[CLUG] Off and On Topic

[Ronan Kirby]

Dell Inspiron 3800
128mb RAM
8xDVD (Software decoded)
Psion Dacom Gold Card modem  PCMCIA (the internal one is a WinModem
afair)
Win Millennium
MS Works
14.1" viewable area on screen

Circa £1,950 inc vat

As for the DVD, it will be Region 2. The Software Dell ship allows you
to change it 5 times. But what ever the last region you have it set to,
it is stuck at (ie in the 5th go).

I am /told/ there are hacks available. Seemingly its actually on-chip on
the drive, so it aint easy. But if one were enthusiastic enough, it
could probably be done.

- R


jgmcbride at hotmail.com wrote:
> 
> Hi All:
> 
> On and off target!!! Please temper the response and read through
> before flaming.
> Off topic first:
> 
> I have a young 13 year old daughter living in the North Cork area and
> I want to buy a laptop for her locally. She is not very technically
> literate and thus I feel the choices are limited to a Windows
> environment for her.
> Budget - Approximately 1700.00 - 2500 punts
> The requirements I would like her to have are:
> 13-14 inch TFT screen (Need the bright sharp colours for DVD)
> Build in DVD CD Drive (Floppy can be dongle type or swapable)
> 15-30 gig HD
> 64-128 Meg Memory
> Built in Sound and Speakers
> Built in Modem (Preferably not a brain dead WinModem). Can add a PC
> Card if necessary
> At least 2 USB connectors
> Built in pointing device.
> Ability to easily hook up to an external monitor.
> Looking for recommendations, models, rough pricing, availability & a
> location where she can see the machine. Cork - Tipp - Limerick area
> preferably.
> Vendor Considerations: Reliability/History/Stability
>    Warranty/Repair TurnAround
>    Out of Warranty Service
>    Extended Service
>    Vendor History
>    Personal Vendor Experiences
> DVD issues: I would like to supply here with Region 1 DVD?s (North
> America) and the laptop may be Region 2 enabled. Any ideas? Comments?
> In this area? Sure there are hacks available but this can become a
> hassle.
> I am also planning to rip DVD?s and supply her with Divx and/or VCD?s.
> Any comments/remarks in this area too?
> TIA for info anyone may supply.
> 
> On Topic:
> 
> Anyone interested in a Linux ISO from the net? I will be visiting the
> area in April and am willing to download and burn in a latest ISO
> distro for anyone interested. I am blessed with a high speed Internet
> connection with rapid download speeds and a decent SCSI CD burner. I
> just downloaded Mandrake 8.0 beta with 2.4 Kernel last evening and
> will try it this weekend (after Saturday?s party).
> I may have to limit this offer though if I become overwhelmed.
> Hopefully this offer can be rescinded very soon when everyone has high
> speed Internet access!!!!!
> Jim
> 
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