Acer aspire a50l/intel atom n270 1.6ghz/512mb/120gb/8.9/linux notebook

bwatt00

Got myself the Acer Aspire One A150L / Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz / 512MB / 120GB / 8.9" / Linux / NetBook the other day not looked to see what installed in linux and not ever used that before,as i am used to usng xp what is missing that xp has.
Also im sure i read that many microsoft programmes cant work with linux like what msn/hotmail etc?
Is there some handy usefull programmes i can add to this notebook that will come in handy or make it possible to use certain programmes.
One i would want to be using is msn,maybe aol im.
I would also be looking to add lots of music and maybe some vids etc so again any handy programmes i can add to the notebook,anyothers would be god to know as well.
If i can add some programmes,whats the best way to do such thing put them onto a usb stick and then transfer that way.
Any advise would be great,i am going to use this notebook from time to time in the uk but also on a trip to australia so want to get it all set up and ready before then.

Maybe also some websites and forums on this linux and laptop with usefull info would be great too

gazoakley

In theory you can install some Windows programs into Linux using WINE, but thats a little more complex.

If you're wanting to use instant messaging services something like Pidgin would probably serve you well:

http://www.pidgin.im/

As for music, Amarok is a pretty capable audio player:

http://amarok.kde.org/

Not forgetting Videolan and Mplayer - both very good video players

http://www.videolan.org/
http://www.mplayerhq.hu/

The Aspire One Linux uses Linpus Linux Lite. That in turn is based on Fedora Linux, which is pretty popular on the desktop. If you can find whats known as an RPM for the software you want you should be able to install that pretty easily. Alternatively I don't know if your laptop has a "package manager". If you can find that you should be able to pick out from lots of software and have it downloaded and installed automatically.

A couple of handy other links:

http://aspireone.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page - A wiki dedicated to the Aspire One
http://www.aspireoneuser.com/forum/ - A forum dedicated. You'll probably find people a lot more knowledgable with your laptop there

Hope you find that useful :j

PROLIANT

I work with both operating systems, Windows and Linux, don't mix them....petrol and matches come to mind.
Most things that you can do in Windows you can do in Linux, just work out what it is exactly you want to do, or dual boot the Laptop with both.

glyn_s

what's the bootup time for thsi netbook? - i'm looking at buying one but not sure whether linux or XP

Conor_3

glyn_s wrote: »

what's the bootup time for thsi netbook? - i'm looking at buying one but not sure whether linux or XP

Do not go by bootup time. Go by whether you'll be happy using Linux or not and be able to get used to it and sorting out problems when you have them.

There's sod all point buying a laptop with a certain OS because it boots quicker only for you to find you're wasting hours trying to get it to do stuff or finding stuff you need to get it to do what you want.

bwatt00

so its not recommended installing some of them programmes that was mention on a early post?

Also i have another issue something that i cant get my head round on this laptop and the acer one this post is about,they come with wifi right?

So if i have a broadband router then i should be able to link them wirelessly to my laptop and this new mine acre laptop right?

Buti find i have trouble doing that,i tried for ages on my laptop when i first got it and with no luck so plug in a netgear usb adaptor and i get it connected then,but i thought my laptop had this alredy built in,as with my acer notebook again this does not seem to find my modem from my main computer with netgear modem.

I am using aol and have the wireless network name and password wrote down and also the wep128 key number wrote down but regardless what i try with my laptop and this acer mini notebook i cant seem to get them to find my modem.

Why is this i not tried using the netgear usb adaptor on my mini notebook yet but really i should not right,as should this and my laptop not find it on there own?whats going wrong here

bwatt00

gazoakley wrote: »

In theory you can install some Windows programs into Linux using WINE, but thats a little more complex.

If you're wanting to use instant messaging services something like Pidgin would probably serve you well:

http://www.pidgin.im/

As for music, Amarok is a pretty capable audio player:

http://amarok.kde.org/

Not forgetting Videolan and Mplayer - both very good video players

http://www.videolan.org/
http://www.mplayerhq.hu/

The Aspire One Linux uses Linpus Linux Lite. That in turn is based on Fedora Linux, which is pretty popular on the desktop. If you can find whats known as an RPM for the software you want you should be able to install that pretty easily. Alternatively I don't know if your laptop has a "package manager". If you can find that you should be able to pick out from lots of software and have it downloaded and installed automatically.

A couple of handy other links:

http://aspireone.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page - A wiki dedicated to the Aspire One
http://www.aspireoneuser.com/forum/ - A forum dedicated. You'll probably find people a lot more knowledgable with your laptop there

Hope you find that useful :j

Which http://www.pidgin.im/ download do i get it mentions different ones,i take it the windows one is not what i use as its linux i have??

motorguy

I bought the linux one and stuck it a week before i took it back. :mad:

I've now got the XP version - better the devil you know... :rolleyes:

bwatt00

gazoakley wrote: »

In theory you can install some Windows programs into Linux using WINE, but thats a little more complex.

If you're wanting to use instant messaging services something like Pidgin would probably serve you well:

http://www.pidgin.im/

As for music, Amarok is a pretty capable audio player:

http://amarok.kde.org/

Not forgetting Videolan and Mplayer - both very good video players

http://www.videolan.org/
http://www.mplayerhq.hu/

The Aspire One Linux uses Linpus Linux Lite. That in turn is based on Fedora Linux, which is pretty popular on the desktop. If you can find whats known as an RPM for the software you want you should be able to install that pretty easily. Alternatively I don't know if your laptop has a "package manager". If you can find that you should be able to pick out from lots of software and have it downloaded and installed automatically.

A couple of handy other links:

http://aspireone.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page - A wiki dedicated to the Aspire One
http://www.aspireoneuser.com/forum/ - A forum dedicated. You'll probably find people a lot more knowledgable with your laptop there

Hope you find that useful :j

You have listed some of these programmes to install but when you click on them there is various downloads to pick from,what onces to i require for my notebook above.

Also anyone care to list all programmes that would be usefull for my notebook which i can add to it to make it better or have more options to include also which ones i need to download

5bellies_2

glyn_s wrote: »

what's the bootup time for thsi netbook? - i'm looking at buying one but not sure whether linux or XP

Can I just say that - from experience - do not install XP onto the 8Gb drive version. It's slow as hell on disk access and is practically unusable.

bwatt00

5bellies wrote: »

Can I just say that - from experience - do not install XP onto the 8Gb drive version. It's slow as hell on disk access and is practically unusable.

dont think i be installing xp but if i did its got 120gb anyway.