Those Xandros PCs from Walmart

[blackbelt_jones]

I need a second computer, something modest but not ridiculous, for not much money-- so I can have a backup when my current computer craps out as it so often does (either it's a gimp MOBO or it's just plain cursed) and so I can tinker with different distros without hanging up my system. So I was thinking of getting one of those legendary two hundred dollar Walmart Linux boxes (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3380786#long_descr). It would be a nice way to support Linux, wouldn't have to pay for a Windoze system I don't want, and maybe it would be something interesting to write about. Two hundred dollars isn't a hell of a lot more than I paid for my Commodore 64, back in the day.

The preinstalled Linux OS is Xandros, though that probably wouldn't be on there for long if I buy one. The manufacturer is microtel. Does anybody know anything about the hardware? Does microtel have any kind of reputation at all? Does anybody out there own one of these fine machines?

Processor is 1.5 Ghz. The 200 dollar version comes with 128 MB RAM and a 20 GB hard drive. I may be able to spring for the 300 dollar version with twice the RAm and twice the hard drive.

[templest]

it looks like a decent buy. and if they sell it with a linux distro pre-installed then i would assume that all the hardware that comes with it is pretty linux friendly. dunno though.

[irlandes]

The $200 version has a much simpler version of the OS, I believe. Also, by memory it seems there is no floppy. I don't know if I could add one or not. It sure seems like it should be able to handle something like Mandrake or Fedora, doesn't it?

I am also fascinated by that $500 laptop, though it uses Linspire, which for some reason does not seem to inspire me. Same deal, though, seems like it should be able to work with one of the more main stream distros.

One thing I noticed is those Wal-mart computers do not say in specs they have CD burner, only CDRom, but in capacities, they say you can burn CD's.

I am amazed no one at all has reported on actually buying one. is it because they have no problems and don't come here, or no one has bought one?

[soulestream]

the only things I would watch are they are using a VIA processor usually and they gota be using a cheap hard drive.



soule

[DrChuck]

Soule, I actually R'ed the FA:
AMD 1.5 GHz Sempron 2200+ processor with 3DNow! Technology

There is no detail on the graphics chip, and that could be a big headache. You're probably right about the drive however - only 5400 RPM. But seriously, You could easily spend more than $200 on a mobo and processor.

[teeitup]

The latest Xandros releases have received very good reviews. It is another debian based distro.
Like Ubuntu, Libranet, and Arch they concentrate on providing excellent "every thing works" desktops.

If it's preinstalled, I'm sure it's configured to give you the best user interface and funtionality they can.

Might be worth a look.

[JohnT]

I am amazed no one at all has reported on actually buying one. is it because they have no problems and don't come here, or no one has bought one? I haven't seen them anywhere but online...none of the store in my area carry them in stock. You could build a computer in approximately the same price range if you spend some time at one of the larger online parts sites and have something a little more upscale.

[blackbelt_jones]

No it doesn't have a floppy drive, but I figure who needs a boot floppy? If I havew a problem booting I can always use Kanotix to recover my data.

[timothykaine]

Originally posted by teeitup
The latest Xandros releases have received very good reviews. It is another debian based distro.
Like Ubuntu, Libranet, and Arch they concentrate on providing excellent "every thing works" desktops.

I dont know how you snuck Arch in there. Its not Debian based, nor is it designed to be easy. Arch is something else entirely. Perhaps youre thinking of MEPIS, Knoppix, or one of the other k_model distros.

[Sepero]

/me thinks the goal could be accomlished just as easily by purchasing an second(external?) harddrive

Benefits:
-Accomplish the same goal for less $$$
-Will be useful for a much longer time
-Less environmental waste in the end

It's hard for me to recommend this too, because I would like to see more people buy GNU/Linux pc's. Unfortunately, it's the environmental waste that bothers me the most.
:(

[blackbelt_jones]

Originally posted by Sepero
/me thinks the goal could be accomlished just as easily by purchasing an second(external?) harddrive

Benefits:
-Accomplish the same goal for less $$$
-Will be useful for a much longer time
-Less environmental waste in the end

It's hard for me to recommend this too, because I would like to see more people buy GNU/Linux pc's. Unfortunately, it's the environmental waste that bothers me the most.
:(

It bothers you? Well I guess
i'd better not do it then.
:eek:

Seriously, I don't understand how an external hard drive will solve either goal. I want to have a backup for when this PC goes down, which, sadly, seems to be more often than it should. An external harddrive won't solve that.

And I want to tinker with different distros without hanging up my system. An external harddrive will solve part of that problem but not all of it. When installing a new distro, I'm still stuck watching the little bar move, with my thumb up my ***.

[madcompnerd]

I'd figure out what the mobo is first, and make sure it's not flaky:
ECS
MSI
Biostar

[timothykaine]

The ones at Fry's Electronics are ECS, and I wouldn't touch one with a 10-foot pole.

Really, if you just want an el-cheapo box, just build one. You can build a better computer for less buying parts at Newegg or a local OEM dealer. I live in Seattle and this area is teeming with them.

[irlandes]

BlackBelt, your comment about who needs floppies rings of the heat you have been taking for asking why it is harmful to x-root. A lot of people in the world need floppies. I am one. Why should I have to dink around with a CD when I need to transfer a small file? Makes no sense to me. I can tell you that the main reason people like linux is that it gives you back choices that have been taken away by MS. In my opinion, the Linux community is in many ways even less tolerant.

As far as reasons to buy instead of build:

1. Time has some value, and it takes time to build a computer.

2. If no one buys those machines, they will disappear, and we will be stuck with those companies who sign contracts to sell junk that only works on MS software.

As far as environment goes, we need to try to keep things in perspective. There are already millions of computers trashed per year, and one person is not going to make a detectable difference.

Also, Linux which often makes it possible to keep using computers long after MS tells you they don't work any more is thus doing a lot for the environment. Anything you do to increase Linux usage is thus good for the environment, and supporting Linux computers sales is part of that.

[irlandes]

If you get a backup computer, you can use it for the experiments I suggested on X-root. I will probably be posting more on that topic if the heat I expect happens.

[Sepero]

Originally posted by blackbelt_jones
Seriously, I don't understand how an external hard drive will solve either goal. I want to have a backup for when this PC goes down, which, sadly, seems to be more often than it should. An external harddrive won't solve that.It always worked for me, simple:
1) Make a backup image to the extra HD
2) When it breaks, boot with Kanotix, then restore the image


And I want to tinker with different distros without hanging up my system. An external harddrive will solve part of that problem but not all of it. When installing a new distro, I'm still stuck watching the little bar move, with my thumb up my ***.I assume that you mean that you want to install on one pc, while you surf the web(or something) on another? If so, no, an external will not help you with that, but I would hope you washed your hands after the install finished.

[blackbelt_jones]

Originally posted by irlandes
BlackBelt, your comment about who needs floppies rings of the heat you have been taking for asking why it is harmful to x-root. A lot of people in the world need floppies. I am one. Why should I have to dink around with a CD when I need to transfer a small file? Makes no sense to me. I can tell you that the main reason people like linux is that it gives you back choices that have been taken away by MS. In my opinion, the Linux community is in many ways even less tolerant.


"Who needs it?" is a vernacular expression. The literal meaning is "I don't need it enough to spend extra for." Obviously, lots of people have uses for floppies. I didn't read past the first paragraph, so if you were pulling my leg (also a vernacular expression, by the way) I apologize.

Originally posted by Sepero
It always worked for me, simple:
1) Make a backup image to the extra HD
2) When it breaks, boot with Kanotix, then restore the image


Sorry, I don't think you understand me, and the fault may be that I used confusing terms. By "backup", I'm not referring to the backing up of data, for which CDs are ususally sufficient for me. I merely mean a spare PC, so I always know I have something that works.

In a related topic, what kind of idiot do you think I am, that I should think I need to buy an entire PC to back up my data? Not that I'm offended, but the mind reels...

Originally posted by irlandes
If you get a backup computer, you can use it for the experiments I suggested on X-root. I will probably be posting more on that topic if the heat I expect happens.

X-root? What is x-root?:confused:

[Icarus]

Originally posted by madcompnerd
I'd figure out what the mobo is first, and make sure it's not flaky:
ECS
MSI
Biostar MSI is a bad motherboard!?!? :eek: :confused:

Dang, I better get rid of the one i've been using for the last 3 years before it does something awful!

How do you call MSI a bad board, and not Soyo??? :confused:

[timothykaine]

MSI and Soyo are largely considered not high or low end, but middle of the road. Im not sure about Biostar, but ECS is DEFINITELY low end. They make crap.

[blackbelt_jones]

I have a Soyo MOBO, a Dragon2. Based on the experience so far, I am not a fan.

[bsm2001]

Originally posted by Icarus
MSI is a bad motherboard!?!? :eek: :confused:

Dang, I better get rid of the one i've been using for the last 3 years before it does something awful!

How do you call MSI a bad board, and not Soyo??? :confused:

I have a Soyo dragon ultra w/ob raid and no problems for over 2 years
I have a2 msi's 1 home brew puter the other HP comp no problems.
I have an asus and no problems.

The way you people are talking here is like saying volvo has never had a lemon made.

I'll throw up the B**l S*&t flag on this one.

every mfgr has its good and bad.

dont judge a mfgr just cause you got a lemon in the bunch of apples.

I would say go for it cant hurt and your supporting FOSS.

[blackbelt_jones]

I don't pretend to know anything about this myself. but based on what the the guy at the shop told me, there's nothing wrong with with Soyo boards per se, but watch out for the Dragon series. I think he said that there are three boards in the dragon series, and he gets people in there having problems with all of them. Specifically, they break down if you try to install Windows service pack 2. I can't remember if he mentioned any other problems.

Myself, I've been having problems with this whole system, including CDs not mounting, a burnt-out video card (after a month and a half!) and power loops that me to lose visual for hours at a time. Not that I know what a power loop is, or if I've even got the term right. Repeating what the computer guy said.

The cause is yet to be proven, but the MOBO is one of the few things that is hooked up to all of these parts of the system.

So this is all i know. bsm2001 has a point. Everybody tries to sound like they know everything about every manufacturer, when I suspect that nearly everybody's knowledge is limited, anecdotal, and extremely subjective. It's not much different when people argue the merits of various Linux distros. So let me say that everything I know about Soyo Motherboards is included in this post. I'm drained.

[soulestream]

Dang, I better get rid of the one i've been using for the last 3 years before it does something awful!



me too. then again, Im on my 15th or 16th pc and ive never had a bad board, bad HD and Hd controllers yes, but no bad mb.

A lot of people in the world need floppies. I am one. Why should I have to dink around with a CD when I need to transfer a small file?

thumbdrive?


soule

[blackbelt_jones]

Originally posted by irlandes

I am amazed no one at all has reported on actually buying one. is it because they have no problems and don't come here, or no one has bought one?

I have read some reviews, and they were discussed on NPR, but always the emphasis is on the OS. That's why I thought I'd see if anybody knew anything about the hardware.

As one who is interested in how newbies learn, I'd like to experience pre-installed Linux. Will it run out of the box, or will it require tweaking? What would it be like to learn Linux in a world where Linux comes pre-installed? If I buy it, I'm gonna force myself to keep the Xandros for a month or two before I start wiping it and reinstalling.

Preinstalled Linux is kind of contrary to my method of learning-- which involves knowing how to reinstall, so you always have a crude but effective tool for fixing any software-based problem.

Regrading the hardware, I think the bottom line is that if I pay for the replacement contract, how far wrong can i go?

[irlandes]

Originally posted by blackbelt_jones

X-root? What is x-root?:confused:

I gotta' ask, Black Belt, are you all there??????

I am rather postive that in a recent lengthy and heated thread about logging in as root, it is you who coined the term x-root to describe logging in as root. Now you ask me what is x-root.

Frankly, you just flunked the Turing Machine test.

No wonder you get involved in such meaningless and heated threads.

[JohnT]

Originally posted by irlandes
I gotta' ask, Black Belt, are you all there??????

Possibly not.......why? Well according to this post........
I have a Soyo MOBO, a Dragon2. Based on the experience so far, I am not a fan.
He has distinguished himself as not being a fan.......possibly a heatsink, then.:confused: :p

[bsm2001]

Originally posted by JohnT
Possibly not.......why? Well according to this post........

He has distinguished himself as not being a fan.......possibly a heatsink, then.:confused: :p

LMAO:D :D

[blackbelt_jones]

Originally posted by irlandes
I gotta' ask, Black Belt, are you all there??????

I am rather postive that in a recent lengthy and heated thread about logging in as root, it is you who coined the term x-root to describe logging in as root. Now you ask me what is x-root.

Frankly, you just flunked the Turing Machine test.

No wonder you get involved in such meaningless and heated threads.

Sorry. My fault. Next time I'll remember to put little winky faces in my posts for the irony impaired.

/me whispers:

(You see, I'm only pretending not to know what you mean because I don't want to talk about... that thing that isn't a normal user account anymore. ;)Get it?)

Originally posted by JohnT
Possibly not.......why? Well according to this post........

He has distinguished himself as not being a fan.......possibly a heatsink, then.:confused: :p

That joke can't possibly be as terrible as it seems. Maybe if I was more of a geek I'd understand it better.

[Sepero]

Originally posted by blackbelt_jones
Myself, I've been having problems with this whole system, including CDs not mounting, a burnt-out video card (after a month and a half!) and power loops that me to lose visual for hours at a time.Well if you'd said this originally, I never would've suggested getting an external harddrive. Instead, I would have suggested that you get the most high-end pc you can afford.