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GlobeTrotter: Mandrake-based 40GB Linux Mobile Desktop

Posted by timothy on from the if-you-can-boot-from-usb dept.

joestar writes "Mandrakesoft & LaCie have just launched "GlobeTrotter", a ultra-compact 40 GB bootable USB hard-drive pre-loaded with Mandrakelinux 10.0 Official. It may be plugged to any available PC with a USB 1 or USB 2 port, automatically recognizes the host-PC's hardware, and then is ready to use. Multiple uses can be imagined, from the office/internet workstation to the multimedia jukebox! The concept is quite similar to Mandrakemove, excepted that it's way more powerful than a USB-key based system! And for $219 it's a credible alternative to a laptop."

6 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. Alternative to a laptop? by Kell_pt · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's not really an alternative to a laptop imho - check its weight. Always recall that transportable doesn't make it portable. ;)

    --
    "I don't mind God, it's his fan club I can't stand!" E8
    1. Re:Alternative to a laptop? by Chess_the_cat · · Score: 5, Insightful
      It's not really an alternative to a laptop imho

      Maybe because it's not a laptop. It's a HD with Mandrake preloaded onto it. You plug it into a desktop so you can run Mandrake anywhere.

      --
      Support the First Amendment. Read at -1
  2. sounds like an easy way... by ryane67 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    to hijack data off a system that you dont have the password to log into yourself..

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    ?SYNTAX ERROR IN LINE 42
  3. You must be smoking a viable alternative to crack by untaken_name · · Score: 5, Funny

    There is no way that an external hard drive is equivalent to a laptop. This thing doesn't have a keyboard or screen. What are you going to do on the plane, show it off to the other passengers? Viable alternative. mutter.

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    http://xkcd.com/386/
  4. Re:Just not practical. by ryanjensen · · Score: 5, Informative

    RTFA, you and everyone else who said this ... the drive also comes with a mini-CD that contains a bootloader and a recovery program. If your computer can boot off CD (much more than 5%) it can boot the to the LaCie drive.

    --
    The Ezine Directory
  5. Been there, done that, give you the tee shirt? by astrojetsonjr · · Score: 5, Informative
    40 GB laptop disk $84 - Bascon Computers
    USB 2 case (with keyboard power cable for those PC's with lame USB ports) $32 - Bascon Computers
    Knoppix $0 - the web
    Portability Priceless

    Fits in your pocket, you can carry your system all the time. Most places are starting to care about USB drives so check before you plug in.

    The nice thing is you always have your code, your custom toolchain, music, etc. Like you never left home.

    (OK, so you have to set up Knoppix and that will take an hour or two, far less than it takes you to build that XP box from scratch) - ob Windows vs. Linux dig