could only WiFi (if it works at all), is off of the USB
>> ports. Which means it wouldn't be too portable.
>
> Why is USB WiFi any less portable than PCMCIA WiFI?
>
> Hi David... Well the nice thing about wireless is you don't have
> to use the computer being tied to one spot.

Indeed. I use it on my home network and have been for a couple of
years now. I also have BOTH types of WiFi adapters USB AND PCMCIA so
I guess I am still missing your point.

> As you can pick up the
> laptop and travel basically anywhere without wires and/or
> entanglements. And that is what I mean by being less portable.

But you can do this with either USB OR PCMCIA, which was my point.
The absense of a PCMCIA slot does not inhibit tha ability to use
wireless access on the laptop, therefore it is no less portable.

>
> I don't like using my laptop without a mouse for example. Although
> when I want to be truly mobile (and often I do), that thing has to
> go. But having a WiFi gizmo hanging off of the USB would even be
> far worse. See what I mean now?

No because my WiFi card sticks out the side of the laptop and the USB
out the back about the same distance. I suppose its a matter of
preference or where you intend to rest the laptop while using it as
to weather or not the antenna will interfere.

--
David

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux (More info?)

"SINNER" <arcade.master@googlemail.net> wrote in message
news:Xns96317AC45D490Louiscypherhellorg@140.99.99.130...
Date: Thu, 07 Apr 2005 17:04:06 GMT

* BillW50 Wrote in comp.os.linux:

Indeed. I use it on my home network and have been for a couple of
years now. I also have BOTH types of WiFi adapters USB AND PCMCIA
so I guess I am still missing your point.

Hi David!

... But you can do this with either USB OR PCMCIA, which was my
point. The absense of a PCMCIA slot does not inhibit tha ability to
use wireless access on the laptop, therefore it is no less
portable.

... No because my WiFi card sticks out the side of the laptop and
the USB out the back about the same distance. I suppose its a
matter of preference or where you intend to rest the laptop while
using it as to weather or not the antenna will interfere.

Okay your USB WiFi must be a lot different than the ones I have seen. If
so, got a web site with pictures so I can take a look at them (or it)?
As the ones I've seen doesn't sound like the nifty one that you have. As
these are with a USB cable running to what kind of looks like a cordless
phone base with a rubber duck antenna.


Cheers!


___________________________________________
Bill (using a HP AMD 1.2GHZ & Windows 2000)
-- written and edited within Word 2000

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux (More info?)

jwallacq@hotmail.com scribbled on the stall wall:
>
> Does anybody have first-hand experience with the $498 Linspire Laptop
> from WalMart? I'm on a very tight budget, but of course I don't want
> to buy one and then find out that it's a total piece of junk!

It's being sold at Wal-fart and only costs 500 buckazoids. That should
tell you something right away, right?


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Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote:
>Okay your USB WiFi must be a lot different than the ones I have seen.

There's a USB WiFi adapter that looks like a thumb-drive, basically
just plugs into a USB port and sticks out. Dunno about Linux drivers,
but it sure would feel fragile to me...

In fact, at the Walmart.com WWWebsite, there's one listed as an
accessory for the Lindows laptop. OTOH, some of them come with WiFi
built-in, which has to work better than a dongle...

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux (More info?)

* BillW50 wrote in comp.os.linux:

> Okay your USB WiFi must be a lot different than the ones I have seen. If
> so, got a web site with pictures so I can take a look at them (or it)?
> As the ones I've seen doesn't sound like the nifty one that you have. As
> these are with a USB cable running to what kind of looks like a cordless
> phone base with a rubber duck antenna.

So small they fit on a keychain:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna [...] &c=us&l=en

I actually have that one (payed less) and it comes with an extender if
necessary. Pretty cool little device but they are quite common recently.
--
David
A gleekzorp without a tornpee is like a quop without a fertsneet (sort of).

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux (More info?)

"GccTxs" <gcc1967@TRASHsbcglobal.net> scribbled on the stall wall:
> Refurbished Dell from The Dell Outlet
>
> www.outlet.dell.com


please don't top-post!


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Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux (More info?)

Wiseguy wrote:

> please don't top-post!

I tend to top-post when I'm replying to someone who already did, and I
use proper etiquette when I'm the 1st to reply or when I'm replying to
someone who already replied correctly.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

<William P. N. Smith> wrote in message
news:nlua519r25f87t22hofuq9qic97bh0cbkv@4ax.com...
Date: Thu, 07 Apr 2005 14:23:58 -0400

"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote:
>Okay your USB WiFi must be a lot different than the ones I have seen.

There's a USB WiFi adapter that looks like a thumb-drive, basically
just plugs into a USB port and sticks out. Dunno about Linux
drivers, but it sure would feel fragile to me...

In fact, at the Walmart.com WWWebsite, there's one listed as an
accessory for the Lindows laptop. OTOH, some of them come with WiFi
built-in, which has to work better than a dongle...

Hi William... yeah they sure do look fragile hanging off of a USB port
to me too. I think I'll stick to PC Card types myself. Built in WiFi is
okay I guess. But I don't trust the quality of them from what I have
been hearing anyway.


Cheers!


___________________________________________
Bill (using a HP AMD 1.2GHZ & Windows 2000)
-- written and edited within Word 2000

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux (More info?)

"SINNER" <99nesorjd@gates_of_hell.invalid> wrote in message
news:gvtgi2x1ib.ln2@news.gates_of_hell.com...
Date: Thu, 07 Apr 2005 23:57:20 GMT

* BillW50 wrote in comp.os.linux:

> Okay your USB WiFi must be a lot different than the ones I have
> seen. If so, got a web site with pictures so I can take a look at
> them (or it)? As the ones I've seen doesn't sound like the nifty
> one that you have. As these are with a USB cable running to what
> kind of looks like a cordless phone base with a rubber duck
> antenna.

So small they fit on a keychain:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna [...] &c=us&l=en

I actually have that one (payed less) and it comes with an extender
if necessary. Pretty cool little device but they are quite common
recently.

Hi David... Oh they look just like thumb drives! Okay I gotcha now.
<grin>


Cheers!


___________________________________________
Bill (using a HP AMD 1.2GHZ & Windows 2000)
-- written and edited within Word 2000

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> wrote:
> Built in WiFi is
>okay I guess. But I don't trust the quality of them from what I have
>been hearing anyway.

IME built-in WiFi is far superior in range and performance to external
solutions.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

walmart laptop has built in wifi!! I bought one I love it. one thin
I have no Idea what Linux is. For internet access for cd movies music
it is a great laptop

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux (More info?)

Wiseguy---you are ANAL! I bet you have no wife or kids...if you do, they've
gotta be miserable!



"Wiseguy" <noone@uber.usachoice.net> wrote in message
news:4255f6fc$1_2@127.0.0.1...
> "GccTxs" <gcc1967@TRASHsbcglobal.net> scribbled on the stall wall:
>> Refurbished Dell from The Dell Outlet
>>
>> www.outlet.dell.com
>
>
> please don't top-post!
>
>
> ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet
> News==----
> http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+
> Newsgroups
> ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption
> =----
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops,comp.os.linux (More info?)

--> AW wrote:

> Wiseguy---you are ANAL! I bet you have no wife or kids...if you do, they've
> gotta be miserable!


It's proper etiquette to bottom post and it's the bottom-poster's
responsibility to crop the previous post if it's too long so readers
don't have to scroll too much. Top posting only became popular about 10
years ago when the mass started using the internet. Ordinary, clueless
people quote all the article and just post on top cuz it's easier.

aka top posters are newbies