Punch Cards.

[max]

Da Rock wrote:
> On Mon, 2008-04-07 at 23:10 -0400, max wrote:
>> Da Rock wrote:
>>> On Mon, 2008-04-07 at 21:03 -0400, max wrote:
>>>> Da Rock wrote:
>>>>> On Mon, 2008-04-07 at 13:59 -0400, max bianco wrote:
>>>>>> On Mon, Apr 7, 2008 at 1:43 PM, Bill Davidsen <davidsen at tmr.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> Tim wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Fri, 2008-04-04 at 13:28 -0700, David L. Gehrt wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> The disk drive were pretty good EXCEPT the spindle bearings were made of
>>>>>>>>> some space age material prone  to disintegration after a short period of
>>>>>>>>> use.  I knew DEC  was going to be in trouble when  the repair guy stated
>>>>>>>>> that the problem we had with  those bearings was because we were running
>>>>>>>>> UNIX not DEC's VMS OS.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I've heard similar bulldust about using Linux being the cause of some
>>>>>>>> problem that it couldn't possibly be.  It makes you wonder whether these
>>>>>>>> people believe their own rubbish, are incompetent, or think that you're
>>>>>>>> stupid.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>  Or just want to get out of warranty... there was an article (Slashdot IIRC)
>>>>>>> about HP voiding warranty on laptops converted to Linux, even though they
>>>>>>> sell similar models with Linux installed. Never checked it out, don't care,
>>>>>>> but I assume it's true.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have heard similar stories. Recently I bought my better half a new
>>>>>> laptop. I went around to the usual stores and point blank told them
>>>>>> that Windows would last long enough for one boot just to make sure the
>>>>>> thing was working before I wiped the harddrive and flashed the bios.
>>>>>> They told me they wouldn't honor any warranty on the hardware if the
>>>>>> original OS was not there. Needless to say they didn't get the sale. I
>>>>>> called Dell and told them that since their Linux offerings were so
>>>>>> weak I was going to get an XP laptop and wipe it off to install Linux.
>>>>>> They told me they would honor the hardware warranty regardless of the
>>>>>> OS. Sold. Now she's happy and so am I.
>>>>> Is there any success in getting Dell to sell hardware without the OS?
>>>>> They don't sell the linux systems anywhere but the US.
>>>>>
>>>> They wouldn't sell me one with no OS but they are willing to support the 
>>>> hardware which in my book is just as good and no less than they should 
>>>> do anyway.
>>>> I think in the future they may offer blank hardware but they'd find 
>>>> someway to keep charging just as much so it really doesn't matter. I'd 
>>>> like to see Dell offer RedHat on a desktop , there are plenty of small 
>>>> businesses that would quickly jump on to save a few bucks, even with the 
>>>> cost of support(which they wouldn't need for more than a year or two) 
>>>> they'd save big on applications, the day is coming I think but not soon 
>>>> enough for my taste.
>>>>
>>>> Max
>>>>
>>> Indeed. Considering now M$ is no longer offering OEM which means costs
>>> will go up...
>>>
>>> On the blank hardware front- anyone know where to get notebook mb's? I
>>> can find screens and chassis, but no mb. I asked AMD but they avoided
>>> the question, and I don't really want intel. But at this point I'm
>>> beyond caring.
>>>
>> As far as I know there isn't a generic laptop. All of them are 
>> proprietary in one way or another, doesn't mean you can't find the 
>> boards but good luck getting them to fit into anything but the original 
>> manufacturer's case.
>>
> 
> You used to be able to get them- I knew a computer tech who used to
> build them himself. Can't find them now, though...
> 
I have been able to find boards but they are usually very expensive. No 
standard form factor so they can charge whatever they like.

Max