Not so low [LWN.net]

Not so low

Posted Jan 27, 2008 17:04 UTC (Sun) by jordanb (subscriber, #45668)
In reply to: Not so low by khim
Parent article: More Linux-based laptops from Dell (vnunet)

Also you have to consider the fact that the Linux models are not well advertised. You can't
just choose "Linux" in a drop down box while buying your computer (or have Linux be the
default, like with eeepc). You have to go to a special part of their site, where it's offered
along side FreeDOS (heh) and click through a few warnings saying you're *really* sure you
don't want Windows.

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Non OS-laptops, Eee PC & about the DVD issue

Posted Sep 2, 2008 23:54 UTC (Tue) by robsku (guest, #53709) [Link]

Here ir Finland there are at least couple stores that sell special laptops with no OS - no Linux either, but then again I would never buy a readily set up system, even if it had Linux, as a desktop computer (those I assemble myself anyway). Before I used to think that the only knid of laptop I would buy mould be one of those that come without OS installed (naturally checking that Linux will support the hardware).

But now it has changed - Eee PC is so much what I want from laptop: Light, *small* (fits in my bag) and hardware supported by Linux... Well, it does have one pre-instaled and there is even some negative thing I've heard from it, BUT: As I understand, it has some special stuff for example providing wake up time from sleep mode half as quick as regular similiar setup would. It's Debian based (well, Ubuntu but it's origins are in deöbian) and I know that I can modiy it *really heavy* if it' Fedora or Debian based (I used to be Fedora lover and my server still runs one, no other reason to mention it here). And I most certainly will... When I'm finished it might mell be running Ion2 as WM for example (fit's well as the WM itself can be fully KB operated, I hate mousepads in laptops and even those small mouses for laptops are not exactly the most comfortables of mouses - although I will get one to use with it as it's still beats the mouse out of pad).

One thing I have to say about the DVD issue: I don't care if it's illegal or not but will keep using libdvdcss (with Ogle). Currently I have no other choice even (no, installing a toy OS is NOT an option, I will not give up the power and efficiensy of my Linux, swap to an inferior system that I dont consider really to even work - and pay for it. Also I like to assemble my hardware and set up my OS preferrably myself. LinDVD is only licensed to manufacturers!! I have two computers and I should buy one more? A more expensive one than self assembled too of course. Makes no sense when there is software available that allows me to view DVDs and using it for that hurts nobody.

Nor do I have any respect for those laws denying me from watching my legally bought DVDs - I believe that Eee PC has no DVD drive? If so, I will even go as far as to commit what Big Guys seem to think as something unspeakable: I will rip the DVD! Not just raw image but I will circumvent the "copy protection" and (*shudder*) encode the movie into XViD, copy it to my laptop to watch it on a trip - might do it even if it has DVD drive as they make noise and heat and they eat batteries faster than reading smaller XViD from SDD. Then after coming home I will delete the copy. Interestingly it would be only comdemnable if I never bought the movie and freloaded it than if I use wrong software to watch and have paid for it. From the later deed I could get actually punished!

So no respect for this kind of nonsense - I summed up in more organized and throughout blog post critizism about this: HackNBlog: Watching legal DVDs on Linux claimed illegal.