|
| Author |
Messages |
|
mtb
Mean and Nasty Site Admin
Posts: 6089
Location: In Ubuntu laptop heaven, running Wine... with not an M$ distro. in sight.
 |
| 18 Jun 2008 12:14 PM |
|
...M$ or HP/Conpaq. Actually "hate" doesn't really cut it, "loathe" or "despise" is closer to the mark.
< RANT>
I picked up a cheap lappy yesterday from Retravision for my son - a Presario C700, $799 after cashback - and it comes with Vistugh. No problem, I've a spare XP license (it's partly for his games) so I'll dual boot it XP and Ubuntu.
Here's the rub, while it took me a mere 30 minutes to do a test install of Ubuntu and see it all working, it took me TEN HOURS to fail to get it fully running under XP Pro. Despite trawling the net for hours and downloading many WiFi drivers - not small - as well as numerous others for other h/w, I simply can not get the WiFi to work; finally got everything else going but not the WiFi. I've checked my ISP stats and I used almost 1Gb of bandwidth during this fruitless search!
This is just total bo**ocks! The crappy thing runs (or strolls) like a pig under Vistugh - the games video is all choppy and the life is sucked out of it when asked to do anything - and yet it simply can not run XP, despite the fact that the linux community can get it running just fine.
Compaq/HP should be done with all their identity issues and should simply rename themselves Micros(o|ha)ft Hardware and be done with it, they're clearly so far up Bill's backside as to have lost all credibility as anything but an MS subsiduary.
I'll NEVER EVER buy anything from HP/Compaq again!
< /RANT>
All power to Retravision, however. I noticed that they had not yet unpacked their display model so, once they've seen this one is ok, they're willing to accept it back as a display model and give me a store credit, since none of the other models they sell are suitable either. |
|
Mike
Look here for my articles and hardware & software that I recommend.
The Doomsday Clock - It's five minutes to midnight - think about it... do something about it!
Psion II CM -> Psion II XP -> Psion II LZ -> Psion 3 -> Psion 5 -> O2 Xda II -> O2 Xda IIi -> Psion 5 -> O2 Xda II + Nokia 3310 -> Dell Inspiron 9400 running Ubuntu + Nokia 6234 (no more Windows Mobile for me!)
My new device is Linux based and it doesn't include a camera, a phone or an MS operating system! Oh, and I also have a Topfield PVRt, a TomTom ONE and a Wii - all of which also use nice, stable Linux... luxury! |
|
|
FredS
Modikeet - TWEET!
Posts: 9866
Location: Blue Mountains - tourists go home!
|
| 18 Jun 2008 4:33 PM |
|
That stinks Mike.
I blame CONPAQ and HP (hugely priced  ) There is obviously something amiss with their "propriety" (meaning we tweaked it so you can't sucker) drivers, rom/bios etc.
Good that Retravision are taking it back with no hassles. |
|
Cheers
FredS
Time is fleeting - madness takes it's toll
"Facts are stupid things."
Ronald Reagan ... |
|
|
mtb
Mean and Nasty Site Admin
Posts: 6089
Location: In Ubuntu laptop heaven, running Wine... with not an M$ distro. in sight.
|
| 19 Jun 2008 1:04 PM |
|
Well, Retravision came through for us and kindly refunded us the full amount as a store credit, which is as good as I could have hoped for - excellent P.R. - so will be getting much more business from us in the future, over and above the refund amount.
Meanwhile I've found a nice little (similarly priced) Dell Vostro which I've now ordered and which will come with XP pre-installed, so I know I won't have any issues... and Compaq can stick their crippled laptop and Vistugh where the sun doesn't shine! |
|
Mike
Look here for my articles and hardware & software that I recommend.
The Doomsday Clock - It's five minutes to midnight - think about it... do something about it!
Psion II CM -> Psion II XP -> Psion II LZ -> Psion 3 -> Psion 5 -> O2 Xda II -> O2 Xda IIi -> Psion 5 -> O2 Xda II + Nokia 3310 -> Dell Inspiron 9400 running Ubuntu + Nokia 6234 (no more Windows Mobile for me!)
My new device is Linux based and it doesn't include a camera, a phone or an MS operating system! Oh, and I also have a Topfield PVRt, a TomTom ONE and a Wii - all of which also use nice, stable Linux... luxury! |
|
|
mtb
Mean and Nasty Site Admin
Posts: 6089
Location: In Ubuntu laptop heaven, running Wine... with not an M$ distro. in sight.
|
| 20 Jun 2008 12:55 PM |
|
Wow, that's quick! Dell normally say 8-10 working days to get a new box, I ordered mine yesterday and the estimated delivery date is being shown as the 24th - the status is already showing as Work In Progress.
Admittedly the sales rep. did say she'd fast-track it because I specifically called her back to place the order, despite being able to place it over the net - she'd been very helpful the day before, so it was only fair - but I didn't expect it to be that quick.
Exxxxxxcellent, Smithers! |
|
Mike
Look here for my articles and hardware & software that I recommend.
The Doomsday Clock - It's five minutes to midnight - think about it... do something about it!
Psion II CM -> Psion II XP -> Psion II LZ -> Psion 3 -> Psion 5 -> O2 Xda II -> O2 Xda IIi -> Psion 5 -> O2 Xda II + Nokia 3310 -> Dell Inspiron 9400 running Ubuntu + Nokia 6234 (no more Windows Mobile for me!)
My new device is Linux based and it doesn't include a camera, a phone or an MS operating system! Oh, and I also have a Topfield PVRt, a TomTom ONE and a Wii - all of which also use nice, stable Linux... luxury! |
|
|
|
| Jump to Top of Page |
| You are not authorized to post a reply. |
|
|
|
ActiveForums 3.7
|