I've used my LC2100S (see http://linuxcertified.org/linux_laptops.html) since early 2008 (now being early 2009). Here's what I think of it:
Bad things:
* Battery time. On fully charged, Ubuntu tells me it has 1h 50min battery time (eventhough it lasts 10-20 minutes more than this). I would like 4h+ of battery time.
* Since I upgraded to Ubuntu 8.04 (yeah, not 8.10) the computer has problem starting up every now and then. After logging in, the desktop freezes without any icons, and no menus in the top bar either. I also have problems performin the regular scans of / and /home -- I have to start in recovery mode to perform them or the system stalls.
* Lately (maybe since 2009) I've had serious problems with the wireless connection. Sometimes I end up rebooting 3-4 times and it still doesn't work.
* The computer has spontaneously shut down a few times - simply power off without warning. I don't know why this is - at least once the power cord has been connected, so it can't be explained by battery connection problem.
* The speakers have a loose connection, making them silent when the screen is in an angle greater than 90 degrees (pi halves, for those of you who prefer radians).
* I miss the Mac function of opening the lid and starting to use the computer within seconds. There is a similar function in KPowertools, but it's not nearly as quick in starting up again.
* I don' like the glossy screen.
Good things:
* It's small, light and strong.
* The add/remove option in the programs menu rocks. In Windows this means "add or remove MSN Messeger", but in Ubuntu Linux it means "What functionality would you like to have on your computer?". I can add professional CAD programs, project organizers, simple and a bit more advanced games, and much much more.
In all, I've changed my mind. I'm not satisfied with the computer, and I don't recommend buying it. Probably someone better at Linux would be more happy with it than I am, but I'm no computer novice and I really think the machine should work better than it does.
It's a bit frustrating that I'm starting to look for another computer, eventhough I planned on using this one for another year (or more). It definately has the power to live longer, but lacks the functionality. :-/
Still, I've never regretted leaving Mac OS X and Windows. I can do 99 percent of the things I want (the last percent being Civilization IV). Ubuntu helps me grow as a computer user and it has tons of neat features -- not to mention the add/remove programs options.
I just wished my computer and Ubuntu got along better.
Shut Off Probs Here Too
Yeah.. I've had my LC2100S for like a year now too.. and have the same "Random power off" problem too. It's different that if you leave it on a pillow and it overheats or something.. It's not heat related.. and it's not the overheating power brick problem either. It literally just shuts off without warning.
LC wants me to ship it back to them for them to test and fix. But honestly.. it might take a week or more of using it once a night to encounter it even once.. and if the y don't know what the root cause is by now, then they're not going to "find" anything by looking at mine for 48 hours (the time that they would "burn in" test it before repairing it.
If anyone else has any insights to this problem.. I would love to hear your thoughts (tweeks-junk2@theweeks dot 0rg).
It's a nice little unit. Powerful and small.. But if I can't get a resolution... I'll have to look at one of the new small, hot wonders like the Asus Aspire, MSI Wind, or HP 2133s. Very cool & smaller.. :)
Tweeks
Submitted by Anonym
on 3 September, 2008 - 06:31
Reproduceable, kind of
This weekend I downloaded Dune 2 and played with the help of DOSBox. During some three hours of play, my computer shut down twice. (And yeah, the second time I stopped playing. Temporarily.)
I still think it's a heat problem, but if I get more information I'll post it here.
(And just like Tweeks, I think the Eee PC is really hot. But I'll stick with my LC200S at least for another year.)
Submitted by Johan
on 9 September, 2008 - 09:55
Linux Certified says...
I contacted Linux Certified about the problem, and they suggested running a stress test on the computer. I'll get back with details on the results.
"One thing you can try is running a stress test to see if its a heat issue. There is a package called stress in the Ubuntu repository. Download and install then after a clean reboot with no other programs starting type the following to run a stress test:
stress -c 2 -m 4 -d 1 -t 3600If you'd like to stress it a bit more, then turn off compiz and run glxgears in another terminal. You can also open another terminal and create a simple script to download the same file over and over via the network."
Submitted by Johan
on 9 September, 2008 - 09:59
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