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Re: [PLUG] Linux Laptop Anyone?
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Danger... Humble Opinion Follows...
I would have to say the distributions that are more intuitive to the
ex-windows users (Red Hat, Mandrake). The beauty of Linux allows the
personalized GUI (preferably KDE or other stable GUI) while still
maintaining the Shell for the advanced users. If you can modify the GUI to
make it as similar to Windows as possible, I think more people would
consider it. Without stepping on Michael Robertson's product, maybe a WINE
installation may give enough people the extra push to demand your product,
thereby meeting your production minimums.
I think you have an excellent idea. With an image (or two) that will allow
mass-production, and the proper marketing, I think you will be successful.
Would I be too assertive by asking you for specs and a market price on this
laptop?
Good luck to you.
Stratos
----- Original Message -----
From: "W.Chris Shank" <chris.shank@acetechgroup.com>
To: <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 22:53
Subject: Re: [PLUG] Linux Laptop Anyone?
> what distro's did you have in mind?
>
> the only problem i see with offering many distros - is the difficulty
> in getting the system fully functional. I had planned to make an image
> that i could apply en-masse to each unit. however, the first system is
> the hardest and time consuming - but i should be able to make that back
> in volume imaging. so if it requires a lot of configuration for each
> distro - then there is a diminishing return. unless people would be
> willing to pay more for a windows-free laptop with the distro of their
> choice. also - the distros that are freely available - ie: Red Hat and
> Mandrake, I should be able to install freely with charging you or
> paying them. However, for SuSE, I think I would need to get into a
> distribution agreement with them - since they don't allow you download
> ISO's.
>
> right now i'm on the fence. i have a manufacturer that is willing to
> let me sell system with or without windows (less $70) - but there is a
> volume commitment that i must make - and I'm not sure that i can move
> that many.
>
>
> On Thursday, April 10, 2003, at 10:18 PM, Stratos Parisiou wrote:
>
> > Would you allow the buyer to choose the distro? Or would you have a
> > couple
> > distros to choose from?
> >
> > If so, yes.
> >
> > Stratos
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "W.Chris Shank" <chris.shank@acetechgroup.com>
> > To: <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>
> > Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 21:25
> > Subject: [PLUG] Linux Laptop Anyone?
> >
> >
> >> Is anyone is interested in buying a laptop with Linux instead of
> >> Windows - and not paying the Windows tax anyway? Would you be
> >> interested in a dual-boot system - pre-installed?
> >>
> >> Please let me know. I need to judge interest in this.
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >>
> >>
> >> On Thursday, April 10, 2003, at 03:24 PM, Stewart B. Lone wrote:
> >>
> >>> W. Chris Shank wrote:
> >>>> Background: I'm trying to add a Linux-powered laptop to my hardware
> >>>> offering. It is pretty much impossible to get the parts and build
> >>>> your
> >>>> own laptop (without buying the parts in the millions), so I thought
> >>>> I'd
> >>>> see if WinBook - who has a pretty agressive reseller program for
> >>>> integrators could give me one's without Windows installed. This is
> >>>> the
> >>>> response I received from them.
> >>>> **************************************************************
> >>>> Dear Sir or Madam,
> >>>> Thank you for your interest in our "Critically Proven" WinBook
> >>>> Computers. We
> >>>> confirm that due to our licensing agreement with Microsoft, we are
> >>>> unable to
> >>>> provide a notebook without an Operating System. We apologize for any
> >>>> inconvenience that this may cause. If you have any questions, please
> >>>> feel
> >>>> free to call 1-800-254-7806 and we will be happy to assist
> >>>> you.
> >>>> Thank You
> >>>> WinBook Technical Sales
> >>>> winsales@winbook.com
> >>>> ***************************************************************
> >>>> What I think is most amazing is their admission that they cannot
> >>>> sell
> >>>> them without _an_ operating system because of their agreement with
> >>>> Microsoft. I've heard dozens of reasons why Toshiba or Dell or Sony
> >>>> (etc) won't sell wihtout an OS - and it's usually some BS about full
> >>>> functionality, user experience, etc.
> >>>> Now someone in the know - please tell me if I'm wrong - but didn't
> >>>> MS
> >>>> have to release this restriction on it's OEM's as part of the DOJ
> >>>> settlement?
> >>>> FYI: Here was my reply - but I don't expect to hear back from them:
> >>>> *****************************************************************
> >>>> What if I were to give you the Linux image to install yourself, then
> >>>> you
> >>>> could sell them to me with an operating system (Linux) installed. Or
> >>>> are
> >>>> you not allowed to sell a notebook without a Microsoft Operating
> >>>> System?
> >>>> If that is the case - isn't that in violation of the settlement
> >>>> agreement
> >>>> between Microsoft and the Department of Justice?
> >>>> If I were to resell WinBooks, but first immediately removed Windows,
> >>>> replacing it with Linux - not even booting into Windows once, would
> >>>> I
> >>>> be
> >>>> entitled to a refund for the OS? Would I get that from you or
> >>>> Microsoft?
> >>>> Thank you
> >>>> Chris Shank
> >>>> ____________________________________________________________________
> >>>> __
> >>>> ___
> >>>> Philadelphia Linux Users Group --
> >>>> http://www.phillylinux.org
> >>>> Announcements -
> >>>> http://lists.netisland.net/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
> >>>> General Discussion --
> >>>> http://lists.netisland.net/mailman/listinfo/plug
> >>>> .
> >>> Hello Chris. Would you care to comment on the merits of the winbook.
> >>> Im lusting for a laptop, but am having a hard time making a choice.
> >>>
> >>> _____________________________________________________________________
> >>> __
> >>> __
> >>> Philadelphia Linux Users Group --
> >>> http://www.phillylinux.org
> >>> Announcements -
> >>> http://lists.netisland.net/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
> >>> General Discussion --
> >>> http://lists.netisland.net/mailman/listinfo/plug
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________________________
> >> ___
> >> Philadelphia Linux Users Group --
> >> http://www.phillylinux.org
> >> Announcements -
> >> http://lists.netisland.net/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
> >> General Discussion --
> >> http://lists.netisland.net/mailman/listinfo/plug
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________________________________
> > __
> > Philadelphia Linux Users Group --
> > http://www.phillylinux.org
> > Announcements -
> > http://lists.netisland.net/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
> > General Discussion --
> > http://lists.netisland.net/mailman/listinfo/plug
> >
> >
>
> _________________________________________________________________________
> Philadelphia Linux Users Group -- http://www.phillylinux.org
> Announcements - http://lists.netisland.net/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
> General Discussion -- http://lists.netisland.net/mailman/listinfo/plug
>
>
>
_________________________________________________________________________
Philadelphia Linux Users Group -- http://www.phillylinux.org
Announcements - http://lists.netisland.net/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
General Discussion -- http://lists.netisland.net/mailman/listinfo/plug
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