Thanks for the thoughtful and complete review, Jane. My wife has ordered a Starling for me for Father's Day (it's in transit - can't wait to get my hands on it). Based on your review, it sounds like exactly what I need.
Dean Taylor Writerslifetoday.com Dear Jane thanks for the very complete review of the System76 "Starling" net book. If you go to 0Sdisc.com you will find a very small version of Linux that will speed up your "Starling" and make available much more of your 1gb of ram. Please let me know of further adventures and I will post them on Writerslifetoday.com
I was led to your review via Liliputing.com and found it to be very thorough and well done.
I would like to comment on your confusion regarding the presumed shorting of a Kensington lock. In looking at the System76 website, I can see where you would believe that such a lock would be provided. What they should have said was provided was a Kensington lock SLOT, which is standard on most notebook computers and, as you pointed out, is in fact provided on yours. The actual locking device, which is anchored to another object via a cable then inserted into this slot and locked, is purchased separately from any number of vendors in any number of configurations.
Jane, thank you I'm very close to buying this thanks to your review. One last question: have you hooked this up to an external monitor or LCD TV? Any idea how it looks?
Hi Kenneth - I just hooked up the Starling to my rather old 17-inch ViewSonic E70f CRT. It looked fine, though the resolution is low and thus everything is large, requiring more scrolling than is desirable.
If you are curious, you can see the full specs of the ViewSonic E70f CRT at http://tinyurl.com/mv6b7x
A great review of Sytems76's Starling netbook. Well written and informative. I picked up a few tibits and hints for improving my present desktop running Ubuntu 9.04 (not a Sytem76 PC, but a home built unit) Thank you for the info. on procedure to play DVDs “ you want to play DVD movies, go to this Web site to learn how to install the needed software: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/PlayingDVDs.” In reviewing System 76 website, I also found the procedure there. See http://knowledge76.com/index.php/Main_Page---Installing Multimedia Codecs (DVD Playback, MP3, etc.). Thanks for your information on Brasero CD/DVD burning program bug fix. I like my PC running Ubuntu, in fact I put my Windows machine to the side. There are still I few things windows does that Ubuntu can't. Thats only based on my limited knowledge of linux, Your helpful article has narrowed down that list. I am trying to convince my wife to try linux (Ubuntu OS), She is now using Open Office applications thats a start. I would like to purchase a laptop with Ubuntu remix OS, the Starling might working but living in Canada... warrant support might not exist from System76. I'll check it out. On of the stumbling blocks why my wife uses a Windows system, is her use of an internet phone system. I know skype exists for Ubuntu, but we have our own internet phone # and I don't want to go to the hassel of a new provider. I tried to use Twinkle...dials OK...problem with sound. Maybe one of your bloggers might have an answer on this. Again great artice Thanks, Dale
I would like to state that you may yet, need to make another update to your Review. I've not tested this out considering I do not currently have a Starling though, there was a fix reported on the Ubuntu Forum at the following link. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1233219&highlight=system76+wifi.
Thanks for a great review. I'm looking for a laptop without windows and I think I've found the company now. Try turning off the 'atmosphere' option in google earth. It's a big resource hog. With it off I can run GE on my eeepc Thanks again.
Thanks for taking the time to do this, Jane. I am concerned about the wifi issue and have written 76 to ask for a little more information. I'm sure the matter was a blind side hit for them.
19 comments:
great review! I've been looking at netbooks and this was very helpful. Thanks!
[i opened a blog just to comment this]
Hey just wanted to thank you for the very good review that you did on the netbook.
I have been contemplating buying another netbook since my Acer Aspire One tragically broke. Lol
I have always been curious about System76 but never looked into it. I am seriously considering purchasing this machine.
Thanks a lot!
Thanks for the thoughtful and complete review, Jane. My wife has ordered a Starling for me for Father's Day (it's in transit - can't wait to get my hands on it). Based on your review, it sounds like exactly what I need.
Dean Taylor Writerslifetoday.com
Dear Jane thanks for the very complete review of the System76 "Starling" net book.
If you go to 0Sdisc.com you will find a very small version of Linux that will speed up your "Starling" and make available much more of your 1gb of ram. Please let me know of further adventures and I will post them on Writerslifetoday.com
I was led to your review via Liliputing.com and found it to be very thorough and well done.
I would like to comment on your confusion regarding the presumed shorting of a Kensington lock. In looking at the System76 website, I can see where you would believe that such a lock would be provided. What they should have said was provided was a Kensington lock SLOT, which is standard on most notebook computers and, as you pointed out, is in fact provided on yours. The actual locking device, which is anchored to another object via a cable then inserted into this slot and locked, is purchased separately from any number of vendors in any number of configurations.
pantekinc - great review!
fyi, we are now a Canonical partner and provide consumer and business Ubuntu support.
Thanks for the clarification on the Kensington Lock, PCnotPC. That makes sense.
Turn off Atmosphere under the View menu and Google Earth will fly. Thanks for the review.
Wish I'd known that before I uninstalled Google Earth! Don't feel like going through the hell of re-installing it. ;-)
Jane, thank you I'm very close to buying this thanks to your review. One last question: have you hooked this up to an external monitor or LCD TV? Any idea how it looks?
Hi Kenneth - I just hooked up the Starling to my rather old 17-inch ViewSonic E70f CRT. It looked fine, though the resolution is low and thus everything is large, requiring more scrolling than is desirable.
If you are curious, you can see the full specs of the ViewSonic E70f CRT at http://tinyurl.com/mv6b7x
A great review of Sytems76's Starling netbook.
Well written and informative. I picked up a few tibits and hints for improving my present desktop running Ubuntu 9.04 (not a Sytem76 PC, but a home built unit)
Thank you for the info. on procedure to play DVDs “ you want to play DVD movies, go to this Web site to learn how to install the needed software: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/PlayingDVDs.” In reviewing System 76 website, I also found the procedure there. See http://knowledge76.com/index.php/Main_Page---Installing Multimedia Codecs (DVD Playback, MP3, etc.). Thanks for your information on Brasero CD/DVD burning program bug fix. I like my PC running Ubuntu, in fact I put my Windows machine to the side. There are still I few things windows does that Ubuntu can't. Thats only based on my limited knowledge of linux, Your helpful article has narrowed down that list.
I am trying to convince my wife to try linux (Ubuntu OS), She is now using Open Office applications thats a start.
I would like to purchase a laptop with Ubuntu remix OS, the Starling might working but living in Canada... warrant support might not exist from System76. I'll check it out.
On of the stumbling blocks why my wife uses a Windows system, is her use of an internet phone system. I know skype exists for Ubuntu, but we have our own internet phone # and I don't want to go to the hassel of a new provider. I tried to use Twinkle...dials OK...problem with sound. Maybe one of your bloggers might have an answer on this. Again great artice
Thanks, Dale
The quality of your review was excellent!
I would like to state that you may yet, need to make another update to your Review. I've not tested this out considering I do not currently have a Starling though, there was a fix reported on the Ubuntu Forum at the following link. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1233219&highlight=system76+wifi.
I have already reported this fix in the 3rd (Aug 6) and 4th (Aug 13) updates of my review. See the Wi-
Fi section of my review.
That was the best, most comprehensive review I have ever read on any computer.
Thank you.
One of the best reviews I've read. Thanks.
Thanks for a great review. I'm looking for a laptop without windows and I think I've found the company now.
Try turning off the 'atmosphere' option in google earth. It's a big resource hog. With it off I can run GE on my eeepc
Thanks again.
Thanks for taking the time to do this, Jane. I am concerned about the wifi issue and have written 76 to ask for a little more information. I'm sure the matter was a blind side hit for them.
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