HP Linux Netbook

It's good to see HP offering Linux on a consumer netbook again. I've been very happy with my Mini 110.

I've done quite a bit of laptop shopping recently (ended up with a Lenovo G555, which is the cheapest non-netbook out there).

I saw quite a few HP machines, and they've got it together design-wise — for the grown-ups, anyway.

This thing in the article http://www.handlewithlinux.com/hp-linux-netbook is hideous.

Hideous in what respect? Looks?

Yes.

From time to time, I like to change my desktop background.

I can't change the look that's painted on the keyboard and screen frame.

I expect it to expel Care Bears from the USB ports at any given moment.

Given MS ties to Novell, I'm wondering about the options of Windows or SUSE. Could there be a Microsoft tax included no matter which OS you choose.

> Could there be a Microsoft tax included no matter which OS you choose.

A quick check of both options would probably tell you that, but since I have absolutely no use for HP machines, I'm not going to be the one doing it.

Even when HP offered Ubuntu there was no substantial price difference (or none at all) between Windows and Linux. So... you are paying the MS tax but HP may be pocketing it as additional profit.

Does the machine come with any crippleware?

If so, the assumption of a Microsoft tax may be nothing more than wishful thinking.

Presumably the crippled little netbook Windows costs HP less than $50 a pop. Maybe a lot less. Dial in any crippleware tie-ins, maybe a smidge more tech/etc time for Linux, and that evaporates in a hurry.

FWIW, I think the little netbook is cute.

Expelling Care Bears from a USB port would certainly be an innovative feature :)

Quoting:Expelling Care Bears from a USB port would certainly be an innovative feature

So would expelling them from the UNIVERSE.

gus3 --

Be careful what you wish for. I hear the alternative is smurfs.

Quoting:I hear the alternative is smurfs.

Actually, it's purple dinosaurs. Lots and lots of little clones of Barney, each as annoying as the original.

> Lots and lots of little clones of Barney, each as annoying as the original.

In some ways it's a shame usenet is pretty much dead. The group alt.barney.dinosaur.die.die.die had some good posts on occasion. Checking on Google now indicates that it's mostly just political spam.

My favorite mod for the original Wolfenstein 3D was the barney one. Nothing like going around shooting Bevis and Butthead, with the Main bad guy being Barney the Dinosaur singing you to death, great fun.