X16 / x65

[danceswithferrets]

Hi, Im looking to buy a laptop (one without the windows tax) and I'm torn between the X16 for it's display and the X65 for it's bangs per buck. Is the extra gpu performance worth the extra cash, I don't play games very often but I like to have the option.

Do either of these machines have any hardware issues under linux ? I'm a long time opensuse user and can handle editing xorg.conf etc..

[PeteA]

If your going to play games at any point then it's the X65 and is defiantly worth the cash.

People on the forum have managed to get wireless and other drivers working on the X16. There is a little bit of editing to do.

I know someone who's running CentOS on the X65, the only problem like most laptops and wireless was the driver installation. All other drivers were pretty much just download and install.

[danceswithferrets]

Looks like it's time to raid that isa ;)

[PeteA]

Fun stuff. I can help if you want.

[mrgoose]

I bought an Xplora16 (the cheap one) for my mum and put Ubuntu 9.10 64 bit c/w Medibuntu multimedia (http://www.garfnet.org.uk/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=126&Itemid=58) on it for her. It is perfect for web, writing letter, looking at photos, playing DVD's etc. But it is sluggish on action games. This is not a problem because the only game she plays is Canfield (Linux version of Solitaire). So it does everything she wants, much faster than her ancient Windows 2000 Asus Notino laptop. She is delighted with it. Everything worked "out of the box" except the Realtek wireless, which is easily fixed.

I use an X16 Pro running Ubuntu 9.10 64bit c/w our in-house Goosebuntu (http://www.garfnet.org.uk/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=193&Itemid=58) upgrade & Medibuntu (http://www.garfnet.org.uk/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=126&Itemid=58). This has the Core2 Duo CPU, NVIDIA graphics & 4 GiB RAM. It seems to do everything I need pretty well. I do a lot to photoediting in GIMP, write software, edit large documents etc. Whilst I am no great gamer, I do dabble with Extreme Tux Racer from time to time. This machine handles that sort of action game really well.

However there are issues with wireless network, which is very easily fixed, NVIDIA, which is also easily fixed (once you know how) and the webcam which is a tad more tricky, but perfectly do-able.

Instructions for all the above fixes are on these forums - though it would be useful to put them all in one place I guess.

Personally I think the XPlora 16 represents excellent value for money at under £300.00. The X16 Pro is pretty good value too but it is nearly twice the price. In a purely business context I think one might do better to buy two of the cheap ones rather than one expensive machine!

The build quality of the entire 16 series is good and they certainly seem fairly robust - no paint to rub off and no obviously-protruding parts to snap off. The LED backlit screens are excellent - though I wish they weren't so shiny. The matt black cases look very posh - though they do tend to show fingermarks a bit. Keyboards are very nice and have a quality feel. And as the O/P rightly observes - no Windows tax! Top marks to Novatech for making this possible. Words cannot express the deep resentment I feel about being forced to pay a foreign corporation in a foreign jurisdiction for a poor quality product that I will never use anyway!

FWIW I earn my living using computers. Laptops generally last me about 18 months before they fall apart - regardless of how much they cost!

HTH G.

[danceswithferrets]

Thanks for all your input, I've ordered this un;

Processor:
Intel P8700 2.53GHz 3MB Cache 1066FSB Core 2 Duo Mobile Processor [Upgraded] Memory:
4GB DDR3 PC3-8500 10666MHz 2 x 2GB SO DIMM Hard Drive:
320GB 7200 2.5" SATA Hard Disk Drive [Upgraded] Optical Drive:
8 x DVD Writer Operating System:
None
This should just about do it lol

[mrgoose]

Hmm, not too shabby! ;)

What did it set you back? If you don't mind my asking. And judging from your other posts, presumably you'll run the latest SUSE on it?

Do let us know how you get on.

Best wishes, G.

[danceswithferrets]

Just shy of £700, a similar spec'ed dell studio came in at a little under £900. Yes, i'll be running opensuse 11.2. Should be a good upgrade from my dell d600 currently running arch with kde4.3. Delivery is quoted as next monday, can't wait :)