like i said.... i an so grateful for the help and advice you guys give! On Fri, Nov 25, 2011 at 12:13 AM, Jim March <1.jim.march@gmail.com> wrote: > It does look like it'll work. We don't know the WiFi chipset yet but, > again, odds are way past 95% that there won't be a major issue. > "Minor issue" means you get it up on ethernet if WiFi doesn't work > right away, run lspci, find out the WiFi chipset, figure out how to > turn it on by downloading firmware, etc. We'll get it, one way or > another, ndiswrapper if we have to. Absolute worst case scenario, you > end up with a WiFi adapter on a USB port until drivers for the inboard > WiFi chip come along...but again, that's less than a 5% chance. > > "Linux runs on everything" just isn't quite so. The video chipset is > going to be the showstopper if there is one. > > Jim > > On Thu, Nov 24, 2011 at 3:17 PM, Michael Havens wrote: > > You are an absolute wealth of information. Thanks. I found the spec sheet > > for the computer (http://i.walmart.com/i/rb/0088611205066.pdf) and all > seems > > to be good. So it will be a little slow. Can't be any slower than my > > desktop! > > > > On Thu, Nov 24, 2011 at 2:41 PM, Jim March <1.jim.march@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> > >> Dual-core means there's really, seriously two CPUs in there. The AMD > >> "Opteron" has eight "cores" - separate CPUs. > >> > >> There's some applications out there that are set up to run on two CPUs > >> at once. Most don't. It also helps some when you do "virtualization" > >> - run one OS such as, say, WinXP underneath another OS such as Linux. > >> > >> OK. Look. There ARE some low-end CPUs and GPUs (Graphics Processing > >> Units) that choke hard on Linux. A lot of CPUs (including the C-50) > >> are integrated with the graphics processor, which is why the CPU can > >> be trouble. > >> > >> AMD/ATI (same company) graphics tend to work well with Linux these > >> days. AMD has put out a lot of data on how their GPUs work, which has > >> let the open source community build good drivers. You should be OK > >> with any AMD/ATI GPU except the very highest end. Referring to this > >> page, it looks like you want the absolute latest Linux variants for > >> the 6250 card: > >> > >> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RadeonDriver > >> > >> That means run Oneiric, or Linux Mint 12, or the latest release Fedora > >> or similar. > >> > >> The Intel GMA500 is a total disaster. Intel bought it from a small > >> Linux-hostile company. Avoid at all costs. Some of the GPUs > >> integrated with the Core i3/5/7 series are messy but rapidly > >> improving...these are probably higher-end than you're looking for. > >> The Intel i945 graphics are still seen on a few micro-sized critters > >> and it's rock solid...not that fast, but it can still do basic Compiz > >> fr'instance. The 965/3000 series is one to avoid, the 4500 series > >> work great. > >> > >> NVidia has some integrated CPU/GPU combination chips that are also > >> very Linux-hostile and a total mess to deal with. Look for the word > >> "ION" and run away screaming if you see it. Some are integrated with > >> the Intel Atom series CPUs, either on-chip or nearby. Avoid all such > >> combinations at all cost - if you see "Atom" and "Nvidia" together, > >> run away. > >> > >> LISTEN UP: when you listed system specs in an earlier message in this > >> thread, you didn't list the video card/chipset. That's a serious > >> mistake. Pay close attention to the video chip and google it with the > >> word "Ubuntu" to see if the support is there. That's how I got the > >> ATI/AMD video driver support link I showed you above. > >> > >> The only other potential trouble spot is the WiFi chipset, and even > >> then you're usually OK. With Lenovo, HP and Compaq, the BIOS will > >> fail to start up if you swap WiFi chipsets with something else - so > >> you're stuck with the factory WiFi card. On Dells, Acers, Asus, > >> pretty much everything else, you can swap WiFi cards around. This can > >> be a lot of fun. Example...my Dell 1525 came with a Broadcom-based > >> 1390 (Dell part number) WiFi card. I've put the 1395 in for more > >> range. I also have an Intel in there that doesn't have as much range, > >> but it DOES have the ability to re-broadcast...which means I can take > >> in a signal off of my cellphone via USB in and re-broadcast that for > >> other users if I want to share my cellmodem connection...in other > >> words, create a WiFi hotspot. > >> > >> The very best Linux WiFi cards are usually Atheros. All have > >> re-broadcast support and excellent open-source driver support. Next > >> best is Intel - good drivers but only some can re-broadcast. > >> Broadcoms require connecting up some other way first to download the > >> right firmware, but once running they're pretty solid. > >> > >> Jim > >> > >> On Thu, Nov 24, 2011 at 2:17 PM, Michael Havens > wrote: > >> > But what id 'dual core'? Or is that one of those things that can't > >> > really be > >> > explained? > >> > > >> > On Thu, Nov 24, 2011 at 2:13 PM, Jim March <1.jim.march@gmail.com> > >> > wrote: > >> >> > >> >> The C-50 is dual-core. Still a slow one though. > >> >> > >> >> Jim > >> >> > >> >> On Thu, Nov 24, 2011 at 1:50 PM, Michael Havens > >> >> wrote: > >> >> > I found the c-50 on your link jim but not the dual-core c-50. Or > else > >> >> > does > >> >> > 'dual core' mean anything? > >> >> > > >> >> > On Thu, Nov 24, 2011 at 12:07 PM, Jim March <1.jim.march@gmail.com > > > >> >> > wrote: > >> >> >> > >> >> >> Lemme show you something. The C-50 is a turd. Here's it's score > of > >> >> >> 453 at CPUBench: > >> >> >> > >> >> >> http://www.cpubenchmark.net/low_end_cpus.html > >> >> >> > >> >> >> The T7400 found in some six year old Thinkpad T60p critters > >> >> >> fr'instance pulls over 1,200: > >> >> >> > >> >> >> http://www.cpubenchmark.net/mid_range_cpus.html > >> >> >> > >> >> >> Granted, the video chip isn't half bad that's integrated with the > >> >> >> C-50. It'll work. But the whole machine is built to a very low > >> >> >> price > >> >> >> point. > >> >> >> > >> >> >> Jim > >> >> >> > >> >> >> On Thu, Nov 24, 2011 at 11:50 AM, Michael Havens < > bmike1@gmail.com> > >> >> >> wrote: > >> >> >> > Glad I didn't jump at any of the opportunities you guys > presented > >> >> >> > because..... > >> >> >> > > >> >> >> > For BLACK Friday the Wal-Mart up here is selling a Compaq > >> >> >> > Presario > >> >> >> > with > >> >> >> > an > >> >> >> > AMD dual core processor with 2 gig of memory and 250 gig drive > for > >> >> >> > $198. > >> >> >> > > >> >> >> > http://tinyurl.com/7ykallg > >> >> >> > > >> >> >> > hmmm,,,, it seems bestbuy has a better deal. but we don't have > >> >> >> > bestbuy > >> >> >> > up > >> >> >> > here. > >> >> >> > > >> >> >> > On Tue, Nov 22, 2011 at 6:08 AM, Stephen > >> >> >> > wrote: > >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> I just for a d630 from eBay for 95 shipped to my door. > >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> Not new but working and the are workhorses and are well > supported > >> >> >> >> by > >> >> >> >> Linux. All I need is a hard drive for it. > >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> On Nov 21, 2011 11:52 PM, "Michael Havens" > >> >> >> >> wrote: > >> >> >> >>> > >> >> >> >>> My parents said they would get me a laptop. I asked how much > >> >> >> >>> they > >> >> >> >>> wanted > >> >> >> >>> to spend and figured I'd ask you guys because you might make a > >> >> >> >>> little > >> >> >> >>> money! > >> >> >> >>> Who wants to build me a laptop for about $200? > >> >> >> >>> > >> >> >> >>> -- > >> >> >> >>> :-)~MIKE~(-: > >> >> >> >>> > >> >> >> >>> --------------------------------------------------- > >> >> >> >>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - > >> >> >> >>> PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > >> >> >> >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > >> >> >> >>> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> --------------------------------------------------- > >> >> >> >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - > PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > >> >> >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > >> >> >> >> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > >> >> >> > > >> >> >> > > >> >> >> > > >> >> >> > -- > >> >> >> > :-)~MIKE~(-: > >> >> >> > > >> >> >> > --------------------------------------------------- > >> >> >> > PLUG-discuss mailing list - > PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > >> >> >> > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > >> >> >> > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > >> >> >> > > >> >> >> --------------------------------------------------- > >> >> >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > >> >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > >> >> >> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > -- > >> >> > :-)~MIKE~(-: > >> >> > > >> >> > --------------------------------------------------- > >> >> > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > >> >> > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > >> >> > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > >> >> > > >> >> --------------------------------------------------- > >> >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > >> >> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > -- > >> > :-)~MIKE~(-: > >> > > >> > --------------------------------------------------- > >> > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > >> > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > >> > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > >> > > >> --------------------------------------------------- > >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > >> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > > > > > > > -- > > :-)~MIKE~(-: > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > -- :-)~MIKE~(-: