Comments on: ZaReason Launches Ubuntu Linux Netbook

By: JXL24

JXL24 — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:15:28 +0000

The implementation of various control measures that would be placed upon the businesses and citizens of the San Antonio metro area could also be a hindrance to lifestyle. ,

By: Roy41

Roy41 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:01:42 +0000

The massive popularity of pulp magazines in the 1930s and 1940s increased interest in mystery fiction. ,

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 07:57:15 +0000

Looks nice. Definitely considering buying this since System 76 has smaller screen resolution and doesn’t offer an SSD option. I’m undecided about how much I’d like this product and how well it would work out. But I think I’m going to give it a try since they have a reasonable return policy, especially for a small company: 30 days, 15% restocking fee.

By: Clicktician

Clicktician — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:40:42 +0000

I decided to purchase the Terra A20. So, I e-mailed ZaReason to ask some basic questions about the HSDPA, SSD, and even the physical dimensions ( when talking about netbooks — every inch counts ). They ignored me.

So, about an hour ago, I ordered an Asus Eee for $667 instead. Outrageous price, I know. And inferior to the claimed specs of the Terra A20. But at least I knew I could install Ubuntu on it myself.

If these Linux integration shops want to get my business, they’re going to have to put forth more effort than a press release.

By: GS

GS — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:39:56 +0000

I think that one of the biggest drawback of the todays netbook is lack of GPS. It could change this devices in the Personal Navigation System (PNS), understood as Internet geo-profiled crawler. The natural complementary evolution from this, that I am waiting is Netablet (the Networked Tablet), finalized actually by Nicholas Negroponte as OLPC XO-2 (link [[http://wiki.laptop.org/go/XO-2]]), and probably by Apple in its widely rumored Tablet.

By: ricegf

ricegf — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:21:32 +0000

@ Anon #18:

Hate to feed the troll, but thought others might like to know the truth. I bought my wife a Linux-powered netbook earlier this year (an EeePC, before ASUS sold out to MS). A few weeks later, she mentioned that she really needed to use the printer (an Epson cx6600 MFP), and could I please do that CD thingy to make it work?

I smiled and said, “Just plug it in!” Worked like a champ, of course, with no CDs or reboots as with XP. And another Linux fan joins the Penguin herd…

She’s switched to Eeebuntu NBR now, of course, which also “just works”. And I LOVE the new System76 Starling that she bought me for Father’s Day.

By: iGadget

iGadget — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:18:50 +0000

Very nice unit indeed. However, it seems to be shipping with an Intel GMA950. How did the ZaReason guys tackle the major performance regressions in 9.04?

By: Earl@ZaReason

Earl@ZaReason — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 07:33:10 +0000

@Jef: You can always email me for details we don’t already have published. We’ll be adding more details to the web site as time goes by. But the general answer is this: We use stock Ubuntu, period. We don’t have any additional drivers, etc.

Next up for the web site, we’ll be adding lsusb and lspci info for all systems. Here they are for the Terra:

http://www.zareason.com/shop/data/terra_a20_lsusb.txt
http://www.zareason.com/shop/data/terra_a20_lspci.txt

By: Simplicius

Simplicius — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:14:09 +0000

@ Anon #18

That’s exactly the line one would expect from a Microsoft shill. Out of curiosity, are you one of those people paid by Microsoft to post around the net?

By: anon

anon — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:35:03 +0000

As much as I love Ubuntu, people are going to be disappointed when their printer doesn’t work.

By: Jef Spaleta

Jef Spaleta — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:13:49 +0000

@Earl:

Here’s a question for you. Are you willing to publish enough hardware specification details about all available systems for purchase so conscientious buyers can verify what hardware will work with mainline linux kernel drivers (versus staging-tree drivers or out-of-tree drivers).

Right now for example you laptop specifications aren’t detailed enough for me to verify that on my own before purchase. Even a published listing of the kernel modules you install by default in your Ubuntu pre-installs would go a long way here.

-jef

By: Leo

Leo — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:01:32 +0000

@required: where, where in the world will you get that level of support for a $350 laptop?

Even if other distributions were not available, I wouldn’t blame them. Support takes time, and time is costly. If they did have to charge you for getting you a custom install, it would cost a lot more than $350. My guess is that they mostly sell Ubuntu hardware anyway, and they do the rest out of their good hearts (meaning, not really at a profit).

Comparing their open business model with Microsoft is an uncalled for, and largely inaccurate insult.