[ILUG] Hardware solutions

[Paul Linehan]

> http://www.linux.ie/hardwarevendors.html


Hmmmm... a ten minute response time - you really 
will have to do better in future!   8-)



Seriously though, I should perhaps have stressed this 
bit more.


> Also, any URLs/references about the pros and cons 
> of purchasing a machine that is Linux compatible?
> Winmodems to be avoided of course - what other issues
> are there?
> What about USB? 


I really am quite a newbie to the hardware scene - 
I normally just get given a machine and am told to
get on with it!


If I do go for building a machine myself, what are the 
issues that I shall have to think about? I'll probably
whack NT onto the first 2GB - work &c.   8-(

My first question would be about SCSI.

Is this worth going for? If so, are there any special
hardware requirements? 

In a sense, does Linux "not care" about SCSI, this being a 
hardware matter out of the hands, so to speak, of the 
OS?

What about my choice of motherboard?

Would this be a good one? Pentium II/III BX chipset


If I did purchase the above (the heart of the machine)
would it restrict me in future? What about USB? Firewire?
Adding peripherals?


What about modems - some sort of internet connectivity is
very important - if I have an external modem, will that use
up a port, thereby stopping me using something else?


What about the (hopefully near) future?


When USB &c. does come in, will that mean that I can just
"daisy chain" my modem, USB zip drive and my 43 other USB 
peripherals?


Final point. Is anyone really annoyed that it is now impossible
for example to find a 4 GB HDD or a Pentium 200? The machine that
I want will just be for a bit of internet access, some emails and
maybe a wee bit of C++ programming. I don't *_need_* 8.4 GB and a 
Pentium 500.


Thanks for your input - I would welcome comments on any of
these matters from anybody - and be particularly grateful 
for anyone pointing out any errors or misunderstandings that
I may have made.


Paul Linehan.