Mindstab.net

So, as I said I would I went to install Gentoo on my laptop. I used the liveCD and the GTK installer. I have a partial write up of that process saved for later. However while it was working away I went to sleep and when I woke up my laptop was off. Presumably it had crashed, probably from over heating. This has been a growing problem for my laptop and now it's getting ridiculous. I already had my laptop propped up giving it some additional height, ergo cooling space under it. I haven't even taken this laptop out all that much, nothing compared to some people who takes theirs out to school daily. And the laptop is barely 1.25 years old. Coupled with the new screen dark column I am extremely unimpressed. The laptop is a Toshiba Satellite and from what I've read, the over heating problems are reasonably common. More research will go into my next laptop, and it certainly won't be a Toshiba.

In the mean time I'm feeling a little stuck. I want the laptop up and running, so I can take it out when I do need it, but it seems that having it do heavy work anymore is probably out of the question. Which probably rules out a Gentoo install, and seems to indicate a binary install.

So choices: Ubuntu, Fedora and OpenSuse. I really have been spoiled by portage and the BSDs and really do prefer a system that can install from one CD and allows users to download most of their software of the net instead of a giant collection of CDs or a DVD. I believe this rules out Fedora. That's okay because it's probably my least favourite choice. Not much in the way of rational as I haven't had much time to use it, but from what I've heard, it's just not that exciting or fun a system. OpenSuse appears to have a network install method but it certainly isn't default and I'm not sure about it's support. When it comes down to it, I'd like to try Ubuntu if I have to go with a binary distro, and it's default method of install uses 1CD and you download the rest.

So, what now? Well apparently the alternate install CD which uses the old text based installer will work with prepartitioned disks so it looks like I'll be getting that and trying it out on my laptop.

I'm definitely feeling annoyed at my hardware and certain distributions. Makes me wonder when Linux will be easy enough and solid enough for me to push to more of my friends.

Still, I am cheered to hear that the new Vista ELUA is disgustingly gross and it has 6 versions ranging from 'cheap and useless' to 'expensive as hell and doesn't run on your old hardware anyway'. Hopefully after this install snafu Ubuntu Edgy will look solid. Then maybe when Vista is finally shipping next year I can recommend what ever comes after Edgy to all my friends. I hope.