[TriLUG] official Linux on a laptop for under $500?

[Kevin Flanagan]

One of my co-workers just bought a Dell with a CDRW, 256MB ram, onboard
Wireless, 1.4GHZ laptop for $600 after rebates.  It comes with Windows,
but that's easily fixed.


The specs on that system are really not so good.




Kevin


On Tue, 2004-12-21 at 19:29 -0500, Rob Lockhart wrote:

> Just got this in my inbox.  Pretty cool, albeit still more expensive 
> than I would have thought, epecially for only 1GHz and 14.1" display.
> 
> Regards,
>   -Rob
> 
> 
> http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1744052,00.asp
> 
>     
> Linspire, Wal-Mart Partner on Low-Price Linux Laptop
> 
>     
> Linux & Open Source Header
> 
> 
> Linspire, Wal-Mart Partner on Low-Price Linux Laptop
> By Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
> December 20, 2004    
> 
> Not too long ago, the sub-$500 computer was a dream, now it's a CompUSA 
> commonplace. And now, thanks to a partnership between Wal-Mart and 
> Linspire Inc., the sub-$500 laptop is also a reality. ADVERTISEMENT
> 
> Walmart.com is selling for $498 the Balance laptop, which runs the 
> Linspire (formerly Lindows) Linux-based operating system. The laptop 
> comes fully equipped with the Linspire 4.5 operating system with a 
> KDE-style GUI, an Internet suite and a Microsoft file-compatible office 
> suite, and can be used with both dial-up modems and broadband connections.
> 
> Wal-Mart and Linspire claim that the Balance notebook is the 
> lowest-priced laptop currently on the market to include a complete 
> operating system and office suite.
> 
> The laptop comes with a Via C3 1GHz processor and 128MB of RAM, which is 
> expandable to 512MB with SODIMM (Small Outline Dual In-line Memory 
> Module). Since Linspire recommends 256MB for optimal performance with 
> Linspire 4.5, upgrading the memory would be a worthwhile option. The 
> laptop also includes a CD-ROM drive, a 30GB hard drive, an RJ-45 
> Ethernet jack and a 14.1-inch LCD screen.
> 
> The package also includes OpenOffice.org, a Microsoft file-compatible 
> office suite, and the Linspire Internet Suite. This software package, 
> based on Mozilla, includes an e-mail client with spam blockers, a Web 
> browser and a built-in firewall.
> 
> The laptop also includes a three-month subscription to CNR (Click and 
> Run) Warehouse. This is the company's Web site of Linspire-optimized 
> open-source software.
> 
> Continuing its user-friendly marketing approach, Linspire claims that 
> the laptop is easy for new Linux users to use. The Balance's Linspire 
> interface is designed to look and feel like Windows.
> 
> The system's keyboard includes "hot keys," which gives users one-touch 
> access to e-mail and the Internet. The laptop also comes installed with 
> multimedia tutorials and a Quick Start guide to make setup easy.
> 

-- 
Kevin Flanagan <kevin at flanagannc.net>
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