Slashdot Mirror
Review: LinuxCertified LC2210 Laptop
'It's me' writes "OSNews reviews LinuxCertified's LC2210 laptop, which comes with Xandros Desktop 2.0. That laptop is meant to be 100% certified with Linux, but Xandros seemed to have problems with it (namely there is no "sleep" function, while WiFi was not as robust as users would want it). LinuxCertified said that newer distros should be able to support this laptop with no hickups. The reviewer concludes that this a great purchase, as long as you are more selective over the distro installed."
This is an encouraging step forward. I've bought a few laptops off ebay in my time and spent many an hour researching beforehand to ensure that every part would work with my favourite OS.
What would be great would be an independant company that could certify linux compatibility for a one off fee. I realise there are various websites where users can submit whether it worked for them or not, but it can take a while for new hardware to be listed and the information is often out of date.
I'm not particularly in touch with this aspect of Linux, but I've heard that power management features haven't been all that great in Linux...and if that's true, then it comes as no surprise that there isn't a "sleep" function.
For linux acceptability and use to grow, as others have been mentioning, it has to have other, not-so-geek important features that ordinary users will keep asking for
http://efil.blogspot.com/
"that this a great purchase"
What exactly is the promise of a Linux certified laptop ? Honest. With off and on support of WiFi, and neglible power saving I don't see any advantage. The hardware itself doesn't sound like anything special. With the use of linux on embeded systems rising, it would be great to see a more fine tuned approach to specialized 'Laptop' distros. heh!
I don't see this appealing to Joe User outa the box either, considering the hoops one would have to go through to get it completely 'functional'. Might as well install a fresh distro and make sure the hardware you buy is well supported. I know of at least a few freinds with better laptop setups, who did exactly that.
Many more generations to go! right?
I appeal to the wisdom of fellow
RANTMODE on
I've looked high and low for computers, available to John Doe-home-consumer, that had Linux preinstalled. Oh, they exist, there are places where you can buy laptops with Linux preinstalled. But, look at them, either they are from companies that refuse to sell home systems with Linux preinstalled like IBM or Dell, or they are a generic non-branded factory laptop sold by seemingly an upstart.
The later is no biggy, truthfully we have to start from some where, and frankly many of the IBM/Dell lines are rebranded components. No secret, ever take apart your cheapo radio (Emerson) to find the speakers are Pioneer and the electronics by JVC?
In any case, the available solutions are rather pathetic. For example, I have been unable to find a laptop that boasts a 1600x1200 LCD, preinstalled with Linux. Unless we happen upon a Dell from a service that will sell you a refurb, but that's totally different; at some point, Microsoft still made a dollar on that machine. So, some of the readers don't value the LCD resolution as much as I do, but other components are pretty sore as well. Compare hardware specs to a new Dell/Apple to one of those generic no-brands. Pretty pathetic, and the cost of pre-installed Linux laptops are extrodinary; even when the laptop is a re-sold item.
VALinux, IBM both have tried to sell laptops to the consumer market with Linux preinstalled. Or, atleast I thought IBM offered the T22 with Linux, I'm not 100% sure. The T22 wasn't all that great a machine to me, now and then. As for VALinux, they sold a laptop, that was several hundreds of dollars more expensive than a comparable one with hundreds of dollars in pre-installed software, Microsoft software.
So, now, we have the Walmart line of desktops with Linux pre-installed. I wouldn't buy one. My god, the hardware is a joke. For some reason, it seems, companies think that just becuase the OS is free that those who use Linux opt for the cheapest quality and lowest line of hardware. No! I don't want a Celeron, or Centrino(whatever) CPU. I want the same hardware, middle line on up, that is found in the rest of the market, only with Linux preinstalled and the price reflecting it.
I can only assume, Microsoft is behind it making it more expensive to avoid giving them money than to just pay up. Which, I think should be illegal but apparently it's not.
RANTMODE off
OK, I fibbed. It's a Linux notebook.
Summary: Very small portable computer with a regular keyboard. The base system is built on a name-brand hardware (Sharp) with a customized Linux distribution on it. The customizations take care of the specific hardware; just like Dell, IBM, Compaq/HP, Sony, and -- well -- Sharp do for the customized versions of Windows they ship. Includes support, and yes you can update the packages -- just don't expect support for packages they don't provide.
The company selling this one has other name-brand hardware that fit other categories of notebook/laptops.
Element computer also has a good selection of hardware customized for Linux. Not rebranded IBM/Sony/Sharp/... though you can get a notepad laptop of you want -- ready to go -- and it looks like good stuff. They do not sell Windows, so you won't be paying Microsoft like Emperorlinux had to (using top-notch hardware with Windows already bundled on it).
A firewall can not protect you from yourself. Turn off what you do not need. Do not use the firewall to do your work.
Although I really like Linux, I have to disagree with you. Most of the time, Windows does just fine with installing new hardware. The only time when Windows is a real pain is when it fails to correctly identify and install hardware. At that point, it becomes more difficult to deal with than Linux because it does such a good job of hiding the mess it just made.
But the initial argument is still valid. Whether people are switching to Linux, or are long-time Linux users, it's unreasonable to expect them to have to fiddle around with drivers or search the Internet for HOW-TO documentation each time they want to add new hardware or when they upgrade their computer. Yes, I'm fully aware that new computers work on Windows because the hardware manufacturers specifically build and test them for Windows. But Linux certification should mean exactly the same thing for Linux. It's just crazy that a Linux machine would be "certified" and then come loaded with a distribution that doesn't fully work. And if the certified machine will only work properly with newer distributions, the certification should be specific about what distributions should be expected to work. Otherwise, it's meaningless.
I think the Linux community does as good a job as can be expected making Linux work with new hardware, especially given that most things have to be done without any guidance from the manufacturer. However, the actual procedure for installing new hardware that DOES work with Linux could be much easier. I'm certainly no fan of "plug-n-pray", so I would never suggest re-implementing that travesty. But it should be possible to generate distribution-specific install scripts or packages for devices that eliminate the "guessing game" that people have to play to get their hardware working. A perfect example is a sound card in my old computer. It's a Ensoniq Soundscape VIVO, which lists itself as Gateway (because it's a Gateway computer). I have yet to have a distribution recognize and properly configure this device correctly during the install. But the device works. I just have to run a few programs, collect some information, edit a file or two and then it works fine. An install script could easily be written to do this.
And now could SOMEBODY please tell me why Knoppix works on pretty much EVERY machine I throw at it, but full distributions seem to be unable to do this?
GreyPoopon
--
Why is it I can write insightful comments but can't come up with a clever signature?