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    #31
    Feathers, yes, when I end up with the UEFI machine, I believe I will put rEFInd on it, maybe a good idea; and NOW's the time to start getting real familiar with Rod's extensive site ...

    I did change BIOS to boot from CD but first had to enable legacy mode (vs UEFI) and disabling Secure Boot. Turned out, I ended up using a live USB instead, anyway.

    Thanks.
    An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski

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      #32
      Mike here's the deal with the used Dells -- believe it or not, there is a youtube video that shows how to disassemble and reassemble every model of Dell laptop. I kid you not -- I've replaced LCD panels, motherboards, and reseated heatsinks, simply by "monkey see monkey do" with the youtube videos. So you don't have to know anything other than how to search youtube to fix 'em.As far as new laptops, if I were in that market, I would save up my nickels for an HP. You can buy directly from HP, and it will take 2 weeks or more while it makes it way from the Far East through U.S. customs and on to your door. The quality is really good, although you'll have to waste some money on the Windows license. The other option for me would be System 76, with no money wasted on the OS. The cost is a bit more, either way, but I believe the hardware quality will be better.

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        #33
        If you are really worried about temporarily putting Linux on a laptop I would suggest to install it on an external drive.
        I mean, new laptops have USB3 ports that are fast enough to decently run the OS.
        Even the boot loader can be installed on the external drive so there is no reason tot touch the hard disk until you are fully satisfied the system is working and then you can still do a conventional dual boot.
        I have three such USB3 installs, on a 32BG memory stick/thumb drive, on a 2TB HDD and (the fastest) on a 64GB SSD, it *just* works and is a great way of testing hard- and software.

        An other way is to replace the optical drive by a caddy with an HDD, not expensive and native speeds.

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          #34
          Teunis, good ideas. My desktop does not have USB3, but it would be nice to have this ready to go. Maybe a USB 2 thumb drive full installation of Kubuntu, just for testing purposes, better than live USB, right?

          dibl, how much time do you think I have left on this planet? :-) How about my scheduled '7 years in Tibet," and all my other to-do's? I can think of better You Tube vids to watch ... But I know what you mean, and have been scanning such stuff just to see what's involved in working on laptops.
          An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski

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            #35
            I bought this Acer V3-771G three years ago and couldn't be more pleased, except that the current model has Win8..1 installed. Mine had Win7 Home Premium on it, along with UEFI, which didn't give Kubuntu any problems during a normal install off of a LiveCD. It joined the long list of excellent performing Acers that I have purchased in the past. The Intel graphic chip is so fast that I haven't bothered to install Bumblebee in order to use the 2ndary NVidia GT 650M chip. When I hoover my mouse over the battery icon in the system tray it not only shows how much power the laptop batteries have, it shows how much power the battery in my LogiTech M215 optical mouse has!
            "A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.”
            – John F. Kennedy, February 26, 1962.

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              #36
              Thanks for the input GreyGeek.

              The latest one I've found is this (you have to try both tabs to get all spec details: "Overview" and the "Specifications"),

              Asus - 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - 8GB Memory - 750GB Hard Drive - Black

              • Model: Q501LA-BSI5T19


              http://www.bestbuy.com/site/15-6-touch-screen-laptop-8gb-memory-750gb-hard-drive/2991012.p?id=1219085428591&skuId=2991012&st=catego ryid$abcat0502000&cp=1&lp=9#tab=overview

              It's for the spousal unit, and then only for Skype (important), email, browsing, very light word processing.
              I'm wondering if I have to pay that much for such, $750+tax)? But I see you are up their in the upper-mid range, also. I will probably never use the machine.
              An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski

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                #37
                Originally posted by Qqmike View Post
                Yes, a reviewer I just read refers to that res as "the standard Windows resolution."
                What.

                Windows sucks at that resolution, actually. The reviewer has no idea what he's saying.

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                  #38
                  I agree S-R. Most low and mid-range laptops advertised at retail sites have that resolution. And that makes them even more low and more mid-range as Windows runs like a dog on it. But then, you will need some RAM, and some CPU capability, too, to support useful higher resolutions, right? The Lenovo 500S ($450) ran like a dog on the res. Lot of people will tell you their Windows laptop seems slow and not quite right. The resolution is part of it. So is cost!

                  I did buy the Asus ($750:
                  4th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-4200U mobile processor
                  8GB system memory
                  1920 x 1080 resolution, IPS
                  Intel® HD Graphics 4400

                  It seems fine, so far, hardware-wise, plenty of pep and response. Except, of course, Windows is NOT Kubuntu when it comes to snappiness.

                  An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski

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                    #39
                    btw, for those who have tolerated my Dumb_Laptop_Questions (TM), I bought the ASUS

                    Asus - 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - 8GB Memory - 750GB Hard Drive - Black, Model: Q501LA-BSI5T19

                    http://www.bestbuy.com/site/15-6-tou...9#tab=overview

                    No Kubuntu test yet, and, actually, I'm not worried about it as I'm sure it will run fine. The spousal unit will run it with Windows 8.1 for now; later I might run Kubuntu as an external USB HDD/SSD.

                    Thanks.
                    Last edited by Snowhog; Mar 15, 2014, 08:21 AM.
                    An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski

                    Comment


                      #40
                      Originally posted by Qqmike View Post
                      Dumb_Laptop_Questions (TM)
                      Hey! You're infringing my trademark!!
                      samhobbs.co.uk

                      Comment


                        #41
                        Originally posted by Qqmike View Post
                        btw, for those who...

                        No Kubuntu test yet,... later I might run Kubuntu as an external USB HDD/SSD.

                        Thanks.
                        Please let us know how it will work out.
                        Thanks!

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                          #42
                          My experience with Asus (mostly friends and clients who owned them) is that it is an excellent machine. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one (If I couldn't find a comparable Acer )
                          "A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.”
                          – John F. Kennedy, February 26, 1962.

                          Comment


                            #43
                            I've got a nephew, 25, been a geek all his life, building desktops in HS (telling me, "Uncle Mike, it's common sense..."), now finishing a M.S. in Computer Sci., he swears by Asus. He's a Linux guy who always puts Linux on his machines, for the WHOLE family if they don't stop him. Thus, I do feel confident that isn't an issue with this Asus--and your vote of confidence supports it, too. Thanks.
                            An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski

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                              #44
                              one reviewer, puts Asus at #3 of 9:

                              http://blog.laptopmag.com/best-worst...-brands-2014/3
                              An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski

                              Comment


                                #45
                                Originally posted by Feathers McGraw View Post
                                Hey! You're infringing my trademark!!
                                File a petition with the KFN Supreme Judicial Court. We'll get around to promptly ignoring it someday.

                                Comment

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