[NTLUG:Discuss] SPAM-LOW: XO laptop? Anyone got one
Stephen Klein
klein at kbwireless.com
Tue Dec 25 11:44:27 CST 2007
David Stanaway wrote:
> Just got my new toy.
>
> It is small!
> It is going to take a little getting used to, but it is pretty neat. Web
> browsing is a bit sluggish though, and the flahplayer is a bit iffy.
> No pbs kids or youtube.... at least they don't really work for me.
>
> Maybe if I install my own version of linux on there .... Hmm.
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://www.ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>
I've had mine since the 18th, FedEx delivered it at 6PM just as I was
walking out the door to go to work (kept thinking "I wanna play with my
new laptop!" all night long :) Yes it is small, I keep having typing
class flashbacks where I was trying to type at an "acceptable pace" on a
TRS-80 keyboard, when I was used to typing on a full sized IBM 101Key
keyboard (TRS-80 keys were much closer together than my home keyboard).
I'm a little concerned about my keyboard on my XO though, I've had
some trouble that I need to talk to OLPC about (stuck modifier key I
think, maybe [CTRL]). It is kind of hard to diagnose when you can't
even type (it will also mess up a USB keyboard after the problem
appears, not before though).
Wireless range is impressive though. I got almost a 1/2 mile away
(direct line of sight, through wood and drywall) before the signal was
unusable. I'm using a USB wireless adapter in Ad-Hoc mode, but this one
has a very sensitive 3inch dipole antenna. The adapter is on the back
of a computer (might act as a reflector), sitting on top of another
computer (a good ground plane maybe), and is only 1 1/2 foot off the
ground. Considering all this, almost a half a mile range is very
impressive. Now, if I buy a high-gain outdoor antenna.... 8-)
The dual mode display works as advertised. B/W mode is perfectly
readable in sunlight, and the color rendering is decent too.
Battery life is reasonable using the current software, I've managed more
than 4 hours on and off use. Given the size and weight of the battery,
it's actually already quite impressive. Now I just need to look into
finding a solar panel, and put together a vehicle adapter so that I
don't have to use my inverter to charge the battery.
Stephen
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