Hi-res refurb Dell laptop. Comments?

[Tyler Aviss]

On Aug 5, 2012 8:08 AM, "Tyler Aviss" <tjaviss-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org> wrote:
>
>
> On Aug 5, 2012 7:38 AM, "D. Hugh Redelmeier" <hugh-pmF8o41NoarQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> >
> > | From: charles chris <cccharlz-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org>
> >
> > [I've tried to undo some of the top-posting in this thread.]
> >
> > | >> On Fri, Aug 3, 2012 at 11:41 AM, Tyler Aviss <tjaviss-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org>
wrote:
> >
> > | >>> I started looking at what's available for larger screens, and
noticed
> > | >>> this little guy with a 1920x1200 native LCD resolution.
> > | >>>
> > | >>>
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834200599&Tpk=M6300
> >
> > Wow.  That's quite the notebook for the price.  It costs less than
> > almost any new monitor with that resolution (there are few monitors
> > left at that resolution).  I wonder if the screen is IPS ("LCD
> > Features: Ultra Sharp").  This doesn't say:
> > <
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/wsm6300/en/UG/HTML/specs.htm#wp1085867
>
> >
> > These folks don't seem to be excited (at a higher price point):
> > <
http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-latitude-vostro-precision/674895-precision-m6300-refurbished-cheap-opinions-2.html
>
> >
> > The M6300 was announced in 2007 September so it is getting old.  And I
bet
> > these refurbs have been used a lot of the time since then.  A bit scary.
> >
> > | On Sun, Aug 5, 2012 at 2:51 AM, Tyler Aviss <tjaviss-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> > |
> > | > My main concern was whether the old GPU will work on newer
> > | > distro's/kernels (with the nvidia driver)
> >
> > I imagine that googling would get you the answer but I haven't tried.
> > Guessing is a bit risky.
> >
> > [back to Charles]
> > | Almost all software is backward compatible.  Some manufactures may be
slow
> > | or may never provide drivers for the new OS, especially where older
> > | hardware is concerned.
> >
> > Linux is different.
> >
> > The kernel is constantly changing its internal interfaces.  It's a
> > hell of a ride for those trying to maintain binary-only video drivers.
> > In fact, they often lag.  And when they drop older hardware, it drops
> > with a thud.
> >
> > The open source video drivers are mostly fine, and getting better all
> > the time.  But they often don't have great game or multimedia
> > performance.  And they sometimes have nits due to the difficulties of
> > reverse engineering.
> >
> > | However, most times a new OS will detect and install older device
drivers
> > | automatically.
> >
> > That's not the Linux way.  There is no provision for running older
> > drivers.  On balance, this is a Good Thing, but the shoe pinches in
> > the video card area.
> >
> > In-tree drivers (i.e. open source drivers that have been accepted by
> > Linus) are maintained very well until lack of interest kills them.
> >
> > Out-of-tree open source drivers are often OK but are
> > (1) usually lower quality
> > (2) may not be part of your distro
> > (3) often get abandoned
> > The neat thing about open source is that you have the power to fix
> > these deficiencies.
> >
> > Binary drivers are to be avoided if possible.  When they break, you
> > are out of luck.
>
> Since I'm mainly looking at something for 3d graphics dev, having a
binary accelerated driver that works with recent kernels/xorg is important.
Sad that a 1997 laptop has better resolution than most newer laptops or
even LCD's available today.

Er, s/1997/2007/

>
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