[CoLoCo] Ultra-thin PC

mk...@numericalgeo.com

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Feb 14, 2012, 2:15:33 PM2/14/12

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Does anyone have suggestions for ultra-thin PCs that are happy with Ubuntu (with a minimum of futzing)? Basically I'm looking for something in the same idea as a Macbook Air. I was just worried about drivers and such.

Thanks!

Andy

--------------------------------------------------
M. Andy Kass

mk...@numericalgeo.com

"This is a Coulomb balance, and that is all there is to it. It is simple, like the flute of Hamlet, you only have to know how to play on it, and just like the musician who can delight you with splendid variations, the physicist can, on this balance, with no less delight determine the finest variations of gravity. This way we can peer into such depth of the crust of the Earth, that neither our eyes, nor our longest drills could reach."

--Lorand Eotvos

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [CoLoCo] Fwd: Sponsoring or Donating a Lab top computer
From: Don Schwartz <dsch...@aerorad.com>
Date: Sun, February 12, 2012 4:27 pm
To: CLUE's mailing list <cl...@cluedenver.org>, Ubuntu Colorado Local
Community Team <ubuntu...@lists.ubuntu.com>, "Inc. system76"
<in...@system76.com>
Cc: Jeff Johnson <jeffjoh...@yahoo.com>

Fellow Linux Fanz

Purr-Hapx someone has a "spare" NoteBook ?

MAHALO & PuraVida 2 :)

Don (the lonely Buell)

Begin forwarded message:

From: jeff johnson <jeffjoh...@yahoo.com>
Subject: Sponsoring or Donating a Lap top computer
Date: February 12, 2012 3:53:33 PM MST
To: Don Schwartz <dsch...@aerorad.com>

February 12, 2012

Mr. Don Schwartz & Associates

Mr. Don Schwartz
As we spoke earlier today, I am (Jeffery Johnson) the Executive Director of The Veterans Assistance League of Colorado (VALCO). VALCO is an emerging 501(c)3 corporation that, like the American Legion, was established by Veterans for Veterans for the purpose of mutual helpfulness. Today I am writing on behalf of the Board of Directors and our members to request your investment in the growth of this developing enterprise by sponsoring or donating a Lap top computer to the organization. This donation will help VALCO with its day to day operation and a series of workshops/support groups for Veterans working through the VA Benefits process.
As Veterans, we know first-hand the challenges our fellow Veterans face each day and the fact that those challenges are greater than any one organization can meet. Our intention is not to compete with or replace the invaluable work other service organizations such as the American Legion has provided for nearly a hundred years. Rather, we view our role as one of “filling in the cracks” that are opening as the number of claims for Veterans benefits continues to climb and overburden existing resources to the breaking point. We are hoping to add support to our follow veterans by helping them to navigate the labyrinth of Veterans and community based resources available to them, as well as provide the on-going support they need while running the gauntlet of the benefits process.
As you know our Veterans face tremendous hardships, both personally and financially, as they await their claims to be processed, with many battling for years until their claim is settled. During this process they often can become frustrated, disillusioned and downright angry which in turn can become one of the biggest barriers to moving their claim forward and significantly diminish their health. Our mission is fulfilling the needs of these Colorado Veterans by providing innovative programs and services to maximize their quality of life such as care management, system navigation, , policy management, life skills and personal development.
What has VALCO done in its first year? We developed and submitted our 501(c)3 documentation that is required to have an organization at all. This is time intensive, boring work with little or no outside evidence however without it nothing else can be achieved. In most cases it takes anywhere from 9 to 24 months for this to occur so the organization is right on track. We have ongoing workshops to coach vets to navigate the VA that has consistently been attended by 5 to 10 Veterans per session. Over past year VALCO has also advocated for more patient-sensitive policy implementation issues effecting long term care and Fitness Center at the Denver VAMC.
To continue building on this successful foundation we will be launching a pilot program to extend our current services. Our intention is to utilize trained, peer life coaches to work with Veterans through the VA claims process. We will hold weekly drop-in coaching groups and benefit application clinics to help Veterans be fully prepared to utilize the services of Veteran Service Officers more effectively as well as link with the critical resources they will need during the award process. A tangible endorsement of VALCO by you and your associates through a sponsorship or donation of a Lab top computer would prove to be the catalyst we need to evolve our organization to the next level.
We welcome this opportunity and your support. Please contact me if you are able to provide a donation or if you have any questions. Otherwise, I will contact you in the next few days to follow up. Again, on behalf of our Board of Directors and members thank you for your consideration and I look forward to speaking with you.

Jeffery C. Johnson
Executive Director, VALCO
303.394.7569

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NerdyNick

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Feb 14, 2012, 2:59:06 PM2/14/12

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Have you looked at the new Asus Zen. Its a windows PC but comparable to the Mac Air, and from the specs I'd bet Ubuntu could go on it with minimal effort if at all any.

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Simon Engelbert

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Feb 14, 2012, 3:21:35 PM2/14/12

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I was curious about the same thing a few months ago so I found the 3-5 ultrabooks that I was interested in and then did some searching around on the Ubuntu forums. Some were definitely more Ubuntu friendly than others though I can't remember which. I would recommend maybe doing the same

-Simon

Joey STANFORD

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Feb 14, 2012, 3:44:21 PM2/14/12

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fwiw,

Nothing, absolutely nothing, compares well to the air. If you want an air, get one and dual-boot into Ubuntu.

J

mk...@numericalgeo.com

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Feb 16, 2012, 1:38:00 PM2/16/12

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Do you have commentary on how well Ubuntu runs on the air? I also haven't used a mac since they were these little cubes with a mostly grayscale screen.

If I were to get one, could I bribe you with beer this weekend to help me set it up? (Leaving for business to australia mid-week). I would have no problem dual booting windows, but I wouldn't know how to start with mac.

Aaron D. Gerber

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Feb 16, 2012, 1:43:02 PM2/16/12

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I'd also be curious. I've had Mac laptops for awhile, but I stopped trying to install Ubuntu on them as hardware support was hit-or-miss. I could get the camera going and wireless. But the sound keys would only turn up and down some of the speakers under the keyboard. It wouldn't always go to sleep. I'd open the lid 2 hours later and it hadn't actually going to sleep the display had been on the whole time... Things like that. I'd assume that they've figured some of those things out, but haven't tried recently.

On my Mac tower, Ubuntu always worked flawlessly.

Aaron-

Joey STANFORD

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Feb 16, 2012, 1:43:53 PM2/16/12

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I have no direct experience with it but this page seems to have the
current status

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookAir4-2

and a video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt53d5oDOD4

tel...@infosyndicate.net

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Feb 16, 2012, 1:48:14 PM2/16/12

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How does the ASUS compare in terms of bank for the buck to the Apple product?

I hate paying a Mac hardware premium.

Joey STANFORD

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Feb 16, 2012, 1:57:18 PM2/16/12

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> How does the ASUS compare in terms of bank for the buck to the Apple product?
>
> I hate paying a Mac hardware premium.

Strangely enough they are generally the same price.

Compare

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=AsusUX

vs

http://store.apple.com/us_epp_279594/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_air/select

SPec wise they are very close but I personally am still sold on the
Air being the winner.

But don't take my opinion for it.. try an independent view:

http://www.abibiki.com/2011/11/10/zenbook-asus-ux31-vs-macbook-air-145213.html

J

mk...@numericalgeo.com

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Feb 16, 2012, 1:59:44 PM2/16/12

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Dollar for dollar from the reviews it looks a little cheaper and better, but so far the Acer Aspire is winning. The HDD is 320 GB (not SSD), but the whole thing is still half an inch thick. I'm quite conflicted.

IF (and that's a big if) I were to get a Macbook Air (or anything else for that matter) would anyone be interested in meeting at a bar or something this weekend and seeing how Ubuntu runs, going through the install (which seems complicated, but not too bad), and generally causing a ruckus at a beer establishment?

Cheers

Andy

--------------------------------------------------
M. Andy Kass

mk...@numericalgeo.com

"This is a Coulomb balance, and that is all there is to it. It is simple, like the flute of Hamlet, you only have to know how to play on it, and just like the musician who can delight you with splendid variations, the physicist can, on this balance, with no less delight determine the finest variations of gravity. This way we can peer into such depth of the crust of the Earth, that neither our eyes, nor our longest drills could reach."

--Lorand Eotvos

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [CoLoCo] Ultra-thin PC

From: tel...@infosyndicate.net
Date: Thu, February 16, 2012 11:48 am
To: Ubuntu Colorado Local Community Team
<ubuntu...@lists.ubuntu.com>

How does the ASUS compare in terms of bank for the buck to the Apple product?

I hate paying a Mac hardware premium.

-Simon

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Simon Engelbert

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Feb 16, 2012, 2:02:07 PM2/16/12

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The ultrabooks that have been coming out from Acer, Asus, MSI, etc look to be very competitive with the Macbook Air specs-wise and at a cheaper price...so while I can't personally vouch for them I don't know why they wouldn't compete with the Air.

-Simon

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