18 Mar
2014
18 Mar
'14
8:09 p.m.
On Tue, 18 Mar 2014, Thierry de Coulon wrote:
Hi,
I'm glad you've been able to install a complete Linux on your Chromebook. It means
that Linux support for it has improved in the last few months!
I have 2 netbooks: The original first-generation Asus EEE 2G surf and the one I bought
last summer: Asus EEE X101CH.
At the time I looked to replace my underpowered first-gen EEE, I saw for sale an used Acer
Chromebook, but I wasn't too interested by it because of the fact that while its a x86
machine, it is not IBM PC compatible (BIOS and friends). Sadly, I also need Windows for
industrial Windows-only software, so this Chromebook was not interesting.
I bought the Acer netbook (standard netbook) at Wal-Mart and I returned it 2 days later
because I didn't liked the overall quality of the product, being used to Asus and big
bros like IBM. Right after, I bought my new Asus EEE X101CH. It has a few issue with
Linux, such as supporting only 2d graphics, and the Wifi is not as rock-solid (more than
wired connection) as it was on my old EEE, but it is very powerful, at least for my needs.
It also needed to run bleeding-edge distros like Ubuntu, because it didn't booted at
all on PCLinuxOS, which as an older 3.2-series kernel. Overall, it is a great machine and
I like its 3.5hrs+ battery life.
It is sad that netbooks aren't made anymore (now a rare exception), because they were
good small machines, at an affordable price and in a very useful size.
-Alexandre
On Monday 17 March 2014 18.30:07 Felmon Davis
wrote:
I seem to be on a binge since I just got a Thinkpad x131e too! it's ok
and is meant to replace my trusty netbook but there are some things I
dislike about it and I find it hard to abandon this netbook.
the trick will be, I think, getting the touchpad
to work. I abhor
touchpads but still want it to work. also there are only two usb
ports.
I hate touchpads too, which is why almost all my laptops are/where Thinkpads.
I've taken a look at the c720 (they say 1.25 kg) and Lenovo's x131e (1.8 kg!)
and I must say I'm more and more surprized at
the Chromebook trend.
They are cheap ok. However, I just purchased a second hand Thinkad X200 for
less than $250, it weights 1.4 kg and runs Debain perfectly (with TDE of
course) on a 64 GB SSD. The X201 is just a little more expensive for
Touchpad friends.
of course the Chromebook is cheaper new than the second-hand Thinkpad
you cite but not so much if one buys a nice big ssd card.
I understand it is fun to see if these netbooks
can run with Linux, but I
doubt it is really usefull.
oh, I have no doubt it is really useful depending on your purposes. in
fact, the more I look at it, it would be more likely to replace my
netbook (my steady helpmate) than the fancy new Thinkpad! (I wanted
the Thinkpad for the power, however.)
'would' be more likely because there are some drawbacks so I'm
undecided if I'll even keep it.
it doesn't have a proper BIOS, a fact I very much dislike; a lot of
'open software' research went into this but Google is playing
lock-down; even opening it voids the warranty - basically no
'user-serviceable parts'. the keyboard is weird, lacks function keys.
no ethernet but a usb ethernet dongle works fine but only two usb
ports, which is also a problem for me since I like to use a
usb-connected trackball.
less than a week to go then keep or return. but if I keep it, it will
be more than a 'toy'.
F.