[Wylug-discuss] linux laptop - REVISITING

[Roger Beaumont]

OK, so I've got it - a Lenovo 3000 C100 - but...

With the possible exception of the wireless networking, it's spot on with 
Fedora 5: the installer configured everything else, including the display 
and touch-pad mouse, even to putting an icon on the tool bar that shows 
power source and remaining charge in the battery.

And then there's the Windows Repair and Rescue system...

Ignoring the fact that much of it is nonsense (for instance, the machine 
has a CDRW drive, but the 'Create Boot Disk' utility is only capable of 
writing floppies... and requires you to buy an external USB floppy drive), 
the main system restore facility won't work after one has resized the 
partition.  And even if you delete Linux and let it use all the space 
available, its 'restore to factory condition' facility needs both FIXBOOT 
and FIXMBR from an XP install disc (which, luckily, I have).

I ought to have the sense to let M$ well alone, didn't I?

Unfortunately, compatibility with the M$-based stuff in schools is a big 
chunk of why I bought it, so I can't,  :(  but I can run OSS apps like 
OO.org & Firefox.  :)

So I can recommend it as a cheap machine for Linux, but dual-boot looks 
fragile for 'Doze.


The next project is to get Linux (with apps) to boot from a DVD using USB 
memory for swap space.  Does that make sense?   ;^)

Roger

PS Thanks for all input on the way - it gave me the confidence I needed.