From owner-freebsd-chat Mon Mar 15 18:23:53 1999 Delivered-To: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org Received: from ptldpop1.ptld.uswest.net (ptldpop1.ptld.uswest.net [198.36.160.1]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with SMTP id CD5611511C for ; Mon, 15 Mar 1999 18:23:34 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from dpilgrim@uswest.net) Received: (qmail 19578 invoked by alias); 16 Mar 1999 02:23:12 -0000 Delivered-To: fixup-freebsd-chat@freebsd.org@fixme Received: (qmail 19510 invoked by uid 0); 16 Mar 1999 02:23:09 -0000 Received: from bdsl224.ptld.uswest.net (HELO uswest.net) (209.180.169.224) by ptldpop1.ptld.uswest.net with SMTP; 16 Mar 1999 02:23:09 -0000 Message-ID: <36EDC08A.708FEE3D@uswest.net> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 18:23:06 -0800 From: Nocturne Organization: Neatly stacked heaps of digital chaos X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win98; I) X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Brad Benson Cc: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org, Licia Subject: Re: low end PC's and FreeBSD References: <000001be6f4d$48f78ae0$6400a8c0@BillyJoeBob> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: owner-freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk X-Loop: FreeBSD.org [format recovered] Brad Benson wrote: > > Has anyone tried getting FreeBSD to run on any of the ultra low-end PC's > > coming out now? I just saw one for $299 and might give it a try... > > I've been running 3.1-Release on my Emachine at work for a month or so. It > works great. I haven't had a problem and love the system. The performance > is great when considering that the machine only cost $400US. I don't know > about this new company in the article. I would suggest checking what hardware > is in the machine first. Most super low end machines come with very generic > and common components. That usually means FreeBSD will support it. Every > thing in my Emachine except the software modem works great under FreeBSD. > Even the on board PnP sound worked great after a quick kernel change. I > would definitely recommend an Emachine to anyone on a budget. Checking the hardware is an extremely good point, Brad. One thing you have to keep in mind is what's in it. Whoever is selling the machine should be able to provide a component list and printed manuals (even if they're just leaflet data-sheets). If they don't, really get on their case about it. My general rule for package systems is to be wary of any component you can't find for sale or resale on it's own through PriceWatch[1], ComputerShopper[2], etc. The only exception to this is in-house parts, like with some of the large companies, who make their own motherboards. Also, the manufacturer should have a website or, at the very least, a toll free number. If they don't, you could be stuck with either broken hardware or a large phone bill. 1: PriceWatch www.pricewatch.com 2: ComputerShopper www.computershopper.com -- dpilgrim@uswest.net ICQ: 29880099 gryph@mindless.com PGP DH/DSS key available If you're gonna build a house of cards, use the plastic coated kind Cuz I'll bet the homeowner's insurance won't cover flood damage To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message