[Wylug-discuss] Recommendations please: Ubuntu-compatible Cheapo laptop, no/few config hoops to jump

Sat Dec 26 02:37:58 UTC 2015

Having weighed mine which has an SSD to 4oz resulation with my
bathroom scales - they're heavier than Dave's spec at 4.5lbs plus
1.5lbs for the mains adapter and cable.  However, according to WHO
figures[1] that is (to 2 significant digits) 4.5 T400s are the same
weight as an average 2 year old human infant.  Women of all sizes
carry such toddlers all the way around a supermarket
regularly. <selah>

Leny

[1] http://www.infantchart.com/

From: Andrew 'Leny' Lindley <andrew at andrewlindley.co.uk>
Subject: Re: [Wylug-discuss] Recommendations please: Ubuntu-compatible Cheapo laptop, no/few config hoops to jump
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 22:09:38 +0000 (GMT)

> The only companies I know of who do guaranteed to work with GNU/Linux
> laptops charge a premium.  You won't get cheapo from them :(
> 
> However, if you mean cheapo, cheapo, the Lenovo Thinkpad T400 (which
> is what Minifree.org upgrade to FSF RYF spec for loadsa £££) in its
> refurbished for W$ state is ~90 quid from other *dealers* on ebay
> (2.4GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, 160GB HDD).  Mine worked with Kubuntu
> 14.04.3 straight out of the box. 
> 
> Thing is Thinkpad's are pretty much built to the old IBM design
> standards.  So no corners cut on the circuit design.  Which means it's
> going to work with Linux more reliably than current cheap stuff
> because cheapo circuit design defects are often fixed in the Windows
> device driver. It'll also be more performant than cheap stuff of its
> era which had the same spec on the box.
> 
> Go on, help save the environment - buy second user.
> 
> Leny
> 
> From: Darren Menachem Drapkin <darren.drapkin at ntlworld.com>
> Subject: Re: [Wylug-discuss] Recommendations please: Ubuntu-compatible Cheapo laptop, no/few config hoops to jump
> Date: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 15:07:12 +0000
> 
>> I have an upgraded ThinkPad from a company that specializes in
>> ore-installed GNU/Linux hardware. There are several of these
>> companies. Some companies will install open source firmware. Sorry I
>> can not remember any company names.
>> 
>> On 12/23/2015 10:01 PM, John Robert Hudson wrote:
>>> Hi Dave
>>>
>>> I picked up a £200 Toshiba laptop a year ago and there appear to be
>>> similar
>>> offers on other Toshiba laptops at present. I couldn't get UEFI to
>>> work (it
>>> wouldn't allow efibootmgr to write the necessary stuff) but it has a
>>> 'compatibility mode' which means I can install and run stuff in legacy
>>> mode.
>>>
>>> I've had no problem using the various features on it with Linux. I
>>> suggest you
>>> wander round somewhere like Staples or PCWorld and look at what they
>>> have on
>>> offer to see if they have what you need in the way of keys.
>>>
>>> Also it wasn't hard to find a Toshiba manual for it online. So if you
>>> like the
>>> look of a particular model, you can probably download its manual to
>>> check the
>>> specs.
>>>
>>> John
>>> --
>>> On Wednesday 23 Dec 2015 20:58:39 Dave Fisher wrote:
>>>> We've been using Asus C720 chromebooks for teaching over the last
>>>> couple of years.
>>>>
>>>> Only 2 significant flaws:
>>>> 1. Over 50% attrition rate on SSDs ... yeah, that bad
>>>> 2. Lack of Home/End PgUp/PgDn keys ... and lack of documentation about
>>>> how to permanently re-map keys in modern Linux GUIs
>>>>
>>>> Problem 1 means that I now urgently need to replace at least 2 cbooks
>>>> (immediately) and probably more in the next couple of months.
>>>>
>>>> I'd rather buy a stack of identical machines, so we can have one
>>>> config and cannibalise if necessary.
>>>>
>>>> Unfortunately, I'm clueless about the current status of 'secure boot'
>>>> BIOS stuff.
>>>>
>>>> Can you still install Linux on all / nearly all by using a 'legacy
>>>> bios'
>>>> option?
>>>>
>>>> Anyone know of recent machines (under £250, maybe  £300 at a pinch)
>>>> that are known to 'just work'?
>>>>
>>>> Oh ... I should have mentioned, these replacement laptops need to be
>>>> light-weight. Non-negiiable, cos our trainers often carry 4 or more to
>>>> training sessions.
>>>>
>>>> So I'm looking for stuff at around the 1kg weight of our C720s, with
>>>> SSDs but also  Home/End PgUp/PgDn keys.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance
>>>>
>>>> Dave
>>>>
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>>>
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>> 
>> -- 
>> --
>> Darren Menachem Drapkin
>> 
>> 
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