On 5/2/2010 2:17 PM, Peter Tenenbaum wrote:
I've been thinking about getting a netbook and I'd like to install Debian linux on it when / if I do. I'd also like to get one which uses an AMD64-class processor. Does anyone have any suggestions? The Gateway LT21 looks like just what I want in terms of hardware (ie, fairly low-end but 64-bit); has anyone got any positive / negative experience installing Debian on this computer? Thanks in advance, -PT
I have not installed Debian on this *particular* machine, but I have had some experience in general.
Netbooks are underpowered. Get a *real* notebook/laptop. You can get a much better computer for about the same money. The only advantage I can see in a netbook is battery life. I speak from experience.
I have briefly had Linux installed on an Eee PC. It performs better in some ways, but I saw no real advantage other than the usual advantages that Linux has over Win/Mac.
At the time, I struggled with drivers. That situation has probably improved.
My Eee PC's Atom CPU is single-core, 32-bit. This is appropriate because the machine cannot support more than 2GB of RAM anyway, and it is never used for anything except "net" things: web+email.
64-bit is overkill for a netbook. If you get a "real" machine, 64-bit might be useful. But for netbook-class machines, save your money.
MAA