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Lindows Releases Inexpensive Subnotebook

Posted by michael on from the install-debian-promptly dept.

los furtive writes "As of March 1st $799 will get you this Lindows 2.9lb subnotebook with a VIA C3 933MHz Processor, 256 megs ram and a 20 gig HD, a 12inch screen, USB 2.0, firewire and of course the Lindows OS. Pre-orders have already started."

8 of 547 comments (clear)

  1. Yet for $699... by wo1verin3 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yet for $699 you can get this Dell Inspiron with a Celeron 1.6, GeForce2Go 16mb video, and more.... add 128MB to bring it up to the same price and you can load on your own Linux Install. Why are we doing Lindows marketing for something that isn't really that great of a deal if you shop around?

    1. Re:Yet for $699... by evilviper · · Score: 5, Informative

      My Sotec notebook is 4LBS, has a built-in combo DVD/CD-RW, 256MB of RAM, 20GB HD, etc. All that was $750, and it has a 1.2GHz Celeron, not a piece of crap VIA-C3, which performs like it's less than half it's own clock-speed.

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    2. Re:Yet for $699... by cdrudge · · Score: 5, Informative

      Follow the grandparent's link, click the blue "Recommended Systems". Right under the phone of the laptop there is a link that says "Inspiron 2650C starting at $699". Click it. That takes you to a page that has the laptop for $849 - $150 rebate = $699. You can customize it from there.

      This link takes you straight to that page. Here is the same laptop that is $806-$150 rebate (not shown on that page but on another that leads to that page). The extra $$$ off is due from their Employee Purchase Program that anyone can get thru.

  2. idot computers manufactures them by net_bh · · Score: 5, Informative
    Here is the CNET news item

    Here is a link to the Idot website.

    Here is a link to the Gearzoo website.

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  3. Re:Kinda expensive by binaryDigit · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yeah, but it still beats an iBook by 50% (pricewise, anyways)

    Nope, the chart is wrong, they were comparing to the PowerBook, NOT the iBook. The iBook only costs $999 in a comparable configuration (the lowest end).

  4. Re:I'd still rather have an iBook by binaryDigit · · Score: 5, Informative

    For one it wouldn't be slower, the VIA C3 is best about 2/3 the performance of a celeron at the same clock rate. So given that Macs tend to perform better than comparable clock speeds, the Mac will typically outperform it. You also get a more stable OS, stable in the sense that you don't have to worry about compatability issues. You get a built-in cd, which for some people is a significant plus (though some don't need it as well). Also notice that there is no mention of battery life. Also, where do you take your Lindows machine if you're having problems? Apple has places everywhere to do repairs, etc. You get MacOSX with several built in apps (iPhoto, iMovie, etc) that are arguably better (usuabillity, integration, not necessarily more powerful) than anything you are going to get for free for Lindows as well.

  5. Re:Graphics chipsets by kriston · · Score: 5, Informative

    All Via C3s are low power/low heat. The 933 MHz model is exceptionally fast for its power and heat requirements. The chipset is the integrated Via ProSavage (the old S3 stuff) which has specific acceleration support for MPEG (DVD) decoding. I build systems based on this processor and they are excellent for everything except 3d gaming, and I've never seen anyone expect to do 3d gaming on a notebook PC for under $2500, anyway.

    KRis

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    Kriston

  6. Re:933 MHz C3 isn't that good by mrklin · · Score: 5, Informative
    I would say it is better than that. I use a VIA C3 900 Mhz processor in a Shuttle small form factor PC (SV24) at home. It uses so little power that it does not require a CPU fan.


    It is sufficient enough to do the following without problem:

    • Decode MPEG-2 i.e. playback DVD or VOB files.
    • Encode and decode MP3.
    • Generally Office tasks and web surfing.
    • Even gaming (with older games like Counterstrike) if paired up with a decent graphic card.


    What it does not well (at least for me):

    Encode MPEG-2.

    Handle or manipulate large files (800+ MB high bitrate DivX file, apply Photoshop filter to a TIFF file etc, etc). (This is with 512 MB RAM and a large fast driveXP.)

    New games that are CPU intensive.

    If you have to seriously ask 'Will this have enough power for my (insert task here)?' then a C3 is probably not for you.

    $800 is too much to pay for that anyway although I like its hardware specs (both firewire and USB).