[NTLUG:Discuss] SPAM-LOW: XO laptop? Anyone got one

[Stephen Klein]

Stephen Klein wrote:
> 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
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> http://www.ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> 

I narrowed my problem down to the [Alt] key getting stuck.  Everything 
works again when I lift up on the [Alt] key (not easy since there is not 
much key there to grab).  Looks like my XO is going back for repair. :(

Hopefully, they won't take TOO long to respond on how to get it fixed.

Stephen