Notebook: see any glaring Ubuntu/Linux problems with these specs?

http://1toppc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=UL30A-A1

I haven't really followed intel video or atheros wireless...I looking to get a lighter laptop to take with me everywhere, and use working in the field....I'll have Ubuntu and a VM on there.

thanks for any caveats

Groceries?

 

The page says that they are temporarily sold out Not sure if you knew that.

I think the Atheros wifi card will work since they had recently(~1 year ago) had an opensource driver that was released, but I am not a 100% sure. I think the Intel wifi cards will work much better.

 

If you wait a bit you can get for 700 or less(that should be once windows 7 is out). Not sure if VM requires VT to be enabled, so I would make sure and see if VM requires VT that Asus enabled it on that device(if disable it may require a bios hack to get it enabled).

 

thanks guys...yes I knew they were sold out....I can wait a bit....I think VT isn't necessary, but that's a great point...I'll check out the extensions of that cpu etc...

correction: Ahteros is wired ethernet, intel is Wireless...so if the Embedded Intel® GMA X4500MHD works well with Karmic, I'm home free...ready to preorder maybe if I don't find any major show stoppers.

 

just found out this:

the A1 is discontinued but A2 will be release with Windows 7 pre-installed on Oct 22nd. Apparently that su chip beats the pants off an atom....so will work for me for web etc and some work. My eyes are too lousy up for a netbook...lol

 

Beats the pants is being nice inho specially the Core 2 Duo cpu this has. This should have VT, but that is up to Asus if they wanted to enable it or not. If you need VT though, there is a hack(for Sony laptops but many other users of other notebooks have had success) that will most likely work on this to enable it.

 

The video card should be able to work well as another brother had pointed out.
However, the specs on the wirelesss card is not clear. Is it RealTek(RT) or Atheros(Ath) or Intel, is really hard to say.
But just to point out, to what i know generally, if the processor is those Pxxxx series CPU, most likely the wireless could be Intel.

 

Take a look at this one too, its a bit more expensive but it has a Cdrom drive in it too.

http://system76.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=89

 

Eh sry didn't even look at this thread till now... UL30A is very nice, HOWEVER, the single core CULV chips are a bit slow... if you're trying to do HD video it'll be borderline. And compiling the kernel will take a while, but nowhere near as bad as on an Atom (like my N10J) where it can take 2+ hours.

The thing to worry about really with Atheros cards is their antennas, my N10J has a chipset that uses the ath9k module and I've had to constantly tweak a few kernel source files to get it to work smoothly. If you have good antennas it's not a big deal, probably on par with any other wireless card, but ath9k can get really nasty if your antennas are weak. I don't know how you'd find this out unless you talked to an owner or saw a review.

The UL30A is basically the slim (no optical drive) big brother version of the U20A which I was looking at buying until I lost my patience waiting for the model with a dual core SU9400 and bought a macbook pro. I'd definitely recommend the 13" MBP if you can afford it, but the ASUS UL30A has tremendous value, and I can't see any problems with it running Linux.

However, if you're really considering the ASUS I'd wait for another UL30A model to come out with a dual core, because then you will have no problems with HD video and a better overall experience. I'm not sure if they have a SU9400 on the specsheet for the UL30A but the U20A was supposed to have it and the model hasn't come out yet.

Edit: Oh, and if you are buying ASUS I would recommend GenTech PC without any hesitation. I got my N10J from them and Ken has been nothing but supportive in the ASUS forums, helped me (and others) out with a number of BIOS bugs.

Edit 2:

Woops yeah it looks like depending on model/region it's either Intel wireless or Azurewave AW-NE785 which I think is an atheros chipset.

Edit 3: Removed some stuff about keyboard backlight apparently the UL30A doesn't have one? Weird because all the new U series seem to have one (maybe not the slim ones).

 

That's looks pretty cool...who makes the hardware?

 

Ken Lee said Asus usually puts in the cheaper atheros chips, but for free he swap an intel 5100 or a little cash a 5300. I don't want to richard around with wireless

 

@Groceries...

agreed...i've bought two notebooks from Ken in the past, Know him well

that is a dual core now, but the A2 is coming out Oct 22 to replace the one I linked....am I right on the dual core? I'm just catching up on these cpus. I've read very good reviews on that asus. kinda like a poor-mans macbook air....

 

OOps ya it is dually sry confused it with another SU...

I guess I really have nothing substantial to add then, go for it

Edit: There are some linux users in the UL30 owner's lounge:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=418429&page=13

 

thanks...helpful

This may do it, the Darter for a 'netbook for strained eyes' http://system76.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=76 use nano mice now, and hub, don't care about bT anymore (but can be added)...

 

My next system will be a system 76, just waiting for the next generation of video cards to come out. Nut much of a gain from the 9800GTS to the 260.

 

I'm going with the Darter 12 incher to take around with me...pretty decent for any OS....