Acer Aspire linux conversion

nicksgirl237

Not a techie person so apologies if this is badly worded! I need to change my acer aspire netbook to microsoft (currently linux) in order to run a USB dongle (?) to get broadband at my new flat. Desperately trying to avoid huge BT charges. Can anyone help?

timbim_2

You shouldn't need to. Are you running linpus or ubuntu netbook remix? It has drivers for mobile broadband pre-installed.

PlutoinCapricorn

I have an ACER Aspire One with LINUX, and I am running 3G mobile BB on it, using Mobile Partner.

www.aspireoneuser.com has a networking section in the forum, where I learned how to do it. The tips helped me to get it running very quickly.

PlutoinCapricorn

Nicksgirl, I just wanted you to know that I swap my 3g dongle between my AA1 and a big ACER laptop with Windows. It seems to me that 3g BB runs faster with LINPUS/LINUX than it does with Windows! The security suite on the big laptop could be a factor too.

I too don't like BT very much. I am considering cancelling my BT landline as I don't really need it.

asbokid

most (all?) of those dongles, at least all the huawei dongles work out of the box on linux.. i'm using one now on Ubuntu Jaunty, achieving 2Mbps in central london. the range of dongles from zte, the other main manufacturer, take a little bit more effort, but are still do-able..

sfaik, all usb broadband dongles contain a qualcomm modem chipset.. the documentation for these is openly available for linux driver writing (no thanks to the odious microsoft which pulled levers in an effort to sabotage linux support for these devices)..

thescouselander

Sorry to hijack the thread but I have been looking at getting an Aspire One but the issue of mobile broadband has been putting me off.


Can the installed Linpus OS be hacked to teather my Nokia Mobile (using a USB Cable) to the laptop so I can access the internet via the phones modem.

PlutoinCapricorn

Scouselander, I really recommend the aspireoneuser.com website for answers to questions such as this.

Bear in mind that newer AA1 models may have 3g built in, so USB dongles are not needed.

asbokid

thescouselander wrote: »

Sorry to hijack the thread but I have been looking at getting an Aspire One but the issue of mobile broadband has been putting me off.


Can the installed Linpus OS be hacked to teather my Nokia Mobile (using a USB Cable) to the laptop so I can access the internet via the phones modem.

the answer depends on the model of nokia...

Is it a 2G (GSM) or 3G (HSDPA), and are you sure it has a modem? It's quite unusual for GSM phones to have modem support, and you can only use GSM data on certain tariffs.. not usually PAYG.. since the operator provides you with a second telephone number (i.e. separate channel) for data traffic. The fact that a USB cable is available for the phone doesn't mean it is data-compatible.. it might be a "data cable" for uploading music or new firmware, syncing your address book with the PC, etc..

Personally I would just get a 3G dongle unless you are already on a suitable tariff with the phone?

thescouselander

asbokid wrote: »

the answer depends on the model of nokia...

Is it a 2G (GSM) or 3G (HSDPA), and are you sure it has a modem? It's quite unusual for GSM phones to have modem support, and you can only use GSM data on certain tariffs.. not usually PAYG.. since the operator provides you with a second telephone number (i.e. separate channel) for data traffic. The fact that a USB cable is available for the phone doesn't mean it is data-compatible.. it might be a "data cable" for uploading music or new firmware, syncing your address book with the PC, etc..

Personally I would just get a 3G dongle unless you are already on a suitable tariff with the phone?

Its a Nokia 6500 Slide (3G). I already use it to connect to the internet using my Macbook. To be honest all the phones I have had for the last few years have had modem support over GPRS/3G.

I negotiated quite a good data package on the phone contract so I dont want to go to the extra expence of getting a dongle. It should work if the computer can talk to the phone.

timbim_2

My advice would be to ditch linpus and take the Ubuntu netbook remix, based on the latest ubuntu release and much easier to use and more like Windows.

thescouselander

timbim wrote: »

My advice would be to ditch linpus and take the Ubuntu netbook remix, based on the latest ubuntu release and much easier to use and more like Windows.

Does Ubuntu have drivers for all devices on the Aspire One. I heard people have had trouble getting the Wi-Fi card (and some other stuff) to work after changing to a different Linux distro.