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One of Emperor's cheapest machines, the Auk G40 at "7.9 lbs. 2.4 GHz
(p4) 1024x768 (15") 40 GB 256 (1024) MB $1,750.00", is $200 more than
the M6807 and has half the RAM, has 2/3 the hard drive, is half a pound
heavier, and has slightly less screen resolution.  

What Emperor does is valuable, but I don't know if it's THAT valuable,
at least not when bang/buck is a big consideration (my spousally-set -
and spousally-ENFORCED - limit is $2K).

- Jeff

On Wed, 2004-02-04 at 09:39, Dow Hurst wrote:
> Laptops are moving so fast that the hardware really does 
> take a few months to be covered by the kernel and/or other 
> open source projects.  The Dell I8500 we purchased almost a 
> year ago still doesn't have full support with totally free 
> software.  However, the OpenGL support on the Nvidia Go 
> chipset has made it worth it for when we needed high powered 
> graphics on the road.
> 
> The Dell high end line would go up to 2Gb RAM and with swap 
> defined for another 2Gb, you would be able to manipulate a 
> +2Gb file.  Certainly, swapping is not great but it would 
> make your operation possible.  I'd check to see if 
> hyperthreading comes on the Inspiron line in the versions 
> with the Nvidia Go video.
> 
> If you haven't talked to EmperorLinux about your needs, I 
> would definitely do that now.  They might have some options 
> that your not aware of as they write kernel level code to 
> accomodate hardware that isn't supported yet.  It would give 
> you a six month edge on supported laptop models.  They 
> submit their changes to the kernel development teams but 
> there is a time lag even there.  The Rhino from Emperor 
> would work for your needs, I think.
> Dow
> 
> 
> Jeff Hubbs wrote:
> > Chris -
> > 
> > That's very good to know, because it's starting to look like the
> > eMachines M6807 AMD64 laptop wouldn't be a bad idea (recall that I am
> > allowing for the possibility that I may have to manipulate very large
> > {>2GB} files).  High-end P4 laptops are considerably more expensive. 
> > 
> > Granted, I may have to live life as a dual-booter for some amount of
> > time, but it looks like there's enough forward velocity in the
> > Linux-on-Athlon64 space that things won't just stagnate (the existence
> > of this very laptop will certainly help to drive that).  
> > 
> > And, hey, all this Gentoo installation experience may pay off yet,
> > although it'll be a head trip to be able to do it in an afternoon; I'm
> > used to doing it on Pentium Classics (P/60, dual P/133,P/166-MMX).
> > 
> > - Jeff
> > 
> > On Wed, 2004-02-04 at 07:09, Christopher Fowler wrote:
> > 
> >>It reminds me of the Cablevision guy that came to my house to install my
> >>cable modem years ago.  He saw that I was running RedHat and asked
> >>questions.  I gave him a copy on CD.  As a thank you he went out to my
> >>cable box and hooked me up with all the channels.  
> >>
> >>As far as BB goes I've been pleased with them.  I purchased a ZE1250 HP
> >>from them in August of 2002.  I usually do not purchase extended
> >>warranties on anything but if it is a piece of equipment I carry like
> >>camera or laptop I buy them.  Since then I've only taken my laptop to
> >>the shop twice.  Once was for a new battery.  They let me keep the old
> >>one and it still had 50% of its life.  The laptop is now in the shop for
> >>a busted DVD/CD-RW and the hinges of the LCD are being tightened.  So
> >>far all this has been covered by their warranty.  I'll probably end up
> >>purchasing my next laptop there.  
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>On Tue, 2004-02-03 at 23:55, Jeff Hubbs wrote:
> >>
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;Today I took Knoppix and Slax (<a  rel="nofollow" href="http://slax.linux-live.org";>http://slax.linux-live.org</a>) CDs to Office
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;Depot and Best Buy to evaluate laptops.  I wasn't disturbed at Office
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;Depot but a succession of blue-shirted goons stopped me for questioning
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;at Best Buy.
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;I didn't have time to try Knoppix on the AMD64-based eMachines laptop
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;but the Slax one booted up only so far and froze.  
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;At Best Buy, concern was expressed that they have to keep their demo
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;software on the machines; once I assured them that I wasn't affecting
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;the hard drive, they were cool.  Actually, there was a blond fellow
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;(Mike?) who actually spoke with me with interest about what I was doing
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;and what I was having to deal with in selecting laptops.  He said he had
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;messed with Linux a tiny bit and he had a roommate who messed with Linux
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;some.  I gave him my CDs. :)  
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;Knoppix seems to ignore the &quot;screen&quot; parameter when you pass it at boot
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;time (I've had this happen on other machines too) but Slax believed me
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;when I told it to give me 1200x800 and it gave me a
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;properly-proportioned display on a Compaq at Office Depot, and
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;touchpad-tapping and touchpad-scrolling both Just Worked.  This at least
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;gives me hope.
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;It is SuSE that offers an AMD64 Linux distro that is anything like ready
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;to roll.  Gentoo support seems to be underway
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;(<a  rel="nofollow" href="http://dev.gentoo.org/~brad_mssw/amd64-tech-notes.html";>http://dev.gentoo.org/~brad_mssw/amd64-tech-notes.html</a>).  None of htese
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;efforts, I believe, specifically address the eMachines M6807.  For the
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;time being, at least as far as the aforementioned Gentoo link says,
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;accelerated video for the built-in Radeon 9600 can't be had.  
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;On Mon, 2004-02-02 at 06:04, Geoffrey wrote:
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;Jeff Hubbs wrote:
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 - Linux-usable?  Closed driver?
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;For laptops, ATI generally refers you to the manufacturer of the laptop, 
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;but this link might provide some hope:
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;<a  rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ati.com/support/drivers/linux/radeon-linux.html?type=linux&amp;prodType=graphic&amp;prod=productsLINUXdriver&amp;submit.x=11&amp;submit.y=10&amp;submit=GO%21";>http://www.ati.com/support/drivers/linux/radeon-linux.html?type=linux&amp;prodType=graphic&amp;prod=productsLINUXdriver&amp;submit.x=11&amp;submit.y=10&amp;submit=GO%21</a>
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;It's long and ugly, but a link to ati closed driver for the non-mobility 
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;9600.  Also check out the gatos project.
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;1280 x 800 screen - how sucky?  I can dig the aspect ratio, but not
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;because of DVD-watching - it's more a matter of having things like a
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;browser window up on one side and an OO window up in the other.
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;It says &quot;Built-in high-speed wireless networking (802.11g/b-compliant);
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;integrated 10/100 Ethernet LAN; V.92 high-speed modem&quot; - can I expect
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;that none of these will necessarily work under Linux?  I do plan to use
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;the 802.11 part of the time, even if I need to buy a known good PCMCIA
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;802.11 card.
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;the nic and modem could well work, the wireless is more likely going to 
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;be an issue.  It all depends on the chipsets.
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&quot;Pointing Device:  Touchpad with vertical scroll zone&quot; - I'm likely to
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;pick up a real mouse (awesome if there's a way to do that wirelessly)
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;for my laptop but it'd sure be nice if this functioned, especially the
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;scroll pad and the tap/double-tap for mouse clicks.
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;I've seen a couple of different wireless mice designed for laptops, 
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;haven't tried one yet though.
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;Related questions:
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;Would I be happier if I got one of the hyperthreading P4s instead, to
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;include one with better screen resolution even if it's 4:3 ratio?
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;Can't help you with that one. :(  Although I think the need for a 64 bit 
&gt; &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;processor is still questionable.
&gt; &gt;&gt;
&gt; &gt;&gt;_______________________________________________
&gt; &gt;&gt;Ale mailing list
&gt; &gt;&gt;Ale at ale.org
&gt; &gt;&gt;<a  rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale";>http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale</a>
-- 
Jeff Hubbs &lt;hbbs at comcast.net&gt;


</pre>
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<li><strong><a name="00122" href="msg00122.html">Update:  Re: [ale] eMachines AMD64 notebook</a></strong>
<ul><li><em>From:</em> dhurst at kennesaw.edu (Dow Hurst)</li></ul></li>
</ul></li></ul>
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<li><strong><a name="00021" href="msg00021.html">[ale] eMachines AMD64 notebook</a></strong>
<ul><li><em>From:</em> hbbs at comcast.net (Jeff Hubbs)</li></ul></li>
<li><strong><a name="00027" href="msg00027.html">[ale] eMachines AMD64 notebook</a></strong>
<ul><li><em>From:</em> esoteric at 3times25.net (Geoffrey)</li></ul></li>
<li><strong><a name="00091" href="msg00091.html">Update:  Re: [ale] eMachines AMD64 notebook</a></strong>
<ul><li><em>From:</em> hbbs at comcast.net (Jeff Hubbs)</li></ul></li>
<li><strong><a name="00095" href="msg00095.html">Update:  Re: [ale] eMachines AMD64 notebook</a></strong>
<ul><li><em>From:</em> cfowler at outpostsentinel.com (Christopher Fowler)</li></ul></li>
<li><strong><a name="00104" href="msg00104.html">Update:  Re: [ale] eMachines AMD64 notebook</a></strong>
<ul><li><em>From:</em> hbbs at comcast.net (Jeff Hubbs)</li></ul></li>
<li><strong><a name="00111" href="msg00111.html">Update:  Re: [ale] eMachines AMD64 notebook</a></strong>
<ul><li><em>From:</em> dhurst at kennesaw.edu (Dow Hurst)</li></ul></li>
</ul></li></ul>
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