(no subject)

[rhyll]

So, today I tried to turn my laptop on, and the screen is basically fucked, It goes from a plain black screen to something like a Rothko painting, mostly white with hints of colour at the edges. Since it doesn't seem to go through any starting-up-before-ubuntu bits, this seems to be a hardware issue rather than software.

1) does this assessment seem correct?
2) WHAT DO I DO OH DOOM OH DOOM OH DOOM?

I'm backed up for most of my thesis, but I haven't backed up the last couple of days' work. Also, my laptop is a Dell, if that helps any.

Also: assuming I'm going to have to get a new laptop, I figured I should probably get a new one this time. I want something as lightweight as possible (since I'm lugging it to and from uni every day on my bike), preferably not prone to any kind of hardware failure, and able to do the basics. If it's capable of doing some compiz-style shininess I wouldn't be averse to that. And, of course, coming either with linux or easily compatible with linux is a plus. I've heard good things about the Vaios, but I wouldn't mind a second (or third) opinion on them. Price range is < $2,000, preferably closer to $1.500.

Comments

[ducts.livejournal.com]

Ouch.

1. Seems like it. Next thing is to check is if it's "just" the screen or graphics; or something else. If it'll connect to a ethernet network all by itself as it boots you can ping it; or you can see if it will load something off a CD, or make it beep.

There's hope that something's just come loose and by re-seating a connector or two it will come back to life.

2. Your last couple of days' of data should be happily saved on your hard drive. It can be attached by USB to another computer.

You might be in luck on a new machine - finally there's small and cheap ones again; and they come with Linux. Several places are selling the under $500 Asus Eee, The Good Guys is selling the Acer ASPIRE 4315-100508CI for under $500 after a cashback. You can get more in a $1500 PC, but I'm really not convinced it's 3x more. Yes, some of the Vaios look nice...

The Acer looks straightforward and cheap. The Asus is small, Compiz-capable, should get cheaper; and is helping carve out a niche that the overpriced UMPCs couldn't.

Like you it seems, I like my laptops portable, not luggable. I use to use my Toshiba Libretto 100CT and just recently I gave up waiting and bought an expensive, salary sacrificed, but light, Portege - but I'm still tempted by an Eee. I know a couple of other people with one.

[alexmoon.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm going to have a look at the Asus Eee, it sounds good. Sadly, though, I am surveying my laptop (which may yet be repaired I guess), my old laptop (which works, albeit without a CD drive or the ability to boot from USB), and my coming XO, and I'm starting to question whether I should really buy another laptop (even if I really want to).

[ducts.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I forgot you had an XO coming! If you can make do a little while longer, I think the XO deserves to spend some time as your main portable if it's up to the job.

So... it might be nice to extract your Dell HDD; and you need to read or burn the occasional CD/DVD, but perhaps not on the move? (the Eee and XO won't help with that either, of course, short of an external burner)

[bondles.livejournal.com]

I think the right course of action is definitely to call Dell support, tell them your screen has turned in to a Rothko, and see what they do. I'll be so happy if they can diagnose your problem on that information alone.

As for a new computer, if you happen to get a winning scratchie some time soon, there's the new MacBook Air, which fits inside a manila envelope, and is incredibly small and sexy. Comes, of course, with OS X, but is intel-based and comes with Boot Camp, which is a very easy-to-use dual-boot system, so very Linux-friendly. About $2300 with ed discount.

[alexmoon.livejournal.com]

Ok, so in the end I got my HD taken out and turned into an external HD, which is nice and shiny and blue, and all my data is safe. The Rothko effect is apparently because my motherboard is doomed, according to the Computer Guy. I'm back on my old laptop for now, which I've spent the morning installing updates &tc on, just figuring out a few problems with my keyboard and I should be fully online. Probably for the best to wait it out until my XO arrives.

Thanks for the help!

[ducts.livejournal.com]

Hooray for data!

[alexmoon.livejournal.com]

Yup. I love data!

[ducts.livejournal.com]

Your old bookmarks might be waiting in bookmarks.html for you to find them...

[suriount.livejournal.com]

new laptop tiems

personally i'd only stick with a dell, or toshiba

a place i worked for used to do the warranty for acer, and they were awful. ditto for low-end hp laptops

fran just got a dell vostro 1500, my housemate has one too. $2100 with 3 years warranty, larger hard drive. i'm sure you could take a few options out to knock the price down

i have been looking at getting a second hand ibook g4 off ebay, because they're so small and attractive and run ubanto. with new battery and wireless card i could probably get away with it for under $750

good luck!

[alexmoon.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll probably stick with my old laptop 'til the XO arrives and I can work out if it's a practical laptop-for-everything or not.