We got in a new loaner from LinuxCertified.com, the brand new LC2210D model: a Centrino 1.80 GHz CPU, 512 MBs of RAM, Intel Extreme gfx card, 40 GB drive and a 14″ XGA TFT screen. The laptop comes with the latest Ubuntu installed and sells for $1249. Read more for our review.Hardware:
The laptop also sports a firewire port, a pcmcia port, an SD/MMC reader, a combo drive, 2 usb ports, modem, wifi, ethernet, integrated mic, mic-in and headphones-out audio jacks. The build of the laptop is solid and it has pretty good looks too. There are some extra buttons (labeled mp3, dvd and photo) which are configured by LinuxCertified to instead launch Evolution, Firefox and Search-Files respectively. The rest of the function keys work really well, for example the screen brightness function keys. The keyboard feels really nice and the layout of the keys holds no surprises. The laptop is lighter than my 12″ Powerbook and so it really feels comfortable. The performance is very good, in fact I find it faster than my other PC laptop, a P4 at 2.8 GHz. The screen is really clear and bright with a good viewing angle (better than my 12″ Powerbook’s which uses the same iBook quality screen (not the same as the better 15/17 inch pbooks)).
Software:
The laptop comes with Ubuntu 5.0.4 and it includes the standard Gnome software. Unfortunately Ubuntu is dog slow to load, it takes about 2 minutes to load, while the laptop *is* fast in general (there is a weird pause while loading trying to figure out my DHCP networking). LC has configured the laptop with a root password that you initially logged in as, and then create your user using ubuntu’s user’s preference panel. LC has installed some additional software to the stock ubuntu: mplayer, xbindkeys and suspend/resume. The suspend/resume function takes about 20 seconds to resume and about 10 seconds to suspend. A really nice feature enabled on the laptop by LC is the speed stepping feature, that allows the CPU to run from 600 Mhz to 1.80 GHz depending on the load each time. This enables better battery life, which is normally at about 3.5 hours. Synaptics was also installed by LC, and so you can scroll documents with ease using the touchpad.
Problems:
There a few problems with the current setup of the laptop, some easily fixable, some not so:
1. The mouse moves fast like crazy. LC hasn’t provided the full Synaptics’ config and so it uses the defaults for speed and acceleration which are not the best for this particular laptop. Gnome’s mouse preference panel does not support Synaptics, so this is something that LC should fix as normal users will have some mind boggling trying to figure Synaptics out. Also, typing this very document is moving the cursor to different positions randomly. The touchpad is too sensitive, again a Synaptics configuration issue.
2. Sleep does not work: if you close the lid, the lcd will go off, but the laptop does not go to sleep. This is a more generic Linux problem which doesn’t have real sleep support for most laptops.
3. XMMS with either OSS or ALSA wouldn’t work here. Rhythmbox was also saying that it doesn’t support mp3 (couldn’t stream www.di.fm’s radio).
4. There is no 3D support, as it is not compatible with suspend/resume, there are cases of lockups if both are enabled (it’s a trade off, a decision had to be made).
5. After upgrading Ubuntu to the latest version using Ubuntu’s update panel, mplayer stopped working, and also I couldn’t load gnome as root anymore (I had to login as safe mode, and this would fix some gnome settings, log out, and then relogin to normal gnome).
6. The user I created (‘eugenia’, belonging to the ‘users’ group), could not use wifi. Only ethernet was available to that user.
Conclusion:
This is a great laptop, hardware-speaking. But Ubuntu and some of LC’s setup have their problems and it would require some extra care from the user to optimize the configuration to work as expected. I am sure LC will take care of these problems in the future. Especially if you are an experienced user you would be able to fix these issues easily, making this laptop purchase a good one.
Overall: 8/10
Nice review, but I couldn’t find anything in there to justify paying $1249 for it. IS it overpriced, or am I missing something?
No, it’s a good price considering the hardware is really good and that LinuxCertified.com must do SPECIAL work to install the OS and tweak it and support all its issues. Having non-windows installed is a big job, and someone has to be paid for that. I believe the price is pretty fair.
Even though the price is a bit high it’s good to see non-windows PC’s being sold.
http://bitsofnews.com & http://tech.bitsofnews.com
Real acpi does not work: if you close the lid, the lcd will go off, but the laptop does not go to sleep. This is a more generic Linux problem which doesn’t have real sleep support for most laptops.
If it’s suspending/resuming, it’s using acpi. The reason that closing the lid doesn’t suspend the machine is that lots of people don’t want their machines to suspend on lid closure. In Breezy, this will be configurable.
There is no 3D support, as it is not compatible with suspend/resume (it’s a trade off, a decision had to be made).
On an i855/i915? Rubbish. Ubuntu 5.04 has perfectly working 3D over suspend/resume on that hardware. This required a small amount of kernel modification (the X server checks for the wrong version number), so if the vendor has replaced the kernel then they may not have noticed this.
> In Breezy, this will be configurable.
No, it’s not. LC can’t make proper sleep work with this laptop, that’s why they ship with SoftwareSuspend2.
> Ubuntu 5.04 has perfectly working 3D over suspend/resume on that hardware.
How do you know? Do you own such a laptop?
> No, it’s not.
“Will be”. The code isn’t integrated yet.
> How do you know? Do you own such a laptop?
Functioning 3D over suspend/resume is entirely a function of the graphics hardware. I own two machines with i855s and three with i915s. I spent several hours working through this code in order to ensure that it worked out of the box on Hoary. If they’ve modified the kernel to include swsusp2, it’s quite possible they’ve managed to lose the patch that makes it work.
On Radeon (up to 9200) and i855/i915 hardware, stock Ubuntu supports 3D over suspend/resume.
You get an overpriced laptop (because you can get the same features for $999 from Acer or others) and the “certified” Linux version doesn’t support all the functions of the hardware? What crap is that? Why doesn’t LinuxCertified write some appropriate drivers for Sleep and 3D?
I read HP has released a bunch of notebooks with Ubuntu and all features are supported, including sleep (Suspend to RAM), WiFi and 3D, because they included their own drivers with Ubuntu.
Who cares about “will be”? This laptop sells NOW, not in the future. It’s nice to know that in the future the problem might be fixed, but it’s no use right now, and that’s what matters for a company like LC.
Mostly – suspend to RAM isn’t supported on the 6220 because of kernel deficiences (Linux doesn’t know how to resume IDE interfaces properly and so relies on the BIOS to do so), but works fine on the 6110 and 6120.
For example, look at http://www.ubuntulinux.org/wiki/HoaryPMResults. If you’re going to buy a new laptop to run linux on, why not pick one that has working suspend and resume? Most brand-name ones seem to work fine.
A really nice feature enabled on the laptop by LC is the speed stepping feature, that allows the CPU to run from 600 Mhz to 1.80 GHz depending on the load each time. .
Note that this is enabled on Ubuntu by default, when it detects the hardware supports it.
Rhythmbox was also saying that it doesn’t support mp3.
This is in the Ubuntu FAQ, http://www.ubuntulinux.org/support/documentation/faq/helpcenterfaq…..
There is no 3D support, as it is not compatible with suspend/resume, there are cases of lockups if both are enabled (it’s a trade off, a decision had to be made).
As Matthew said, this is false for at least this chipset.
>Why doesn’t LinuxCertified write some appropriate drivers for Sleep and 3D?
Because they are integrators, they are not hardware manufacturers nor distribution makers. I believe that they do a good job integrating linux to that laptop based on the current code.
Who cares about “will be”? This laptop sells NOW, not in the future. It’s nice to know that in the future the problem might be fixed, but it’s no use right now, and that’s what matters for a company like LC.
Right, but looking at http://www.ubuntulinux.org/wiki/HoaryPMResults shows that there are lots of other laptops available NOW that work properly under linux, including with ACPI.
Who are they targetting as far as consumers for this laptop?
You: “Closing the lid doesn’t suspend. This is because acpi doesn’t work”
Me: “That has nothing to do about whether acpi works or not. In Breezy, the action triggered by closing the lid will be configurable”
You: “It isn’t configurable”
Me: “I didn’t say it was at the moment”
Are we just managing to talk across each other?
Anyway, if you don’t believe me about the 3D over suspend/resume thing, feel free to ship me non-working hardware. If it doesn’t work with Ubuntu as shipped, I’ll happily pay for the shipping here and back and write the code needed to make sure it does in future.
Matthew, I think Eugenia was saying “No it’s not” to “no it’s not working at all” because she believed the laptop vendors went out of their way to try and make this work.
As for “it’ll be fixed in the next version”, it seems perfectly legitimate to call this deficiency out in a laptop review. I seem to recall lots of things on the Ubuntu wiki that were supposed to be in Hoary but which got pushed into Breezy. It’s easy to say what will be in a release that’s not out yet, but things can change at the last minute (spatial nautilus *cough*) so the only thing that matters to reviewers is what is shipping right now.
In other words I think you’re being rather harsh.
Then linux on laptop is a non starter for me.
You can get all that in working order from Apple, Dell or HP.
Nice article. ARTICLE. It’s not a review when it’s one half A4 page of text.
The idea that a laptop’s failure to suspend on lid close means that acpi isn’t supported is (a) moderately common, and (b) entirely untrue. That’s a deliberate configuration decision due to there being no time to produce a decent user-level configuration UI. Sleep must be triggered from the sleep button or the Gnome logout dialogue.
I can’t comment on this specific piece of hardware. I’d be surprised if it didn’t suspend to RAM correctly under Ubuntu, but it’s a possibility. My suspicion is that Linuxcertified use the same kernel across all their supported distributions, and as a result have lost some of the laptop support from Ubuntu. It’s an entirely reasonable thing to do.
can you have it run freebsd with audio/video on full throttle? pretty please …
Seems the owner of the http://whiteboxlinux.net“>whiteboxlinux.net whiteboxlinux.com” rel=”nofollow”>http://whiteboxlinux.com”>whiteboxlinux.com domains has decided to offer them http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11153&item=5… as a peace offering between wbel and himself.<p>This is really great news so lets hope someone with WBEL enthusiasm steps up to build a respectable community site.
They say that I can avoid Windows Tax! True, my money doesnt go to MSFT.
But, this similarly configured laptop WITH Windows costs less than 1200+…
So, instead of my money going to MSFT, it goes to the dudes who install Linux.
Bottom line – no difference to me (I dont care where my money goes)….
If I get a laptop with SAME hardware as the linux certified ones, I can get Windows…AND install Ubuntu at the same time (knowing that it can run well under the same hardware)
People are going to buy linux laptops ONLY if the price is significantly less than the ones with Windows pre-installed.
My 2c
That at some point over the last few years away from complaining about lack of desktop support, and to complaining about laptop support.
First the server, then the desktop, next the mainframe, finally the laptop.
All I have to say is I payed $1100 for my Asus Z80K…
AMD Mobile ATHLON 64 Processor 3000+ w/ 512K L2 Cache.
15.1″ SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) TFT Active Matrix Display.
ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON™ 9700 Pro w/ 128MB EMBEDDED DDR RAM.
512MB PC2700 DDR333 SDRAM System Memory.
8X DVD/24X CD-RW Combo Drive with software.
Built-in Wireless 2200 802.11b/g (Wi-Fi).
Built-in 4-in-1 Memory Card Reader (SD/MMC/MemStick/MemStick Pro)
Gigabit Ethernet: 10/100/1000BaseT PCI Ethernet LAN on board.
5 USB 2.0 Ports & 1 IEEE-1394 Port, 1 PCMCIA Port, 1 Fast IR.
Audio AC 97 S/W audio Built-in stereo speaker and microphone.
Build-in Sub-Woofer (2W).
Battery Pack & Life – 8 Cells Lithium Ion Battery, 2200mAh, 65Whrs.
– Advanced AsusStep Power Management Technology.
– Run-Down Life: Walking Mode(3hrs); Motor Mode(2hrs); Car Mode (1.5hrs).
Color: Silver – Size:12.9″ (W) x 10.6″ (D) x 1.65″ (H) – Weight: 7.48lbs
The only problem I’ve had with it using a 64bit linux is the screen gets a little garbled (misc. pixels) but many have described the fix as recompiling the kernel w/ out mtrr.
I havn’t had time to mess with it…
Us Linux advocates shouldn’t be as concerned with getting ACPI/suspend working as we are with getting a good, quality piece of hardware into the hands of poor students.
If its possible to ship a Pentium-M class laptop at around $1000 or an Althon XP-M at around $500, then let’s do that and work out the details on how to make the OS perfectly manage the hardware later.
The whole point of using Linux right now is to save the customer money, not the middle man. Unless they add value they already make enough money with the commercial economic model. Linux isn’t the best software. Unless you take the bull by the horns and work out the details to give customers full functionality on their hardware at the time of purchase, give them a good deal instead. Hardware, at or near cost.
I like the idea that I’m not “supporting” Microsoft. But it seems like you’re cutting off your nose to spite your face in the process because you’re paying even more money than you would to get a Windows laptop. Dell is ALWAYS running coupon deals on laptops.
Deals – http://www.gotapex.com
Compatibility – http://www.linux-on-laptops.com
So, the value just isn’t there … unless the Intel Pentium M processor used in the LinuxCertified laptops are somehow magically higher quality than the Intel Pentium M processor used in a Dell. (Obviously I’m being sarcastic. And yes, I know there’s more to a computer than the CPU. But what exactly is LinuxCertified using that is any higher quality than any other OEM? The hard-drive? RAM? Chipset?)
And what does “Linux Certified” mean anyway when basic functionality such as 3D graphics and suspend/resume doesn’t even work?
http://www.gamepc.com/index.asp also offers Linux certified laptops with Novell SuSE Linux Professional preinstalled by itself, dual boot with Windows XP or purchase your laptop with no OS.
The state of Intel graphics drivers was always best described as one big bug. I remember that I couldn’t even get 1400×1050 on 835 (or it was something else, but I had problems with 815 too, performace sucked major).
Neither was functional secondary display.
No matter how many people were trying to get information, Intel just didn’t want to disclose their corporate secrets (and I really wonder what corporate secret could be tied with thrird rate graphics card). After that I avoid any notebook based on Intel graphics.
I mean, it is nice to see linux certified notebook, but in my opinion Linux certified notebook should be 100% linux working and not somehow working (in reality, I can’t really say that for this specific notebook because I haven’t tested it, my opinion is based on my experiences with notebooks and linux and so far I changed over 20 notebooks). All I can say about my current HP nx7010 is that just everything works, most from basic install, some (ati proprietary driver [but 3D performance is better with xorg driver], mmc and firewire) with more or less pain pain and modem? well I sincerelly don’t know, I don’t need modem, because if I need to connect I connect over bluetooth and my mobile which worked out of the first every time I move to next notebook.
>>Then linux on laptop is a non starter for me. You can get all that in working order from Apple, Dell or HP.
True. Linux on my Dell Inspiron 5150 has been a failure with distros ranging from Slackware, Linspire, to Xandros.
So I still WinXP on it and LiveCD with Slax5x whenever I need Linux which is for my astronomy software at night.
I’ve found that Linux still works best as a “utility” OS – when used for very specific purposes it performs very well with little resource use and can run circles around Windows. But when attempted to use as a general Windows replacement able to handle anything you throw at it, it falls on its face. That’s not Linux’s fault at all, that’s just it’s open source nature, very few vendors write the software for it so one either has to use the hcl’s or wait for support for their software or hardware. (or *gasp* write it themselves or contribute to those who do)
coincidence – I own one of these. I bought pre-configured with Debian/Sarge. I didn’t know that they sold with Ubuntu as well (may be a new thing).
Anyway, I would second this review. The hardware is solid, and all core features work. Suspend-to-disk works but Suspend-to-ram doesn’t. In any case, suspend-to-disk is fast enough for me, and that is what I like anyway.
Multimedia features work fine on mine.
Actually, the best thing (from my perspective anyway) is that I was able to get LinuxCertified’s help in configuring Wireless in couple of different situations on Linux. I wouldn’t have been able to do it myself, and certainly wouldn’t have been able to call Dell, if I bought my laptop from them.
I have a LC2210DE (which is I think exactly identical but with a larger screen). I work on this puppy for 10 hours a day – and am quite pleased. I had to tune down mouse sensitivity a bit – it was documented in LinuxCertified’s documentation. I have Fedora Core 3 loaded, which I keep updated. Eight out of Ten is a fair grade for this laptop.
> Us Linux advocates shouldn’t be as concerned with getting ACPI/suspend working as we are with getting a good, quality piece of hardware into the hands of poor students.
Getting suspend/resume and other ACPI features working is critical for two reasons:
– Linux is a slow, slow booter. This badboy took 2 whole minutes. Without going into the details, we all know that the rc.d serial “start one process at a time” boot method is very slow compared to, say, Windows. This is inconsequential for a server, and manageable for a desktop, but for a laptop that gets turned on and off all the time, it’s critical.
– Linux is stable. One of its selling points is that, unlike Windows, it doesn’t have to be rebooted every few days to run smoothly. A Linux laptop should only have to be shut down once every couple of months … the rest of the time it can just be suspended and powered off.
Linux + ACPI = a great “instant-on” laptop
Linux – ACPI = painfully slow startup
Most people in here don’t understand anything about the market, sale and else at all. Being zealous usually destroy their understand or think. Since, the laptop is coming from the LinuxCertified then everything in Linux is supposed to be work with this laptop by 100%. If LinuxCertified can’t get that, then it is a failure company to certificate the hardwares for Linux.
While I agree with you in priniciple, I think we should remember that Windows boxes/software often fail your 100% test as well, and while I don’t think that is a good excuse, I think it should be remembered that 100% is an imposible goal for any system so lets just shoot for a really good 99%.
I was going to post something else, but then saw your post (Most people….). Well perhaps you may be one one of those people?
Do you think Windows works 100% on Dell or IBM laptops!? I don’t think so at all. I have had numerous instances where resume from a suspended Windows machine has horrendously failed.
100% really depends on what you are trying to use the system for.
I for one am a fan of LinuxCertified’s offerings. Yes, of course they could improve, but here is my perspective:
I work for a college with about 20 Linux boxes (with instructors using Linux desktops/laptops). I used to loose hair everytime a professor bought XYZ brand laptop and handed it to me for Linux installation. Yes, I know there are community sites like linux-laptop.net, which I used extensively. But it was simply not worth for me to maintain a handful of distros on a handful of laptops. Then one professor bought one of hers from LC – and this was a turning point for me. All I had to do was to configure her wireless for campus network and voila everything was a go. Now I seriously recommend all new buyers to get their Linux laptops from Linuxcertified. It has made my and their life much more easier than before.
If you are going to tell me that I am a wimp for not being able to support my users with Linux based installs myself – may be I am. However, now I can focus on higher level issues (like integrating the laptops with campus kerberos implementation, grrrr…).
So, who cares if xmms is not working. My users buy laptops to compile code, visualize stuff, and do their research. I absolutely recommend LC’s laptops for that purpose.
I had Linux running on my laptop just before Christmas. One night, I was too tired to shut it down, so I suspended it (or so I thought) by closing the lid. The next morning the laptop was dead. It never fire-up again. I took it to the shop and they told me the laptop over heated. So not only does Linux not handle suspend/resume (aka ACPI stuff) properly, it doesn’t handle the fan spin up/down either. Your milage may vary depending on your laptop, but on my laptop (Compaq Presario 1800T) it simply can’t handle it.
I now have a brand new Dell with XP Home on it and I will never run Linux on my laptop(s) again. Linux has not proven itself on laptop hardware. Wireless support is lacking as well.
Is “vampire video” — it has no dedicated V-Ram and leeches off of system ram all the time.
Now, I’m not in the market for this sort of laptop (got me an iBook and a Pismo at home and am happy with Ubuntu on the Pismo).
However, here at work under XP Pro, on a 2.8ghz 1/gig ram system I have DISGUSTING video lag when I have more than 2-3 programs open, and if I’m doing something like a p-shop render in the background, getting the system to switch screens, drop menus down, draw the window for a program is PAINFUL. (Seriously I have less lag with OS X on G3/350.)
So, just saying if you’re thinking of this system, any system without dedicated video ram has serious drawbacks.
Well, I don’t think it would be a good idea to give up on Linux laptops based on that experience.
There are obviously some feature/functionality trade-off (to be honest that is why I want something like a LC to be a broker between me and the functionality).
I agree that suspend-to-ram (by closing the lid) is simply not worth pursuing at this point. Yes, I know some people have made it work in some situations. But does it work reliably? Does it resume from most situations? Does the laptop crash after a resume when some 3D applications are launched?
I am surprised about your comment on Wireless. That is one area that Linux has made significant progress with. Perhaps you had a Broadcom chip or something? My LC laptops come with Atheros chipset, which are 100% compatible.
try adding
psmouse.proto=imps
to kernel parameters in grub.conf, it worked always for me even without synaptics driver. With the latest notebook even scroll area works (previous notebooks haven’t got that). It even corrected speed for me into really sane level.
But for those that need specific click areas synaptics driver is the only solution
@James and 100% response
Yeah, you’re probably right on that one in your way. Not even one notebook of all>20 was not 100% (if I take out Intel graphics based, powerbook was the worst (running OS9, but Apple service probably used my notebook more time than me)).
Let me specify my 100% and Intel. I noted that I don’t know if Intel graphics now work as they should. Intel support sucked major in this department. If state has not improved from what I saw, then this is very far from 100% (just the fact that intel graphics card is inside would be enough). There is a lot of notebooks that use either ati or nvidia graphics (both worked flawlesly for me every time). And I think that no3D or no secondary display is a large bug enough to claim wheter it is linux certified or not. Otherwise you’re saying that a car without one wheel is ok for you to continue driving
Again, for the second time I specify:
– that I haven’t tested this notebook (as I already noted in my previous answer)
– this is just my speculation based on my previous experiences with Intel graphics and their support
1. experience – 2 notebooks with 815 chipset, 2d was just fine but 3d was more or less non-functional
2. experience – 1 notebook with 835 (3 months I was draging notebook with only partial display active 1280×1024 instead of 1400×1050 and even that in vesa mode). Intel didn’t wan’t to disclose trade secrets???
– my post was formed more like a question about current state of Intel graphics on this notebook
– and finally, my post is invalid if Intel graphics chip is now supported as it should
On the Compaq Presario 1400 laptop from my parents, nothing happens when you close the lid, no matter whether under Linux, Windows ME or Windows 2000. Under Windows, the option to configure this is simply missing.
So it is certainly not true that on Windows everything automatically works for 100%!
I think we are on the same page.
I also personally prefer notebooks with dedicated graphics card like ATI etc. However, that does put a premium in cost (approx $100). So, for many of my users who don’t need accelerated 3D, I recommend Intel based graphics cards.
My personal laptop is a LC2520 – which has 128MB of dedicated graphics RAM
Try enabling it in your BIOS. *Usually* when an option like that is missing, it means that the option is simply disabled in your BIOS.
You are simply full of shit. It’s impossible for Linux to kill your laptop because your laptop has sensors that force it to shut itself off once it reaches a certain temperature.
If your laptop were not to do this, it would be defective from the factory. This is OS independent.
The laptop should have gone to sleep. That’s what the user expects it to do. If it doesn’t do that, then it IS Linux’s fault for overheating and staying ON. For ultimately getting busted might be the manufacturer’s fault, but staying ON all night, it is Linux’s fault. Why can’t you accept the truth about the state of ACPI on linux? It’s buggy as hell.
> 2. experience – 1 notebook with 835 (3 months I was draging > notebook with only partial display active 1280×1024 instead > of 1400×1050 and even that in vesa mode). Intel didn’t wan’t > to disclose trade secrets???
> – my post was formed more like a question about current state of Intel graphics on this notebook
> – and finally, my post is invalid if Intel graphics chip is now supported as it should
If you still cannot achieve the 1400×1050 resolution, check this howto providing a solution for the Intel 855 chipset: http://linux.highsphere.net/howtos/b100b.php#x11
Software Suspend 2.1.8.7 for Linux 2.6 is out!
http://www.suspend2.net/
Anyone tried this new version ?
The laptop comes with 2.6.10, so it uses the version of softwaresuspend2 that works with that kernel version only. And what’s the point trying the new version? SoftwareSuspend2 does already work as suspend-to-disk, it’s suspend-to-ram that doesn’t (it’s not the same).
Eugenia (IP: —.osnews.com) :
“The laptop comes with 2.6.10”
its old , about 6 month : http://kernel.org/
The latest stable version of the Linux kernel is: 2.6.11.8
“so it uses the version of softwaresuspend2 that works with that kernel version only.”
your right , but probably an older version too as the new one came out :
http://www.suspend2.net/
5 May 2005: 2.1.8.7 released.
Its also probably using hibernate 1.5 :
http://www.suspend2.net/
Latest hibernate script: 1.07
“And what’s the point trying the new version? ”
Seems to me all those software are tied up togheter somehow.
“SoftwareSuspend2 does already work as suspend-to-disk, it’s suspend-to-ram that doesn’t (it’s not the same).”
probably relate to hibernate 1.7 9 Dont take my word for it just guessing )
I dont know Ubuntu that well only used it as live cd , is there a possibility to upgrade those to the newer stable version ?
Moulinneuf, LC works with the version Ubuntu shipped with, they don’t want to take chances with newer/older kernels.
“LC works with the version Ubuntu shipped with”
thats a given , exept that the possibility to upgrade for the buyer should be availaible.
People buy those system because they are said to be fully working , if something is missing or not working , in my book there is a problem with the master (if any ) and recovery cd ( if any ) that LC ship. Those problem should be mentionned on there webpage and not hidden.
“they don’t want to take chances with newer/older kernels.”
Where not talking beta or rc here where talking about stable version that came out with a lot of improvments. 6 month in GNU/Linux is like two years in the proprietary system.
Thats when you see support at work , if there afraid to use newer “stable” version or offer the possibility to switch to them , then maybe they should not be shipping that Laptop model or/and that distribution yet , or say what problem could occur and that they will have a fix as soon as the new version come out.
“But when attempted to use as a general Windows replacement able to handle anything you throw at it, it falls on its face.”
This is BS. My *nix laptop has worked out for me just fine. While it may not be able to handle anything you throw at it, neither does Windows so it’s a moot point. It’s certainly ready for most people’s use as a Windows replacement.
Also, Somebody, you provided info on how to set up the scrolling on the touchpad, but can you tell me how to turn it off? It’s driving me nuts on SuSE.