ubuntu-ca Digest, Vol 86, Issue 18

Fri May 18 21:12:58 UTC 2012

Thanks for the feedback. The machine I had was an HP 620 notebook.
Suspend and resume never did work right except in Windows (neither did
hibernation), and then the touchpad/usb failures and sudden power
losses started.

I'm tempted to try System 76: https://www.system76.com/home/

On Fri, May 18, 2012 at 2:50 PM,  <ubuntu-ca-request at lists.ubuntu.com> wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Upgrade failure (William Frick)
>   2. Laptop suggestions (Ralph Pichie)
>   3. RE: Laptop suggestions (Mark Ueki Mina)
>   4. RE: Laptop suggestions (Che)
>   5. Re: Laptop suggestions (Dorian Pula)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 18 May 2012 12:20:34 -0700 (PDT)
> From: William Frick <wfrick at rogers.com>
> To: The List <ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> Subject: Upgrade failure
> Message-ID:
>        <1337368834.93510.YahooMailNeo at web88616.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hi all !
>
> I tried to upgrade from 11.10 to 12.04 and it only 1/2 took. I am left with a functioning pc but no network [ethernet connection]. Furthermore the upgrade seemed to fail when writing the GRUB.cfg file and rebooting will not find the previous versions although listed in startup options.
>
>
> I have downloaded and created a USB stick to try the upgrade again but it seems stuck at the "Preparing to install ..... " screen.
>
>
> When booted from the stick I do have the 'net .....
>
>
> Is it just me or have the installs been 'dumbed down' and less interactive. I can't find any tools to suggest what the problem is. All I get is a busy icon with no idea as to what it is doing or waiting for .....
>
> Suggestions anyone ?
>
>
> Bill
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 18 May 2012 13:28:15 -0600
> From: Ralph Pichie <thevillagegeek at gmail.com>
> To: ubuntu-ca <ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> Subject: Laptop suggestions
> Message-ID:
>        <CADZ-tmkZ1TA=LeZd=6gVJwZG59Xc-w7Vu5wrQrh_u9vH2BjThg at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> I need to replace a problem laptop from a manufacturer with a warranty
> that isn't worth the paper.
>
> My requirements:
> Robustness (good hinges, LCD, no bending in, etc.)
> Linux support (any Debian-derived distro, or perhaps Open SUSE. I have
> Ubuntu 12.04 32-bit, several older *buntu versions)
> Needs to work with: Wacom Bamboo drawing tablet, Huawei Android phone
> for tethered Internet access
> Basic business productivity
> Some graphics capability, but I don't need to run Unity or do heavy 3D
> or gaming)
> Windows 7 as other OS (preferred, but I can make do without the 'pleasure')
> Occasional attempts at customer service.
> Looks, smooks. I need it to work. Bonus points if it is reasonably
> repairable by little ol' me.
>
> With my current employer, I can get a 10% discount from Dell on most
> of the product line. http://dell.ca
>
> Lenovo has a sale on some ThinkPads that ends at midnight tonight.
> http://tinyurl.com/d6c9ynm
> I'm thinking of a ThinkPad T420i
>
> Any experience that might be helpful? Feel free to email me direct, as
> I get the list in digest form.
>
> Yeah, I'm also thinking of System 76 and the like, but this is to
> replace a dual boot machine.
>
> Ralph
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 18 May 2012 16:26:55 -0400
> From: Mark Ueki Mina <themarker0 at hotmail.com>
> To: <ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> Subject: RE: Laptop suggestions
> Message-ID: <SNT137-W70C8A93DA15D5BA94BE2C841E0 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
> Last I checked from Ars, Dell is getting ready to sell Prepacked Ubuntu laptops.
> I'll find the article and some more info and I'll send it your way.
>
>> Date: Fri, 18 May 2012 13:28:15 -0600
>> Subject: Laptop suggestions
>> From: thevillagegeek at gmail.com
>> To: ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
>>
>> I need to replace a problem laptop from a manufacturer with a warranty
>> that isn't worth the paper.
>>
>> My requirements:
>> Robustness (good hinges, LCD, no bending in, etc.)
>> Linux support (any Debian-derived distro, or perhaps Open SUSE. I have
>> Ubuntu 12.04 32-bit, several older *buntu versions)
>> Needs to work with: Wacom Bamboo drawing tablet, Huawei Android phone
>> for tethered Internet access
>> Basic business productivity
>> Some graphics capability, but I don't need to run Unity or do heavy 3D
>> or gaming)
>> Windows 7 as other OS (preferred, but I can make do without the 'pleasure')
>> Occasional attempts at customer service.
>> Looks, smooks. I need it to work. Bonus points if it is reasonably
>> repairable by little ol' me.
>>
>> With my current employer, I can get a 10% discount from Dell on most
>> of the product line. http://dell.ca
>>
>> Lenovo has a sale on some ThinkPads that ends at midnight tonight.
>> http://tinyurl.com/d6c9ynm
>> I'm thinking of a ThinkPad T420i
>>
>> Any experience that might be helpful? Feel free to email me direct, as
>> I get the list in digest form.
>>
>> Yeah, I'm also thinking of System 76 and the like, but this is to
>> replace a dual boot machine.
>>
>> Ralph
>>
>> --
>> ubuntu-ca mailing list
>> ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
>> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Fri, 18 May 2012 16:43:19 -0400
> From: Che <cheguebeara at gmail.com>
> To: ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> Subject: RE: Laptop suggestions
> Message-ID: <1337373799.21823.17.camel at frodo>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Dell had been selling 2 laptop and 2 PC models pre-loaded with Ubuntu
> since 8.04 but because of pressure from MSoft (I understand...) they are
> harder to find. Best to check http://linux.dell.com for the latest
> situation.
>
> I have several Dells as well as a number of HP and Asus products and all
> have no issues with installing Ubuntu out of the box (including wifi!).
> I am currently running 12.04 or 11.10 (with Gnome3 - no Unity crud for
> me thanks!) depending on which machines I have had the opportunity to
> upgrade yet... lol...
>
> Since the price of laptops has dropped in the past couple of years and
> there is no price saving getting a preloaded Ubuntu laptop (Dell
> protects MSoft pricing...) it would be simpler to just buy a laptop with
> Win7 on it and either wipe it clean or wubi up a dual boot system.
>
> Mark
>
> On Fri, 2012-05-18 at 16:26 -0400, Mark Ueki Mina wrote:
>> Last I checked from Ars, Dell is getting ready to sell Prepacked
>> Ubuntu laptops.
>>
>>
>> I'll find the article and some more info and I'll send it your way.
>>
>>
>> > Date: Fri, 18 May 2012 13:28:15 -0600
>> > Subject: Laptop suggestions
>> > From: thevillagegeek at gmail.com
>> > To: ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
>> >
>> > I need to replace a problem laptop from a manufacturer with a
>> warranty
>> > that isn't worth the paper.
>> >
>> > My requirements:
>> > Robustness (good hinges, LCD, no bending in, etc.)
>> > Linux support (any Debian-derived distro, or perhaps Open SUSE. I
>> have
>> > Ubuntu 12.04 32-bit, several older *buntu versions)
>> > Needs to work with: Wacom Bamboo drawing tablet, Huawei Android
>> phone
>> > for tethered Internet access
>> > Basic business productivity
>> > Some graphics capability, but I don't need to run Unity or do heavy
>> 3D
>> > or gaming)
>> > Windows 7 as other OS (preferred, but I can make do without the
>> 'pleasure')
>> > Occasional attempts at customer service.
>> > Looks, smooks. I need it to work. Bonus points if it is reasonably
>> > repairable by little ol' me.
>> >
>> > With my current employer, I can get a 10% discount from Dell on most
>> > of the product line. http://dell.ca
>> >
>> > Lenovo has a sale on some ThinkPads that ends at midnight tonight.
>> > http://tinyurl.com/d6c9ynm
>> > I'm thinking of a ThinkPad T420i
>> >
>> > Any experience that might be helpful? Feel free to email me direct,
>> as
>> > I get the list in digest form.
>> >
>> > Yeah, I'm also thinking of System 76 and the like, but this is to
>> > replace a dual boot machine.
>> >
>> > Ralph
>> >
>> > --
>> > ubuntu-ca mailing list
>> > ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
>> > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
>>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Fri, 18 May 2012 16:50:28 -0400
> From: Dorian Pula <dorian.pula at gmail.com>
> To: The Canadian Ubuntu Users Community <ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> Subject: Re: Laptop suggestions
> Message-ID:
>        <CAO8vrnukmaQAt+3Xa__iojpQwZbOeVFhYh9ZYwacrVYYn-oLug at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Yup.  Most laptops can install Ubuntu without an real issue nowadays.  (Not
> like back in the days... don't worry I won't reminisce on setting up
> Mandrake Linux on my first real laptop in university.)  The only gotcha is
> that quite a few of the laptops sold now run Nvidia Optimus and that can be
> fun to get running correctly.  But for the most part you should be fine
> with most modern laptop.  Definitely go the dual boot route, since
> sometimes, sometimes you might need Windows for some reason.  (Using Wine
> to run Windows-only apps is still a gamble).
>
> Personally running Kubuntu 12.04 64-bit on a Samsung RF711 laptop and quite
> happy with it.
>
> -- Dorian
>
> On Fri, May 18, 2012 at 4:43 PM, Che <cheguebeara at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Dell had been selling 2 laptop and 2 PC models pre-loaded with Ubuntu
>> since 8.04 but because of pressure from MSoft (I understand...) they are
>> harder to find. Best to check http://linux.dell.com for the latest
>> situation.
>>
>> I have several Dells as well as a number of HP and Asus products and all
>> have no issues with installing Ubuntu out of the box (including wifi!).
>> I am currently running 12.04 or 11.10 (with Gnome3 - no Unity crud for
>> me thanks!) depending on which machines I have had the opportunity to
>> upgrade yet... lol...
>>
>> Since the price of laptops has dropped in the past couple of years and
>> there is no price saving getting a preloaded Ubuntu laptop (Dell
>> protects MSoft pricing...) it would be simpler to just buy a laptop with
>> Win7 on it and either wipe it clean or wubi up a dual boot system.
>>
>> Mark
>>
>> On Fri, 2012-05-18 at 16:26 -0400, Mark Ueki Mina wrote:
>> > Last I checked from Ars, Dell is getting ready to sell Prepacked
>> > Ubuntu laptops.
>> >
>> >
>> > I'll find the article and some more info and I'll send it your way.
>> >
>> >
>> > > Date: Fri, 18 May 2012 13:28:15 -0600
>> > > Subject: Laptop suggestions
>> > > From: thevillagegeek at gmail.com
>> > > To: ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
>> > >
>> > > I need to replace a problem laptop from a manufacturer with a
>> > warranty
>> > > that isn't worth the paper.
>> > >
>> > > My requirements:
>> > > Robustness (good hinges, LCD, no bending in, etc.)
>> > > Linux support (any Debian-derived distro, or perhaps Open SUSE. I
>> > have
>> > > Ubuntu 12.04 32-bit, several older *buntu versions)
>> > > Needs to work with: Wacom Bamboo drawing tablet, Huawei Android
>> > phone
>> > > for tethered Internet access
>> > > Basic business productivity
>> > > Some graphics capability, but I don't need to run Unity or do heavy
>> > 3D
>> > > or gaming)
>> > > Windows 7 as other OS (preferred, but I can make do without the
>> > 'pleasure')
>> > > Occasional attempts at customer service.
>> > > Looks, smooks. I need it to work. Bonus points if it is reasonably
>> > > repairable by little ol' me.
>> > >
>> > > With my current employer, I can get a 10% discount from Dell on most
>> > > of the product line. http://dell.ca
>> > >
>> > > Lenovo has a sale on some ThinkPads that ends at midnight tonight.
>> > > http://tinyurl.com/d6c9ynm
>> > > I'm thinking of a ThinkPad T420i
>> > >
>> > > Any experience that might be helpful? Feel free to email me direct,
>> > as
>> > > I get the list in digest form.
>> > >
>> > > Yeah, I'm also thinking of System 76 and the like, but this is to
>> > > replace a dual boot machine.
>> > >
>> > > Ralph
>> > >
>> > > --
>> > > ubuntu-ca mailing list
>> > > ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
>> > > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> ubuntu-ca mailing list
>> ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
>> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
>>
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> End of ubuntu-ca Digest, Vol 86, Issue 18
> *****************************************