[Ham-Computers] [Ham-Linux] Take ACER Off your Linux-Friendly List

[kd4e]

Puppy has a version optimized for the Acer Netbook - 
designed by
volunteers - not Acer.

As for the model: 5535 ...

I have succssfully gotten Puppy Linux to run on three old 
Panasonic
Toughbooks using external USB and USB-via-PCMCIA devices -
but these are not current laptops.

I also have had Linux running on an older Quanta Z500 with an
added wireless mini-pci card and on a desktop with a pci b/g/n
card.

The point is that *Acer* could not be bothered to be helpful to
a buyer who preferred Linux over MS.

They are free to make that choice and I am free to warn 
people that
such is their bad attitude toward Linux users.

 >> Their Acer Aspire 5535 laptop locks-out the wireless modem
 >> and Bluetooth from any access unless a MS version of window
 >> is installed.

I was not able to even "see" the wireless modem and 
Bluetooth because
the "ON" switches for them is in a separate sub-panel which 
is bonded
to the Acer-specific MS-dependent OS.

When I re-partitioned the HDD I first left all four default 
partitions in
place - I just shrunk them - which for no good technological 
reason
caused the laptop to refuse to boot -- and the wireless and 
Bluetooth
buttons dead.

I then deleted the MS-specific petitions but left the 
Acer-specific partition
intact -- which also left the wireless and Bluetooth buttons 
dead.

It's kind of a ridiculous design choice copied from HP.

I finally found a Linux app that discovered that the 
wireless modem is
an Atheros, but not the model number.  The Bluetooth is 
still incognito.

They could have made their hardware information more accessible
through the BIOS or a OS-neutral app but they did not.  It 
is not this
hard on any other PC I have ever used.  If it's not 
deliberate it is inept.

> Well, I don't have Aspire 5535, but I do have an Aspire one series, the 
> little 2.2 lb laptop.  It installed Mepis current and had no trouble 
> with the wifi.  However, Puppy current was not happy.  I doubt they go 
> to the trouble to actually "lock out" the wireless hardware....they 
> simply do not offer to support it.
> 
> It sounds like you just got the standard tech support response of "We do 
> care at all about anything exccpt  M$" which has been standard for 
> years.  Only just very recently have you been able to get Linux (BSD or 
> any other OS) installed on a store bought system.
> 
> What system were you installing?  Did you try any other version than 
> your favorite distro?
> 
> Gary WA6DTX
-- 

Thanks! & 73, doc, KD4E
FS/Swap/Wanted: http://kd4e.com/swapn.html
Free OS : http://www.PuppyLinux.com
Personal: http://kd4e.com
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============\ # KD4E
Have an http://ultrafidian.com day!