[kwlug disc.] looking for techie thoughts on laptops

[unsolicited]

Bob Jonkman wrote, On 08/04/2008 9:52 PM:
> My advice is always to buy as much computer as you can afford at the 
> time.  The pace of hardware obsolesence is rapid, but the cost of 
> used or refurbished equipment doesn't reflect the rapidly declining 
> value of older equipment.  Memory is relatively cheap, disk space is 
> cheaper and getting cheaper yet.  A new computer will have more of 
> both, at a relatively lower cost compared to trying to buy new RAM 
> or HD on an older laptop.

Laptop is all but required. There will be group work.

A USB key is very useful for this, today's sneakernet, as you will 
likely be throwing documents and files back and forth. e.g. The group 
will get together for an hour or two. Later, when individuals are 
apart, it will frequently be e-mail at that point.

I've seen google groups and google apps used by teams.

This is not to say don't do DVD, you'll want a writer anyways. 
Monthly, term, or annual 'hard copies' are always a comfort.

I'll second the external storage back at the pad - and rsync or 
whatever. Laptops disappear, get dropped, and in general, STUFF HAPPENS.

There will also be rooms full of computers kicking around for student 
use. You may or may not be able to use a usb key, diskette, or disc, 
depends on the institution's policies. But on the thought that a 
laptop may go missing, a (live) backup solution that would allow 
plugging in to such a computer should be ensured. An external usb hard 
drive will most probably work, but better to be certain before you 
actually need it. And that your backup is current.

You may not be able to use a Linux Live CD, and even if you can, you 
may not have access to the network if the hardware is unknown, or 
servers (e.g. Novell). Almost certainly, the application software you 
need will be on them - Microsoft's.

> Find out as well what the college requires for a laptop.  MS-stuff?

That's pretty much guaranteed.

If you're taking any computer courses, you will be using MS software. 
And probably most other courses as well.

Particularly as electronic submission of assignments is (almost?) de 
rigeur.

Although it may not matter what e-mail program you use to submit with, 
the assignment will be an attachment. In all likelihood, Open Office 
will do just fine - unless you take a course in Word templates, or 
something.

Like Bob says, check with the institution - and don't forget, FULL 
TIME students get serious discounts on software, so you may want to 
wait until you're there before purchasing software.

Same is probably true of the hardware too, for that matter. If the 
institution has a store web page, perusing it will at least ballpark 
prices for you to use in comparing against other vendors, and the 
limited availability of hardware and software will give you a sense of 
what software, and how powerful hardware, is on average appropriate.

Nothing prevents dual-booting, and so on, but it will turn out to be 
enough aggravation that you won't want to. You can virtualize things, 
one way or the other, but virtual or not, you'll still need a sw license.

> Linux?  Not all the big-box laptops deal with the various Linuces 
> gracefully.  Ignoring the advice of knowledgeable list members I 
> bought an inexpensive laptop from a big box (apparently a model 
> customized for that chain), but I'm having a tough time trying to 
> get various Linuces to recognize the screen size, the WiFi, the 
> Bluetooth, &c.  If I needed a Linux laptop that "just worked" I 
> should have listened and bought from my local Linux supplier.  Ah 
> well, another learning opportunity.
> 
> And for extended warranties:  The stores are in it to make a profit.  
> On average, they need to take in more money from extended warranties 
> than they spend in servicing those warranties.  Conversely, on 
> average you'll pay more for an extened warranty than you receive in 
> service.  Statisticly, it is a bad idea to buy the extended warranty 
> (and batteries are almost always not covered, no matter what they 
> tell you up front).
> 
> --Bob.
> 
> 
> On 4 Aug 2008 at 13:27, Khalid Baheyeldin wrote:
> 
>> [...] Laptops tend to break easier and not easy to replace parts, so
>> the difference for a new one for warranty is worth it. Even buying
>> extended warranty to cover a couple more years is worth it too. One
>> battery replacement and it pays for itself. 
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 4, 2008 at 1:05 PM, Robert P. J. Day
>> <rpjday at crashcourse.ca>wrote:
>>
>>>  not strictly speaking a linux question but, given the abundance of
>>> HW expertise out there, i thought i'd ask, anyway.
>>>
>>>  a friend is sending her son off to college this fall, and needs to
>>> get him a laptop.  i pointed her at tigerdirect.ca and told her to
>>> poke around.  she came back asking about an acer celeron-based
>>> laptop for $640. celeron.  gack.  so i suggested she check out a
>>> refurbished gateway, of which i have a number and all of which have
>>> behaved pretty well so far.
>>>
>>>  it appears that you can get pretty decent deals on refurbed
>>>  gateways
>>> these days.  i mean, there's this:
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