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Processor and Chipset3
• Intel® Celeron® M Processor 520
o 1.60GHz, 1MB L2, 533MHz FSB
• ATI Radeon® Xpress 200M Chipset
Memory4
• Configured with 512MB PC4200 DDR2 SDRAM (both memory slots
may be occupied). Maximum capacity 2048MB
Hard Disk Drive5
• 80GB (5400RPM); Serial-ATA hard disk drive; 9.5mm height; user
removable
Fixed Optical Disk Drive6
• DVD SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) drive supporting 11 formats
o Maximum speed and compatibility: CD-ROM (24x), CD-R (24x),
CD-RW (16x), DVD-ROM (8x), DVD-R (Single Layer, (8x)),
DVD-R (Double Layer, (4x)), DVD-RW (6x), DVD+R (Single
Layer, (8x)), DVD+R (Double Layer, (4x)), DVD+RW (8x), DVDRAM
(5x)
Display7
• 15.4” diagonal widescreen TruBrite™ TFT LCD display at 1280x800
native resolution (WXGA)
o Native support for 720p content
Graphics8
• ATI Radeon® Xpress 200M 128MB dynamically allocated shared
graphics memory
Sound
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Sound Volume Control Dial
Input Devices
• 85 key US keyboard
• TouchPad™ pointing device
• TouchPad™ Enable/Disable
• Control Buttons:
o Internet button to launch default browser
o CD/DVD control buttons (Skip to Previous/Next Track, Play, Stop)
Communications
• Modem9
• 10/100 Ethernet
• Integrated Wireless-LAN:10
o Atheros® 802.11b/g wireless-LAN
Expandability
• 2 main memory slots. Both slots may be occupied.
• One PCMCIA – Type II/Type I Card Slot
Ports
• Video
o RGB (monitor) output port
o S-Video output port
• Audio
o Microphone input port
o Headphone output port
• Data
o USB v2.0 – 4 ports
Physical Description
• Dimensions (WxDxH Front/H Rear): 14.2” x 10.5” x 1.47”
• Weight: Starting at 6.0 lbs depending upon configuration11
• LCD Cover Color: Mist Gray
Would you recommend the product? yes | Price you paid? (in USD): $399.00 | Rating: 9
Kernel (uname -r):
2.6.17-13mdv
Distribution:
Mandriva one 2007.1
I purchased this Laptop at circuit City. After Cash back it was only 399.- I did spend another 40.- for another 512MB of RAM. This came equipped with Vista Home Basic, which I promptly jettisoned. The first attempt, installing Mandriva Power pack, did not go too well. The Laptop would hang on Boot up. Mandriva One, 2007.1, on the other hand, works great.
The main issue is that the built-in Wireless card does not work. The card is an Atheros AR5006EG. Trying to use Ndiswrapper failed as well. The error message is: "Ndiswrapper interface not found." (I sure hope a native driver will become available)
Other issues: The screen brightness cannot be adjusted and the thumb wheel volume control does not work.
On the other hand, Metisse and Compiz works, so you can have glorious 3D. Lastly, since Adobe have not seen fit to release a 64-bit Flash player, you are stuck using a 32 bit browser if you want embedded Flash. (I use Gnash, as a stand-alone player, it works OK.)
Conclusion; Overall I am satisfied with my experience using Linux on this Laptop. I recommend it.
Update.
Since I wrote this review, I installed 64 bit MEPIS. On this distribution,
wireless works great, with ndsiswrapper. However, sound does not work.
Another update, on Oct 14. 07
I installed Mandriva one 2008. It works absolutely perfect! Sound, wireless, everything. Wireless is with a native driver, and not ndiswrapper. Congratulations, Mandriva, for a great distribution.
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