On Thu, May 07, 2009 at 09:59:26AM +0100, Wayne Stallwood wrote:
> On Thu, 2009-05-07 at 08:39 +0100, Chris G wrote:
>
> > How easy is it to add software? I really have to have ssh as that
> > is how I access my E-Mail and that's one of the major reasons for
> > getting the netbook.
>
> The acer "linpus" distro hides the package manager but it is easy to get
> it to show again in the desktop menus..there is extra stuff in the
> linpus repositories but not everything, you can add stock fedora ones
> though. Both the Acer and the Asus machines come with openssh-client
> installed already.
>
> Overall though I find Ubuntu Netbook remix so much better on those that
> it is worth the couple of hours you might spend installing and tweaking
> it. Depends what you want from it, I found VPN and mobile data support a
> bit lacking in linpus and while it was possible to fix that, it was
> easier to just replace the distro.
>
> > Do any of the netbooks have a trackball rather than a pad? I
> > really don't know why trackballs aren't more popular, I use one on
> > my desktop and we now have a wireless keyboard with a trackball
> > and it's magic, no separate mouse to lose/drop and the trackball
> > is much nicer than a pad.
> >
>
> A few of us have been moaning about this on the list...well not
> trackballs specifically but why they insist on using trackpads rather
> than trackpointers/nipples when there is so little space on the
> palmrest. The only netbook type device I have seen that had a trackball
> was some of the early Toshiba Librettos. Everything other than the
> trackpad seems to have lost favour with the manufacturers now. Hell even
> some thinkpads come without a nipple !
>
> PS.
> Last time I looked Currys had the Acer netbooks in stock at my local
> branch for £135 8GB SSD and £149 120GB HDD and Comet had the 16GB SSD
> with 1GB of ram for £170ish. On the Currys website they are selling them
> slightly cheaper than that as refurb stock..However in store there is no
> mention of them being refurb or graded..just clearance, so there is the
> opportunity to make a nuisance of yourself if they are anything other
> than new.
>
> Be aware though that without the extended range battery (and
> specifically with the HDD version) you can do better than the battery
> life you will get on the Acer..Probably no more than a couple of hours
> on the HDD one at best. Some of the higher Asus models are far better in
> this respect and have bluetooth built in. That said the extended battery
> for the Acer can be had for £50 or so and that should give you 4-5
> hours.
>
> Someone at the Slyeham meet also mentioned getting the Acer for £100
> from tesco but I think you will be hard pushed to find one there now.
>