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Operating Systems => Linux and UNIX => Topic started by: dishawjp on 5 November 2002, 17:27

Title: CarbonLinux ??
Post by: dishawjp on 5 November 2002, 17:27
Hi All,

I'm about ready to upgrade my Linux box and have been looking at the carbonlinux.com web site.  They have a model PB1 that I can (more or less) afford.  

Do any of you folks have any experience with Carbonlinux?  I would not expect their stuff to be top quality given the pricing, but have any of you had any real bad experiences with either the company or their equipment? Or do any of you have some other suggestions on moderately priced Linux computers.  

TIA

Jim
Title: CarbonLinux ??
Post by: KernelPanic on 5 November 2002, 19:57
I have never used them, but why not build it yourself? Thats the way...
Title: CarbonLinux ??
Post by: dishawjp on 6 November 2002, 00:16
Actually the reason I won't build this one is price.  They're offering a P4 w/ 256 MB of RAM, 40 GB hard drive, and etc. for $595.  Everything except the monitor. I've built several computers, but by time I'm done they always cost at least $1000.  The last one I built was over $1500.  This was probably about 1 1/2 or 2 yrs. ago.  I used an Intel D 815 EE motherboard, a P3 933 CPU, 2-256 MB DIMMs, dual 7200 RPM Western Digital 30 GB hard drives, SCSI internal tape drive and external CDRW, and IDE DVD and CDR drives.  And all the other usual junk, the video card was an ATI Rage Pro 128 (32 MB vRAM), modem, case, , floppy drive, keyboard, mouse and all that stuff.  It adds up. And right now, I'm kind of hurting for cash.

But if $600 can get me a halfway decent Linux box, I'll do it.  If $600 only buys me headaches, well, I won't go that way.  

Another reason is that if they build it and install the OS, then there can be no hardware compatibility issues.  I'd hate to buy a bunch of components and then have try to figure out if I'm having hardware problems or driver problems of configuration issues or other types of problems if things don't work out well.

You asked... these are the reasons :)

Jim
Title: CarbonLinux ??
Post by: creedon on 6 November 2002, 19:25
Jim, I was in contact with Carbonlinux a while back, asking them the same thing; they seemed to be very forthcoming about the hardware question, but I didn't persue it further; also, if you decide to go in the Walmart direction, another friend of mine has purchased their lowest line box (the one for $299), he's quite pleased with the quality and construction, but be advised; the lower-priced Walmart Linux boxes use Via processers, this doesn't seem to bother Debian-based distros (Lindows) but I'm a little sceptical about other distros.
Title: CarbonLinux ??
Post by: dishawjp on 7 November 2002, 18:19
Hey Creedon!

Then you think that Carbonlinx may be ok?  I looked at the Walmart Online computers, but only saw Lindows and Mandrake OS options there.  I want to stay with Red Hat, at least for now, and CarbonLinux boxes can be ordered with RH 7.3.  I was thinking of ordering it that way and then ordering a boxed set of RH8 from redhat.com and upgrading to that.

Anyway, that's the plan.

Thanks for the input!

Jim
Title: CarbonLinux ??
Post by: creedon on 7 November 2002, 19:11
quote:
Originally posted by DOSman:
Hey Creedon!

Then you think that Carbonlinx may be ok?  I looked at the Walmart Online computers, but only saw Lindows and Mandrake OS options there.  I want to stay with Red Hat, at least for now, and CarbonLinux boxes can be ordered with RH 7.3.  I was thinking of ordering it that way and then ordering a boxed set of RH8 from redhat.com and upgrading to that.


Anyway, that's the plan.

Thanks for the input!

Jim
As i said, I didn't persue my questions any further about the specifics of the hardware that they use, all I asked was if that info was available; my thinking was, if they said "yes" then they weren't trying to hide anything; it might be worth an e-mail to their support asking for specific info.  Also, you might want to ask if they have Redhat 8.0 available as an option, their page hasn't been updated for a while; that might save you some installation grief.

[ November 07, 2002: Message edited by: Calum & his insidious little spies ]

Title: CarbonLinux ??
Post by: creedon on 7 November 2002, 19:14
Regarding the above post: OH, SHIT; I SCREWED UP- the message is still there, you just have to look for it.

[edit - Creedon, it's fixed now, thank the gods for us moderators, eh?  ;)  ]

[ November 07, 2002: Message edited by: Calum & his insidious little spies ]

Title: CarbonLinux ??
Post by: voidmain on 7 November 2002, 21:41
I read some reviews on the Wal-Mart PCs. They said not to get the bottom of the line one. Get the next step up from the bottom at a minimum (I don't know the models). Also the last time I looked you had the option of purchasing the machine without an OS.
Title: CarbonLinux ??
Post by: creedon on 8 November 2002, 19:11
quote:
Originally posted by creedon:
Regarding the above post: OH, SHIT; I SCREWED UP- the message is still there, you just have to look for it.

[edit - Creedon, it's fixed now, thank the gods for us moderators, eh?   ;)   ]

[ November 07, 2002: Message edited by: Calum & his insidious little spies ]
Yer a brae laddie Calum; Thank'ee.
Title: CarbonLinux ??
Post by: Calum on 9 November 2002, 05:48
what the hell accent is that you've got? sounds like some sort of weird 17th century cornish/irish!!!  :D
Title: CarbonLinux ??
Post by: creedon on 9 November 2002, 07:28
quote:
Originally posted by Calum & his insidious little spies:
what the hell accent is that you've got? sounds like some sort of weird 17th century cornish/irish!!!   :D  
Close, it's Brooklyn.

  :D