[Discuss] Linux on laptops

[slitt at troubleshooters.com (Steve Litt)]

On Fri, 13 Nov 2015 12:56:46 +0000
"Edward Ned Harvey (blu)" <blu at nedharvey.com> wrote:

> > From: Discuss [mailto:discuss-bounces+blu=nedharvey.com at blu.org] On
> > Behalf Of Steve Litt
> > 
> > U sure? I can go to Costco right now and bag a multicore modern
> > processor with 4GB of RAM and well over 500GB of RAM for $400. How
> > much less do you have to spend for a working used computer?
> 
> That sounds like a bunch of parts to assemble into a desktop or
> workstation.

It does, doesn't it :-)

Permit me to rephrase...

U sure? I can go to Costco right now and bag a *laptop containing a*
multicore modern processor with 4GB of RAM and well over 500GB of
RAM^H^H hard disk for $400. How much less do you have to spend for a
working used computer?

> In my experience, buying used systems gets you similar specs for
> about half the cost.

My experience has been more like 3/4 than 1/2, but even at 1/2, the
elephant in the room is you have no idea what condition the used
machine is in. Has a teenager continuously run it on a bed, making it
run hot for 2 years? You don't know. Has the kid repeatedly pulled on
the power supply cord, to the point where that ever-so-delicately
soldered in power jack is ready to break (and guys, that's not likely
to *ever* be fixed right)? How carefully did you look to make sure all
the screws are in place, and none of them are infinitwist
threadstripped? Will the battery die the first time you leave it
unplugged for a week, or the first time it runs all the way down?

Meanwhile, Costco has a 90 day warranty on their laptops, and it's
pretty much "you can return it, no questions asked, no restocking fee."
Buy the laptop, boot System Rescue CD, back up the GPT and the restore
partition. Boot Windows, shrink the Windows partition, shut it down.
Make a Linux and swap partition with the (usually substantial)
remaining disk space. Lay down Linux.

If Linux doesn't work, you can return it. If you cannot defeat Secure
Boot, you can return it. If nothing else, do the system restore off the
restore partition.

You keep it as a dual boot machine until the manufacturer's warranty
runs out (1 or 2 years), because the dwobes in tech support can't deal
with hardware problems without Windows diagnostics. This is true
everywhere except if you want to pay the Microsoft Tax by paying 75%
extra for a substantially similar System76 or Penguin Computing or
whatever. Once your manufacturer's warranty runs out, you can either
keep the dual boot or format the whole thing as Linux, as you prefer.

SteveT

Steve Litt 
November 2015 featured book: Troubleshooting Techniques
     of the Successful Technologist
http://www.troubleshooters.com/techniques