Job Discussion Forums

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Mexicobound,

You really didn't get it, did you? I wasn't trying to pick any fight, I just think your advice is off the mark. I asked if you knew techs who work on Linux , you are now referring me to a Linux forum to try and find answers. And yes, you and doubledutch may be in that odd place where Linux is no problem. Some other users obviously have different opinions.

The people who own netbooks here are using XP mostly. Why, Vista is too big of a program to run on the current netbooks, and most of the users don't have the technical backgrounds or time to deal with Linux problems.

From my mac coworker who we call 'Gene the machine' (basically, if there is anything you want to do on a computer and he doesn't know how to do it...it doesn't exist). He stated that there are a few users in his Mac club who use Linux on their macs. They always seem to be having trouble, yet they like to brag how they are cutting edge techies.

Gene did tell me that if you use a a Red hat version of Linux it tends to be less buggy. In Japan, it is difficult to find people to work on newer versions of Linux (they tend not to have the knowledge to work on it)..., another reason why many people here on don't use it (unless you love programming), as you're probably going to be fixing it yourself.

I don't even want to open up the other issues again (openoffice, etc), if you don't like people picking apart what you say.....and disagreeing with you, you can always hang out at the Linux forum Twisted Evil

!

But anyway, enjoy using your pcs, and I hope you make it to Mexico some day. It only took me a few years to get to Japan once I left the US (via Hong Kong and Taiwan).

Mexicobound · Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 3:46 am Post subject:

Mexicobound · Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 4:07 am Post subject:

MrMrLuckyKhan · Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 5:03 am Post subject:

Mexicobound · Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 1:37 pm Post subject:

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 7:03 pm Post subject:

THis is getting way off topic- we seem to have gotten into the perenial linux debate, when the real original question was "Which netbook might be best for teacher's use?"

I vote for Acer- partly out of brand loyalty, partly because I find it to be a lot of computer for the money, compared to the "better" brands. I also like the way an Acer Aspire One community has sprung up online to respond to a host of issues, from upgrading your machine and dealing with hardware, to (surprise) installing linux (ubuntu, redhat, fedora, you name it) on it.

I'm a geeky guy, but not a computer tech. I use computers a lot, and I think, fairly well. I dislike Macs, because you seem to get less compatibility and less features for your money. I use both linux and windows regularly.

I find linux both more stable and less vulnerable to bugs and viruses than windows. But mostly, the install requires knowing what you're doing. And in most places I've lived, either you install linux yourself, or they'll install windows for you.

And while I find linux (which for me is fedora 9 at the moment) more stable than windows, computers are moody little *beep*ers sometimes. I don't think that you can install any operating system and assume that it will give you no trouble. And if you have trouble, you're either going to have to fix it yourself, or get someone to do it.

Not everybody wants to do it themselves. It's not hard to learn to, but some people would rather do their own dental work with a household drill. If this is you, unless there's a good linux tech near you, get a netbook that runs xp.

That said- Microsoft is an empire. Support freeware, learn to be free from the hedgemony. Open source rules. LINUX ROCKS. But know what you're getting into. Being a linux user is a commitment that will involved learning more about the computer than your average user-friendly windows user knows.

But for the debate of "Which one for the classroom?" it just doesn't matter. If you put Linux on a machine, or windows, if either is compatible with the machine and properly installed, it's the same machine for the purposes of most users.

Best,
Jsutin

Mexicobound · Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 7:42 pm Post subject:

DoubleDutch · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 51 Location: China

When I get to China I plan to get myself a Lemote YeeLoong, mostly for its geek factor. Very Happy

It is produced in China, and uses a unique processor that only runs Linux (well, okay, maybe NetBSD could be run on it as well).
http://www.lemote.com/english/yeeloong.html

Mexicobound · Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 3:13 am Post subject:

DoubleDutch · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 51 Location: China

Depending on the model, from �215 to �330.