I suspect that is a good question to ask a geek, seriously, about non-geek users. Taken thusly, I'd ask, do you trust your web browser, and should my Mom trust my little sister's web browser? ;)
Most folks won't be using mutt or pine, just because they got Linux on the device. So, specifically, I'm not talking about getting normal people to sort through our geek-familiar package lists.... just basic OS & app updates, and possibly removing large portions of the application tree (such as for-kids packages, for an "adult"). As for asking the question of non-geeks, the answer would likely be: Do what? Why, is it broken? How much does it cost? That is to say, that it is up to geeks, or at least geeky employees, to explain why it is important.... but hey, most old standards are still in use, so knock yerself out :) I've got some old linux CD's which may have more value than I thought :)) Ben On Sun, Jan 11, 2009 at 5:48 PM, David Mandel <[email protected]> wrote: > Dare I ask a very non-geek question? > > How important is it to upgrade the OS on a device like this? > > I know this is heresy, but I think most people waste too much time and > effort > needlessly updating their systems. Yes, there are many good reasons to > update a system and I do update my systems when there is a good reason; > but I would never update a system just because "it is old and out of date". > > In the case of a netbook like the EEE-PC, these are consumer devices > like a cell phones. I don't store my data on mine and I will probably > update it about as often as I update the software in my digital camera. > > David Mandel > > P.S. This posting written on a 486 running Slackware 2.0 > Ok, I'm lying about that. > > On Sun, Jan 11, 2009 at 10:34 AM, Ben Barrett <[email protected]> > wrote: > > IMO, any device like this *should* have enough room to update the stock > > apps, add some of your own, and still have enough working space for > > documents. I don't know how tight the space really is there, but maybe > > they've simply put a bloated distro in place, without paring things down > > usefully. It is all too easy to get too much when you "get linux" these > > days, most of us have just a few preferred applications. It does not > seem > > unreasonable to me at all, to put a slimmer distro on it... 4GB sounds > like > > it *could* (easily) be enough for root for a netbook, and "real laptops" > are > > both huge and heavy compared to these machines. You might not need a > > snowsuit, if you're going to the Bahamas -- you might want a swimsuit > that > > fits well though. So what's appropriate? i.e., coding, watching > youtube, > > social-networking & chat, writing a book... seems like any of these could > > fit with a netboook. :) > > > > BenB > > > > > > On Sun, Jan 11, 2009 at 10:11 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: > >> > >> If drive space is such an issue, why not buy a real computer? These > little > >> net-enabled devices are neat and have good applications (like a teaching > >> device) however, at this time if you want all of the functionality of a > >> laptop, I'd recommend just buying a "real" laptop.... > >> > >> just my .02 > >> -E > >> > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Jim K <[email protected]> > >> To: Eugene Unix and Gnu/Linux User Group <[email protected]> > >> Sent: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 5:58 pm > >> Subject: Re: [Eug-lug] asus eee > >> > >> Actually I would recommend both storage upgrade and a different Linux > >> > >> distro. > >> > >> Jim K > >> > >> larry price wrote: > >> > >> > you could always install something that took less disk space. > >> > >> > > >> > >> > > >> > >> > On Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 5:47 PM, Jim K <[email protected]> wrote: > >> > >> > > >> > >> >> I just saw an Asus eee 8.9" 1GB ram 4GB SSD for $199 at Best Buy > with > >> > >> >> Linux. I don't know if anyone would do a price match -5 or 10% on it. > >> > >> >> You will probably want an 8GB flash card of some type. My > understanding > >> > >> >> is once you run the update the hard disk is pretty full. > >> > >> >> jim k > >> > >> >> _______________________________________________ > >> > >> >> EUGLUG mailing list > >> > >> >> [email protected] > >> > >> >> http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug > >> > >> >> > >> > >> >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > >> > EUGLUG mailing list > >> > >> > [email protected] > >> > >> > http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug > >> > >> > > >> > >> > > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> > >> EUGLUG mailing list > >> > >> [email protected] > >> > >> http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug > >> > >> > >> ________________________________ > >> Get a free MP3 every day with the Spinner.com toolbar. Get It Now. > >> _______________________________________________ > >> EUGLUG mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug > >> > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > EUGLUG mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug > > > > > _______________________________________________ > EUGLUG mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug >
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