64-bit netbooks with Debian linux
in [Debian]
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From: Mark Allums on 3 May 2010 18:10 On 5/3/2010 4:29 PM, Peter Tenenbaum wrote: > Hi, everyone -- > > I guess I should clarify my desirement for 64-bit. There are two things > here. First, I intend to build a home computer which will run linux, > and it will be 64-bit; since I'm quite new to maintaining my own linux > computers, I'd rather limit the number of differences between the home > machine and my portable. Second is just a desire to avoid early > obsolescence in the portable, since at some point I expect 64 bit to > become the standard and 32-bit to fade into the past. That day may not > be near, and in any event it may be crazy to worry about obsolescence of > a computer which costs less than an iPod, but that's just the way I roll. > > It also sounds like the respndents to my first message are underwhelmed > by netbooks in general and recommend that I look at a low-end notebook / > laptop computer instead. I confess that the distinction is a bit blurry > to me. > > In any event, with those caveats, perhaps I should ask more generally > for recommendations of netbooks or smallish laptops which people > recommend as being compatible with Debian linux. > > Thanks again, > -PT I was a respondent who questioned the netbook route, but I see now that there may be good reasons to prefer one. However, most netbooks are deliberately crippled, such as allowing only 1 or 2 GB of memory when there is no technical reason why 4 GB shouldn't work. It is a matter of segmenting a market, and manufacturers want netbooks to have specific capabilities for marketing reasons, not technical ones. I wanted to suggest that you choose a machine based on your needs, and I wanted you to question your initial assumptions. However, I see you have done some thinking about it, and future-proofing *does* seem like a good reason to get a dual-core, 64-bit machine. With 64 bits, you will need more memory, so I suggest you look for a machine that can use 4 GB of memory. I suggest also that you make sure that the machine you get can use solid-state storage devices. In time, the advantages of SSDs will make them compelling, though now they are too expensive. That is, you will probably buy a machine with a standard notebook HD, but if you ever need to replace it, being able to replace it with an SSD gives you another option. This also is in the area of future-proofing. Just a couple of suggestions. I would like to hear more from other people. (I am also contemplating a portable computer purchase.) MAA -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-REQUEST(a)lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmaster(a)lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/4BDF47C6.7080503(a)allums.com
From: Lisi on 3 May 2010 18:10 On Monday 03 May 2010 22:13:05 Mark Allums wrote: > Most netbooks (at least the ones I have seen) are relatively flimsy. > > They are not "almost-handheld". They are much larger than that. > > I was listing advantages of netbooks over notebooks and laptops, but > size is not one of them, _at_least_for_me_. They are too small. The > screens are too small for my eyesight, the keyboards are too small for > my hands, and so on. > > YMMV, I suppose. The size and weight are extremely important for some of us. I actually have physical difficulty carrying a laptop + charger etc. for any length of time. A netbook I can manage. "YMMV" would be fair enough, but I found that "I suppose" patronising. Not everyone in the world is male, fully fit and young. Some of us are none of those. Lisi -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-REQUEST(a)lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmaster(a)lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/201005032302.58966.lisi.reisz(a)gmail.com
From: Mark Allums on 3 May 2010 18:30 On 5/3/2010 5:02 PM, Lisi wrote: > On Monday 03 May 2010 22:13:05 Mark Allums wrote: >> Most netbooks (at least the ones I have seen) are relatively flimsy. >> >> They are not "almost-handheld". They are much larger than that. >> >> I was listing advantages of netbooks over notebooks and laptops, but >> size is not one of them, _at_least_for_me_. They are too small. The >> screens are too small for my eyesight, the keyboards are too small for >> my hands, and so on. >> >> YMMV, I suppose. > > The size and weight are extremely important for some of us. I actually have > physical difficulty carrying a laptop + charger etc. for any length of time. > A netbook I can manage. > > "YMMV" would be fair enough, but I found that "I suppose" patronising. Not > everyone in the world is male, fully fit and young. Some of us are none of > those. > > Lisi > > It was not meant as patronising. It was meant as, oops, I goofed, sorry. I'm male, but not young, just only moderately (in)experienced with Debian, and I have other attributes which aren't flattering, either. It's true, I have a hard time understanding the appeal of a tiny thing like a typical netbook. Thank you for reminding me that there are other perspectives. MAA -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-REQUEST(a)lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmaster(a)lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/4BDF4DAD.5030101(a)allums.com
From: deloptes on 3 May 2010 19:30 Mark Allums wrote: > With 64 bits, you will need more memory, so I suggest you look for a > machine that can use 4 GB of memory. > I also found that people underestimate the importance of L2/3 cache. I'm compiling very often and it's really faster on my developer's notebook with 4M cache then on faster CPU with 512K. The difference is in the terms of 4-8 times. I've noticed that there is only 512K cache in the most netbooks which makes then unsuitable for development. ATM this is stopping me from buying one. Do you know if there are some with larger cache? regards -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-REQUEST(a)lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmaster(a)lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/hrnloc$p88$1(a)dough.gmane.org
From: Mark Allums on 3 May 2010 19:40
On 5/3/2010 6:20 PM, deloptes wrote: > Mark Allums wrote: > >> With 64 bits, you will need more memory, so I suggest you look for a >> machine that can use 4 GB of memory. >> > > I also found that people underestimate the importance of L2/3 cache. I'm > compiling very often and it's really faster on my developer's notebook with > 4M cache then on faster CPU with 512K. The difference is in the terms of > 4-8 times. > I've noticed that there is only 512K cache in the most netbooks which makes > then unsuitable for development. ATM this is stopping me from buying one. > Do you know if there are some with larger cache? > > regards > > I do not know, but I would guess that it is dependent on the CPU. A particular ARM or Atom chip may have a particular amount of on-chip cache. Choosing one's machine carefully would include knowing what type of CPU is in it. MAA -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-REQUEST(a)lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmaster(a)lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/4BDF5DAF.3080501(a)allums.com |