[BadVista Advocate] GNU/Linux Hardware Configurations

[Michael D. Stemle, Jr.]

On Sunday 29 April 2007 16:29:41 Don Hensley wrote:
> Well, that is what I do; build 100% GNU/Linux systems:
> http://donhensley.com
>
> Unfortunately I am not even a small company, I'm a "Just me" company. I'm
> just a retired guy that does this strictly by referral and then only with
> people I can directly interface with. I just do not have the time (or
> health) to try to do support any other way.
>
> But find a LUG in your area, and ask if some one will build you a system.
> You will find lots of people that can do it and many that would be pleased
> to make a buck or two.
>
> But best of all, you would meet some really nice helpful people that way,
> and discover a great support system. Join a LUG today.
>
> And Dell is making noise about a "Linux" pre load, but it will be very
> unlikely to be a 100% Free Software system.
>
> Mandriva sells pre loaded computers, unfortunately also not 100% Free
> software.
>
> Don.
>  *****************************************************
>  On Sunday 29 April 2007 01:05 pm, Wayne Moore wrote:
> I am aware of that list, thanks.  While that does help when shopping for
> components to build your own system, I think it would be very useful to
> know if there are any "off-the-shelf" systems that the big (or small)
> hardware vendors sell, that would work with 100% free software - this would
> help those that cannot build their own systems.

I love OEM GNU/Linux.  It's nice, and it's well supported.  There needs to be 
more laptop OEM GNU/Linux going around.  I would love a gNewSense (maybe even 
gNewSense with KDE) lappy OEM that was affordable with good hardware.  I 
don't know if you've priced it lately folks, but at Wal-Mart or Best Buy, you 
can get Vista-loaded machines for roughly the price of the OS (after 
rebates).  And these are pretty beefy machines too.  2GHz core duo, 1.5GB 
RAM, 80GB+ hard drives, all for arount USD$600, and often times they come 
with rebates.  I seriously saw one earlier while I was buying my lawn mower.

System76 is the only OEM GNU/Linux provider that I've seen that has 
customizable laptops, and they're awful pricey (though I still drool and 
would love to have one, gran, if you're on this mailing list... anyway...).  
If there are any more OEM lappy retailers that allow more customization and 
offer excellent support, I would love to know about it.  We need more OEM.  
OEM is the future.  OEM is the only reason why Vista is selling, and OEM is 
the way that we can truely free the users.

All that said, Don Hensley, do you make customizable lappies at reasonable 
prices?  Or does anybody else do so?  I'd love to share that information with 
everybody I possibly could.  Maybe we could all make shameless plug pages on 
our respective sites with links to OEM retailers who sell Free Software 
loaded machines.

-- 
~ Michael D. Stemle, Jr. <><
(A)bort, (R)etry, (I)nfluence with large hammer
The number of the beast - vi vi vi