Acer Aspire One

I had a 'moment' today - top and bottom panels disappeared of the desktop (9.04 NBR) after I played with switching between it and the standard desktop. None of the advise I could find online helped, and some of it, quite frankly, made it worse, by freezing the desktop completey.

Then I had a flash of inspiration - tried the OS X way, by creating a new user, logged in with the new user, dropped the old user account and manually deleted it from the home folder, re-created it, logged in on the new account, and problem solved.

O ya, I also added another gig of RAM I had lying around today - fairly simple operation. If you can hold a screwdriver, you should have no problem doing it.
 
simp said:
I had a 'moment' today - top and bottom panels disappeared of the desktop (9.04 NBR) after I played with switching between it and the standard desktop. None of the advise I could find online helped, and some of it, quite frankly, made it worse, by freezing the desktop completey.

Then I had a flash of inspiration - tried the OS X way, by creating a new user, logged in with the new user, dropped the old user account and manually deleted it from the home foler, re-created it, logged in on the new account, and problem solved.

O ya, I also added another gig of RAM I had lying around today - fairly simple operation. If you can hold a screwdriver, you should have no problem doing it.
Click to expand...
Unless the clip holding the ribbon cable for the keyboard pops off. Talk about fiddly.
 
I think it's an oversimplification to say this is a job for anyone who can hold a screwdriver. It's a fairly intense operation which in essence involves stripping the (new!) laptop. And there are a few pitfalls -- mine involved some serious four-letter-wording trying to unplug the audio connector. There's also the danger of stripping the tiny crosshead screws if they are super-tight from the factory.

But if you're fairly confident, have downloaded the instructions from one of the dedicated forums or at the very least have downloaded the service manual with its useful photos, it's a job which can be done in an hour or so of concentration. Be aware though that some sources say it will invalidate your warranty. But the improvement gain is definitely worth it if you then, say, use some of the extra RAM (usually you will have added a 1GB module) to cache frequent applications with something like eBoostr.
 
I disagree, but each to his own ;)
Took me about 15 minutes to upgrade RAM.
 
Aqua_lung said:
If skype is tricky to install that's skype's fault not really the fault of Linux, you get packages for Linux that install when you double click it(just like windows), for ubuntu/debian it's a .deb package.
Click to expand...

You're right, its probably a combination of my noobness with Linux :D and the nature of the specific Linux (Linpus) operating system that is seemingly relaively new in the market.
 
Aqua_lung said:
If skype is tricky to install that's skype's fault not really the fault of Linux, you get packages for Linux that install when you double click it(just like windows), for ubuntu/debian it's a .deb package.
Click to expand...

Kinda like when things blamed on windows which is not their fault ":p too many dops down so hope this hellpful

Use windows 7 :p
 
Bit off Topic but does anyone know here I can get a sleeve/pouch for my aspire one? the A110 doesnt come with one...
 
So what is this like for browsing? Does it come with a browser that supports Flash? Anyone tried internet banking with one? (I ask because my FNB banking doesn't allow me take make payments with the Safari browser, have to swap to Firefox)

And what is the screen resolution? thanks!
 
Zwieback said:
So what is this like for browsing? Does it come with a browser that supports Flash? Anyone tried internet banking with one? (I ask because my FNB banking doesn't allow me take make payments with the Safari browser, have to swap to Firefox)

And what is the screen resolution? thanks!
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The AAO is fine for browsing, banking etc.

BTW - I'm doing my online banking right now with safari.
 
bwana said:
The AAO is fine for browsing, banking etc.

BTW - I'm doing my online banking right now with safari.
Click to expand...

I can do my Standard Bank online banking no prob in Safari. First National is also fine in Safari, except for making payments - just doesn't work.

So which browser does this little Acer use?
 
Zwieback said:
I can do my Standard Bank online banking no prob in Safari. First National is also fine in Safari, except for making payments - just doesn't work.

So which browser does this little Acer use?
Click to expand...
Depends on what OS you're running. In W7 I have FF, MSIE, Safari, and Google Chrome. In Ubuntu it's I've FF.

Maybe you should upgrade Safari?
 
I got a pair of the Linux ones yesterday from Incredible Con. A fully functioning PC for R 1 999, I couldn't resist. Damn, I prefer Windows, working with Linux feels like that day I tried to operate a Mac :sick:, it seems to do everything Windows does, but nothing is in the right place. And the reason I got them was to learn Linux. I'm conflicted.

Oh, the screen is 1024 x 600 (WSVGA), the browser is FF2 (not a typo), but you can upgrade it to FF3. The easiest way to upgrade is to visit http://www.acer.com/aspireone/support/files/connect.html and download the files from there (Skaap, VLC, FF3, Adobe reader, etc.) I don't know if you need to unlock advanced mode, mine was unlocked.

Other than that, they're well built machines, and more usable than a Psion Series 5, perfect for traveling with, but I need to find a sleeve for them. Incredable Con wanted R 349 for one, which seemed a bit steep, so I'll wait for them to appear in the bargain bins for R 10. Now if I could just find an easy way to learn Linux.
 
Drunkard #1 said:
I got a pair of the Linux ones yesterday from Incredible Con. A fully functioning PC for R 1 999, I couldn't resist. Damn, I prefer Windows, working with Linux feels like that day I tried to operate a Mac :sick:, it seems to do everything Windows does, but nothing is in the right place. And the reason I got them was to learn Linux. I'm conflicted.

Oh, the screen is 1024 x 600 (WSVGA), the browser is FF2 (not a typo), but you can upgrade it to FF3. The easiest way to upgrade is to visit http://www.acer.com/aspireone/support/files/connect.html and download the files from there (Skaap, VLC, FF3, Adobe reader, etc.) I don't know if you need to unlock advanced mode, mine was unlocked.

Other than that, they're well built machines, and more usable than a Psion Series 5, perfect for traveling with, but I need to find a sleeve for them. Incredable Con wanted R 349 for one, which seemed a bit steep, so I'll wait for them to appear in the bargain bins for R 10. Now if I could just find an easy way to learn Linux.
Click to expand...

Buy a book, install a different distro, or ask in these forums :)

My AAO is now happily running Ubuntu 9.04, and couldn't be happier :D
 
sn3rd said:
Buy a book, install a different distro, or ask in these forums :)

My AAO is now happily running Ubuntu 9.04, and couldn't be happier :D
Click to expand...

So you upped from 8.10? What are you running - desktop or NBR? I'm guessing the only difference between the 2 is the default interface. I've grown very attached to the way NBR does things.
 
Drunkard #1 said:
I prefer Windows, working with Linux feels like that day I tried to operate a Mac :sick:, it seems to do everything Windows does, but nothing is in the right place.
Click to expand...

User error looks like it...

So after her success I was back to the question that perpetually plagues me: Why would anyone choose Windows over Linux?

* There’s far less risk for viruses and malware.
* It’s free.
* Applications are free.
* It’s far more flexible.
* It has multiple routes for support.
* It is improving at a far faster rate than Windows.
* Bugs and security holes are patched much quicker.

I realize the pat answers will appear:

* No games.
* No Linux version of application X.

But do those really satisfy the question when the average user is not a gamer or uses an application outside of the usual fare?
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/opensource/?p=256
Click to expand...

Give Ubuntu netbook remix a shot, if you run into a problem just ask in the Linux thread ;)
 
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Drunkard #1 said:
I got a pair of the Linux ones yesterday from Incredible Con. A fully functioning PC for R 1 999, I couldn't resist. Damn, I prefer Windows, working with Linux feels like that day I tried to operate a Mac :sick:, it seems to do everything Windows does, but nothing is in the right place. And the reason I got them was to learn Linux. I'm conflicted.

Oh, the screen is 1024 x 600 (WSVGA), the browser is FF2 (not a typo), but you can upgrade it to FF3. The easiest way to upgrade is to visit http://www.acer.com/aspireone/support/files/connect.html and download the files from there (Skaap, VLC, FF3, Adobe reader, etc.) I don't know if you need to unlock advanced mode, mine was unlocked.

Other than that, they're well built machines, and more usable than a Psion Series 5, perfect for traveling with, but I need to find a sleeve for them. Incredable Con wanted R 349 for one, which seemed a bit steep, so I'll wait for them to appear in the bargain bins for R 10. Now if I could just find an easy way to learn Linux.
Click to expand...

Google: nLite XP for Acer Aspire One.
Follow instructions and install XP on it.
 
simp said:
So you upped from 8.10? What are you running - desktop or NBR? I'm guessing the only difference between the 2 is the default interface. I've grown very attached to the way NBR does things.
Click to expand...

Yup. Running Ubuntu Desktop 9.04. Loving it immensely.

I quite like the way NBR tabs everything. Makes great use of limited screen real estate. But at the end of the day, I think I'm more productive this way :)

boramk said:
Google: nLite XP for Acer Aspire One.
Follow instructions and install XP on it.
Click to expand...

But wouldn't that defeat the purpose of him trying to learn how to use Linux ? :confused:
 
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