• I'm after a small, cheap linux based system.
    27 replies, posted
Basically, I want to get into linux a little more, have a play about with it's features, maybe even learn a bit about programming along the way. I'm looking for something that can run (or be made to run) standard Linux distros such as Ubuntu nicely. Preferable a large handheld or something of that sort. I've googled but don't really have any idea what to look out for! Thanks.
Get a netbook/nettop. Cheapest you can go (and some in fact come with GNU/Linux-based systems preinstalled)
Id go for something along the netbook route. EEE PC's always caught my eye. However, I'd first start off by running a few distros inside virtual machines. VirtualBox is free, and will allow you to install and play ontop of your current system.
[QUOTE=birkett;17692255]Id go for something along the netbook route. EEE PC's always caught my eye. However, I'd first start off by running a few distros inside virtual machines. VirtualBox is free, and will allow you to install and play ontop of your current system.[/QUOTE] As birkett said, try out a couple of potential Distro's inside virtualbox: [url]http://www.virtualbox.org[/url]
Thanks for the replies, I've been running Ubuntu from a memory stick and from a partition. I'm tempted with a netbook, is there anything else you guys would recommend first? I was going to get a Pandora, but the due to the huge delays and waiting list I've been put off a bit.
Asus 1005HA any one is good, 1008's are a waste [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220555[/url] I have the black one, but the white doesn't show fingerprints.
So, as lightweight as netbooks are built to be, you've got to consider what you're price point and use is. I was going to type out a huge paragraph, but I'll spare you. If you're looking at that Eee PC as a good choice, consider the Acer Aspire One: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115575[/url] It's got almost identical specs, is a little cheaper, and has an open mini PCI-e slot, so you can add anything you want into it (3G wireless chips, Broadcom's new flash acceleration chipset, that kind of stuff). If you're looking for something you want to last you longer (not to mention play the majority of HD flash videos), look no further than the Acer 1410 (or the 1810T if you're from Europe). [url]http://www.amazon.com/Acer-Aspire-AS1410-8804-11-6-Inch-Laptop/dp/B002LEVGMO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1254861171&sr=8-2[/url] Without going into too much detail, the Acer 1410 has a Core 2 Solo SU3500, instead of the Atoms which are pretty par for the course. The architecture is so much better on a C2S than an Atom that it'll do SuperPI quite literally 3 times faster, even though it's only 1.4Ghz. Power draw on it is only like 2W TDP more anyways. I guess the point I'm getting at is that if you want something to play with and set aside when you get bored, go with the first link I gave you. If you're looking for something to seriously use throughout your day or keep with you for more than 2-3 years, go with the second. You can't get better performance/watt than the 1410.
[QUOTE=AesoSpadez;17696326]Broadcom's new flash acceleration chipset, [/QUOTE] We're talking about Linux here. Talk about Broadcom is forbidden unless it's to say that Broadcom sucks monkey balls.
Dell XPS :rock:
[QUOTE=owen123;17698076]Dell XPS :rock:[/QUOTE] SMALL? CHEAP? Read next time Also, [url]http://system76.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=92[/url]
I think ebuyer is british. [url]http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173624[/url] £219.98 (inc vat)
[QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;17697303]We're talking about Linux here. Talk about Broadcom is forbidden unless it's to say that Broadcom sucks monkey balls.[/QUOTE] This. ^ Broadcom chips are nothing but pain in the ass for Linux. Atheros, Realtek, Ralink, and ZyDAS chipsets play rather nicely though, with Realtek being compatible with Win, Lin, and Mac.
[QUOTE=Pixel Heart;17704008]This. ^ Broadcom chips are nothing but pain in the ass for Linux. Atheros, Realtek, and ZyDAS chipsets play rather nicely though, with Realtek being compatible with Win, Lin, and Mac.[/QUOTE] You forgot Ralink and, most importantly, Intel.
[QUOTE=DrTaxi;17704962]You forgot Ralink and, most importantly, Intel.[/QUOTE] Ralink and Broadcom are worst. My laptop got a Intel wireless N card, and linux mint works fine with it, no extra driver needed. I've got 2 Ralink wireless N cards that are bitches to get working with linux though.
You could buy on old Xbox (1), softmod it, make a couple of USB adapters and put linux on that. You can get original xboxs dirt cheap these days.
[QUOTE=DrTaxi;17704962]You forgot Ralink and, most importantly, Intel.[/QUOTE] They require non free firmware and or drivers and that can't be distributed without violating the ralink/intel license, they aren't as good as the alternatives that provide FOSS drivers/firmware.
[QUOTE=The Pro;17711383]They require non free firmware and or drivers and that can't be distributed without violating the ralink/intel license, they aren't as good as the alternatives that provide FOSS drivers/firmware.[/QUOTE] Come to think about it, yeah that's probably true for Ralink, but not for Intel. Or I'm a dumbass.
[QUOTE=Mattz333;17706566]You could buy on old Xbox (1), softmod it, make a couple of USB adapters and put linux on that. You can get original xboxs dirt cheap these days.[/QUOTE] And also could be something to brag about.
[QUOTE=DrTaxi;17712257]Come to think about it, yeah that's probably true for Ralink, but not for Intel. Or I'm a dumbass.[/QUOTE] No it's both of them. Intel is not that friendly to open source.
[QUOTE=The Pro;17712775]No it's both of them. Intel is not that friendly to open source.[/QUOTE] Atleast you can get Intel's drivers to work under linux somewhat easily. Ralink likes to rape you from behind when you try to install their drivers.
[QUOTE=The Pro;17712775]No it's both of them. Intel is not that friendly to open source.[/QUOTE] Well Intel does have an open source only gpu driver, and they did create Moblin... I don't have any experience with intel wifi, but the nonfree firmware seems out of character. :v:
MSI Wind, and install linux, or if you want something a little crazy, check out the damn small machine. [url]http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/store/Mini_ITX_Systems/Damn_Small_Machine[/url]
[QUOTE=Van-man;17714591]Atleast you can get Intel's drivers to work under linux somewhat easily. Ralink likes to rape you from behind when you try to install their drivers.[/QUOTE] Ralink supported some third-party driver though.
[QUOTE=DrTaxi;17738130]Ralink supported some third-party driver though.[/QUOTE] They didn't support my Pci, nor my USB WireLess N adapter :argh:
[QUOTE=Van-man;17738789]They didn't support my Pci, nor my USB WireLess N adapter :argh:[/QUOTE] rt2x00 worked fine for me back when I had a Ralink dongle.
[QUOTE=ButtsexV3;17735519]MSI Wind, and install linux, or if you want something a little crazy, check out the damn small machine. [url]http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/store/Mini_ITX_Systems/Damn_Small_Machine[/url][/QUOTE] I would have so many uses for one of those if they were cheap enough... You can get a lot of machine for $375
[QUOTE=Samuelgames;17750334]Here's your 50$ Linux System [img]http://www.planetnz.com/palmheads/images/xbox_small.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] Nice, I hacked my Xbox and have the XDSL as an option in UnleashX. Works quite well for an Xbox, though I wish my resolution was a little higher... I can really see it as being a nice NAS device with a large internal drive.
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