netbook compatibility

[Bill Davidsen]

Chris Kottaridis wrote:
> I've never used a netbook before but am looking at the
> Eee PC 1215N-PU27
>
> I want as much portability as possible, but I also want it to have full
> Linux capabilities, so tablets are out for now. Specifcally, I want to
> run Linux as the base OS and use vmware to run Windows as a virtual
> machine when needed. When I checked out netbooks a couple of years ago I
> didn't see anything I thought could handle that. This looks like it
> might be able to do that.
>
> It has:
> Atom D525 dual-core 1.8 GHz (with hyperthreading can have 4 threads)
> 2 GB RAM, expandable to 4 GB (I'd do this upgrade)
> Bluetooth
> Wireless N
> HDMI port
> 3 USB ports
> 12.1" screen HD resolution
> 500 GB Hard Disk
>
I currently have three ATOM based devices. They all run Linux 64bit 
fine, none have hardware virtualization. For what you are doing, I 
suspect that vmware, virtualbox, or just qemu (the non-hardware 
emulator) would work fine, since the user process runs directly on the 
CPU, not by emulation. I booted XP once for a goof, it worked as well as 
XP ever does, haven't tried Win7.

I've been very happy with these, although FC16, or rather GNOME3, does 
have one real drawback, based on a sample size of four laptops, none 
have working "edge of the touchpad is scroll wheel" functionality, which 
really rots. Worked on FC14, works with Mint, doesn't with GNOME3. YMMV.

Love my netbook, don't know what the battery life is, but I have used it 
for all day, forgot and suspended overnight rather than hibernate, and 
it still ran for about two hours and had power left. First portable I 
have ever owned I take without the charger. Don't need it.

Good luck with your little machine, I think you're going to love it.
> It gets shipped with 64 bit Windows 7, but I'd prefer to run Fedora 16
> and then run Windows as a Virtual Machine when needed.
>
> Anyone have any experience running Fedora 16 on this machine ?
>
> Also, I suppose I can connect an external DVD player via USB to do an
> install that way. I prefer to install from DVD's rather then the network
> and I assume a netbook can boot from a USB device.
>
> Thanks
> Chris Kottaridis


-- 
Bill Davidsen <davidsen at tmr.com>
   "We have more to fear from the bungling of the incompetent than from
the machinations of the wicked."  - from Slashdot