Well, my Zareason laptop started doing strange things after a long life of intense work and harsh conditions. I wanted to buy another computer from them, but the model I wanted was out of stock.
Thus, I started looking for options and finally found an Adelie computer from Think Penguin that was pretty close to the computer I wanted to buy originally.
I bought it, asking for their default choice for the OS. When I got it, I realized that it came preloaded with Ubuntu 16.10. Since Ubuntu has never been my favorite Linux distribution, I tried to go the multiboot way, making several partitions to host different Linux flavors.
Unfortunately, none of my distros could be installed. I tried MX-16, which is the newest distro I have and its partitioning tool (Gparted) threw errors at me when trying to make the partitions. As a result, I could not install anything.
Then, I decided to use the Ubuntu disk that came with the computer to do the job. That was my first time using Ubuntu's installer and my second time using Ubuntu. The tool did its job and thanks to that, I could install MX-16.
I've had to learn a few new tricks with this computer. As the rep from Think Penguin told me, the computer is too new for many Linux distributions (the ones I use regularly), but I've been able to manage so far.
What about Ubuntu? I'll keep using it and maybe I'll get used to it. My Steam games are all there, and most run perfectly. So do other software tools I need for work.
I'll be checking other distros with current releases to see if any can work with this computer, too. Maybe my next test will be with Fedora?
So far, I'm very happy with this new computer. The service at Think Penguin was excellent, too. I'm so satisfied that I may buy a Korora laptop from them in the future.
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta laptop. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta laptop. Mostrar todas las entradas
lunes, 13 de febrero de 2017
martes, 24 de enero de 2017
My Quest for a GNU/Linux Laptop
My embattled Alto 4330, which I bought from ZaReason about 4 years ago, has started to fail. I have to pledge guilty because I've dropped it twice and the poor machine kept working faithfully. Thus, while I think of a way to fix it, I started looking for a replacement.
First, I do not want to pay for Windows 10, especially because all I'd do with it would be to wipe it out from the hard drive. Since I do not want to put up with all the UEFI and restricted boot nonsense, buying from a Linux vendor is my road to take.
Unfortunately, ZaReason was a no-go. I tried to buy their Strata twice, but my order was rejected. Upon asking, they told me it was out of stock but they would get new merchandise soon.
I checked again two weeks later and they had the Ultralap. Nice... I almost bought it, but it does not have an optical drive. Some may think "So... what's the problem?" I guess the problem is that I do use CDs and DVDs, and having a super portable laptop that needs an external CD/DVD drive, even if it is very slim, is not convenient enough for me. They may offer other models soon, but I cannot afford waiting.
I took a look at System 76, but their laptops did not fit my needs.
Then, Mechatotoro suggested Think Penguin. Apparently, their Adelie laptop is the closest to the Strata I wanted... plus it comes with the keyboard in my language.
Thus, I took the plunge and ordered one. Now their card verification loopholes have started... although it is highly inconvenient for me as the customer, I understand their fight against fraud.
I hope my order gets processed and shipped without any other problem. I also hope that the laptop I bought may be a good one.
First, I do not want to pay for Windows 10, especially because all I'd do with it would be to wipe it out from the hard drive. Since I do not want to put up with all the UEFI and restricted boot nonsense, buying from a Linux vendor is my road to take.
Unfortunately, ZaReason was a no-go. I tried to buy their Strata twice, but my order was rejected. Upon asking, they told me it was out of stock but they would get new merchandise soon.
I checked again two weeks later and they had the Ultralap. Nice... I almost bought it, but it does not have an optical drive. Some may think "So... what's the problem?" I guess the problem is that I do use CDs and DVDs, and having a super portable laptop that needs an external CD/DVD drive, even if it is very slim, is not convenient enough for me. They may offer other models soon, but I cannot afford waiting.
I took a look at System 76, but their laptops did not fit my needs.
Then, Mechatotoro suggested Think Penguin. Apparently, their Adelie laptop is the closest to the Strata I wanted... plus it comes with the keyboard in my language.
Thus, I took the plunge and ordered one. Now their card verification loopholes have started... although it is highly inconvenient for me as the customer, I understand their fight against fraud.
I hope my order gets processed and shipped without any other problem. I also hope that the laptop I bought may be a good one.
martes, 3 de enero de 2017
On commence bien comme ça!
Year 2017 has just started and I'm already experiencing its surprises! First, I tried to buy a laptop from ZaReason, but my transaction failed twice. Upon asking, they told me they are out of stock but will have new computers quite soon. I checked other vendors, but so far none beats the specs and price of the laptop I intended to buy.
Today, Mechatotoro gave me a nice Epson XP-231 printer as a present. I did not have much problem to get it up and running (both the printing and the scanning functions) on MX-15.
However, while I was trying to install the drivers on MX-14, I ran into problems. BIG problems. Suddenly, my system decided that every file I selected with the pointer was to be deleted. Fortunately, it would ask for confirmation and thus I could recover some trivial folders: my documents, my downloads, and my desktop.
Thinking that maybe my mouse was misbehaving (too bad because it is not even 2 months old), I unplugged it to try the mousepad. Bad news! It did not work.
After that, I thought my MX-14 system was in bad shape and set to reinstalling it from a remastered USB pendrive. However, the system on the pendrive showed the same behavior. Not liking the situation very much, I booted MEPIS 12 to see if I had better luck. No. The same issues greeted me.
In a desperate move, I opened the laptop, removed the keyboard, the hard drive, and checked the memory. After being cleaned, they looked better. Not being able to do anything else, I put the laptop together again and started it fearing the worse...
Well, it is working normally again! I hope it keeps doing it while I get my new laptop. The problem is that Linux laptops are not so easy to find here. Hopefully, I'll find one I like soon. 2017, what a great start!
Today, Mechatotoro gave me a nice Epson XP-231 printer as a present. I did not have much problem to get it up and running (both the printing and the scanning functions) on MX-15.
However, while I was trying to install the drivers on MX-14, I ran into problems. BIG problems. Suddenly, my system decided that every file I selected with the pointer was to be deleted. Fortunately, it would ask for confirmation and thus I could recover some trivial folders: my documents, my downloads, and my desktop.
Thinking that maybe my mouse was misbehaving (too bad because it is not even 2 months old), I unplugged it to try the mousepad. Bad news! It did not work.
 |
| This is quite a way to start the new year! |
In a desperate move, I opened the laptop, removed the keyboard, the hard drive, and checked the memory. After being cleaned, they looked better. Not being able to do anything else, I put the laptop together again and started it fearing the worse...
Well, it is working normally again! I hope it keeps doing it while I get my new laptop. The problem is that Linux laptops are not so easy to find here. Hopefully, I'll find one I like soon. 2017, what a great start!
lunes, 21 de marzo de 2011
Going away from Vista; Getting to Know Linux
Today, one of my students lent me her laptop. She wanted me to install Linux on it because she's becoming progressively tired of Vista. Well, I couldn't blame her!
Since she had entrusted me her computer, she would have accepted any Linux I installed on it, especially because she doesn't know anything about Tux. However, I prefer to give people choices. After all, that's what Linux is all about: freedom and choice.
Thus, instead of installing my favorite distro right away, I started testing different Linux flavors to see which ones would adapt best to her 4-year-old computer, which already shows some signs of heavy use.
I narrowed down the candidates to 3:
Mandriva One 2010.2 Christmas
Mepis 8.5
Pardus 2009.2
Mepis 11 Beta 2 also did a very good job, but testing software is for more experienced users, not for those who are just learning about Linux.
I explained the main differences of the three distributions and then let the owner of the laptop choose. It was her computer, it was her call.
Her choice? PARDUS!
Pardus will be then. I'll install it next Wednesday, not because Pardus is hard to install, but because it is hard to make her selfish, pre-installed OS share part of the hard drive to make room for Linux.
Yes, so much for choices with Redmond!
Since she had entrusted me her computer, she would have accepted any Linux I installed on it, especially because she doesn't know anything about Tux. However, I prefer to give people choices. After all, that's what Linux is all about: freedom and choice.
Thus, instead of installing my favorite distro right away, I started testing different Linux flavors to see which ones would adapt best to her 4-year-old computer, which already shows some signs of heavy use.
I narrowed down the candidates to 3:
Mandriva One 2010.2 Christmas
Mepis 8.5
Pardus 2009.2
Mepis 11 Beta 2 also did a very good job, but testing software is for more experienced users, not for those who are just learning about Linux.
I explained the main differences of the three distributions and then let the owner of the laptop choose. It was her computer, it was her call.
Her choice? PARDUS!
Pardus will be then. I'll install it next Wednesday, not because Pardus is hard to install, but because it is hard to make her selfish, pre-installed OS share part of the hard drive to make room for Linux.
Yes, so much for choices with Redmond!
domingo, 30 de mayo de 2010
Una Laptop Por Niño se divorcia de Windows 7
Entre los proyectos tecnológicos más utópicos y cuestionados que he escuchado, "Una Laptop Por Niño" (One Laptop Per Child /OLPC) está sin duda entre los que se llevan el premio. Aunque el proyecto parece tener buenas intenciones (no están de acuerdo sus detractores), la idea de diseñar computadoras de $100 totalmente funcionales para uso educativo no puede llegar muy lejos en el mundo actual. ¿Por qué? Porque en la actualidad hasta la educación ha dejado de verse como un derecho y se ha convertido en un simple servicio sujeto a las leyes del mercado.
En el pasado, aunque el mismo Steve Jobs ofreció su sistema operativo Mac OS X GRATIS, los desarrolladores del proyecto declinaron su oferta...querían un sistema operativo que se pudiera alterar.
Por ende, las computadoras del proyecto (XO-1) iban a funcionar solamente con Linux (una distribución basada en Fedora), pero Microsoft ejerció presión y logró que les instalaran Windows XP...por supuesto, cuando la licencia era de $15 por computadora. (¿¿Le dijeron que NO al MacOS GRATIS para decirle SÍ a Windows XP pagándolo?? ¡Microsoft sin duda posee sus recursos!)
Lo malo es que ahora, la licencia OEM de Windows 7 Starter cuesta aproximadamente $50 en el mercado...es decir, la mitad del valor de las computadoras iría para Microsoft...y se les instalaría un sistema operativo poco funcional, ya que Win7 Starter viene diseñado DELIBERADAMENTE con limitaciones (así los usuarios tendrán que "actualizar" a la versión "home premium" como mínimo).
Por supuesto, a OLPC no le pareció bien la idea de distribuir computadoras con funcionalidad limitada. Estuvieron prácticamente rogándole a Microsoft que les ayudara con Windows 7; es decir, que creara una versión de Win7 liviana y TOTALMENTE FUNCIONAL para el proyecto.
¿La respuesta de Microsoft?
...
SILENCIO CON RUIDO DE GRILLOS AL FONDO
...
Por lo tanto, OLPC decidió no esperar más y ahora pretende instalar Linux en su nueva computadora de tableta XO-3, que además contaría con el ambiente educativo SUGAR y se vería más o menos así.
La noticia en inglés se encuentra aquí
¡No me sorprendería que Microsoft haga una más de las suyas y las computadoras XO-3 vengan de pronto con Windows 7 Starter!
En el pasado, aunque el mismo Steve Jobs ofreció su sistema operativo Mac OS X GRATIS, los desarrolladores del proyecto declinaron su oferta...querían un sistema operativo que se pudiera alterar.
Por ende, las computadoras del proyecto (XO-1) iban a funcionar solamente con Linux (una distribución basada en Fedora), pero Microsoft ejerció presión y logró que les instalaran Windows XP...por supuesto, cuando la licencia era de $15 por computadora. (¿¿Le dijeron que NO al MacOS GRATIS para decirle SÍ a Windows XP pagándolo?? ¡Microsoft sin duda posee sus recursos!)
Lo malo es que ahora, la licencia OEM de Windows 7 Starter cuesta aproximadamente $50 en el mercado...es decir, la mitad del valor de las computadoras iría para Microsoft...y se les instalaría un sistema operativo poco funcional, ya que Win7 Starter viene diseñado DELIBERADAMENTE con limitaciones (así los usuarios tendrán que "actualizar" a la versión "home premium" como mínimo).
Por supuesto, a OLPC no le pareció bien la idea de distribuir computadoras con funcionalidad limitada. Estuvieron prácticamente rogándole a Microsoft que les ayudara con Windows 7; es decir, que creara una versión de Win7 liviana y TOTALMENTE FUNCIONAL para el proyecto.
¿La respuesta de Microsoft?
...
SILENCIO CON RUIDO DE GRILLOS AL FONDO
...
Por lo tanto, OLPC decidió no esperar más y ahora pretende instalar Linux en su nueva computadora de tableta XO-3, que además contaría con el ambiente educativo SUGAR y se vería más o menos así.
La noticia en inglés se encuentra aquí
¡No me sorprendería que Microsoft haga una más de las suyas y las computadoras XO-3 vengan de pronto con Windows 7 Starter!
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