[ubuntu-uk] ubuntu-uk Digest, Vol 94, Issue 1

[andres.muniz-piniella]

Sent from mobileubuntu-uk-request at lists.ubuntu.com wrote:

On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 6:46 PM, Paula Graham <pmgazz at gmx.co.uk> wrote:
>>> On 18 Jan 2013 07:59, "Mark Fraser" <mfraz74+ubuntu at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Found this zoostorm laptop on ebuyer's website
>>> http://www.ebuyer.com/411061-
>>>
>>>
I've got the i3 version of the Zoostorm laptop - 12.04 installed
perfectly except wifi chip is a bit of a pain, needs to be hunted down,
compiled and then recompiled every time the kernel upgrades - native
driver should be in kernel 3.8. The current driver is a tad flaky, drops
connection irritatingly. Having said that, the chip might vary even in
the same Zoostorm model but I've got 3 different Zoostorm laptops/PCs
and they all installed without fuss except for the occasional wifi hassle.

Overall, adore the laptop, fabulous spec for the price, keyboard is
comfy, touchpad a bit irritating but perfectly useable, screen crisp,
and whilst it's certainly not an ultrabook it's not unweildy either.

Paula

It's always the wireless interface that needs skilled attention, while installing Ubuntu itself needs no skill at all. And as machines get down to notebook size, more and more of them have no network cable interfaces, so it's wireless or nothing (not to mention Bluetooth, which I haven't even grasped the purpose of yet). 

Would it not be good to put our foot down and say no to products with not open drivers or purchase a usb wifi that is free and cheap and supported by the kernel? Instead of giving hits to thier web pages to dowload thier drivers?

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