I T Help please...

[simonDyna]

You can run Ubuntu from a usb stick.

There is a netbook remix (UNR), available now. It doesnt work with all netbooks but the ubuntu wiki pages clearly explain which netbooks can run it without a problem.

[gilesgraphics]

Still requires him to go into the bios and set it to boot from USB device
BIOS is NOT a good place for any noob
Plus there is the chance that he may wipe his XP install by mistake
I work in IT and even intellegent people knacker computers by stupid mistakes
If they know windows let them use it never add confusion to the equation.

[simonDyna]

It is an image on the USB drive that can be accessed by other means.

All I'm doing is giving information about Ubuntu being available for netbooks and which ones it runs on with little or no problems. Whether someone chooses to install it is entirely up to them.

Yes, intelligent people knacker things, so do stupid ones. Either way, it is their choice to attempt it in the first place.

I certainly dont want to get into a "I work in IT" type of discussion. Lots of people work in IT.

[grimsqueaker]

Originally Posted by gilesgraphics

I think this may be a bit much for someone who does not know about keyboards.. also it will wipe his XP and if he doesn't like it he will not be able to recover easily as they don't have Optical drives (any use of external drives is going to too complicated too) and I ain't too sure his will have come with a recovery disc either

fair point although i have put in a dual partition, and im self taught, it was just a suggestion, i only changed over after googling slow xp on asus notebook and every thread suggested linux or a larger (read bloody expensive ) ssd,
i installed mine using an sd card,

[Roger]

Believe me, if you know Spicey, Linux is not an option

[gilesgraphics]

Originally Posted by simonDyna

I certainly dont want to get into a "I work in IT" type of discussion. Lots of people work in IT.

Nor do I
I said "I work in IT" because I did not want to blow my own trumpet or belittle anyones else's contribution.
I am a Systems Administrator and IT Consultant so have a fairly good idea as to when something may be unwise
Too much ambition almost always results in failure.. followed by bitterness, recriminations etc.....
Anyway I think this is now a moot point

PS I really like Linux too but for some it is just not ready yet.

[CovKid]

Firstly let me state that I am IT too. (Incosiderate Tosser according to my wife) and thats the only way I could claim to use those initials.

I bought a Linux Acer Netbook and nearly took a hammer to it. The first problem was I couldn't even get it set up because I couldn't get the @ sign. Anyways, I took it back and they gave me a swap for more money for the XP version which whilst is exruciatingly slow but does the job and it enables me to speak on Skype with my wife who is abroad at the moment with the netbook.

When she comes back though I will ask our works IT people how to make it faster.

Its good to know I am not on my own with these sorts of problems.

[Old_Bob]

That'll teach you to ask a sensible question Spicey

[gilesgraphics]

Netbooks are never going to win any races by their very design

First thing is RAM Max it (all atom based netbooks can take 2GB)
Then look at the the services which are starting up automatically
A lot of these are probably not needed for what you are doing with a netbook.
Get rid of most of the start up items and unwanted programs found in the task bar.. most of the crap manufacturers put in is just pure bloat.. for example mine HAD a complete media suite .. DVD player etc and burning software.. in a machine with no ROM
If your running live messenger stop it from running at start up and only have it on demand (the option for this is in messenger).
They all seem to have a 60 trial of Office Home.. uninstall it, its updater, registration and upgrader!
McAffee Internet Security seems to pandemic on all the XP netbooks I have seen.. it is resource hungry and I don't rate it.. dump it
AVG free is fine for most things and has a small footprint.
ESET Nod32 is the best AV if you are willing to pay.. security suite is not worth it.. get commodo free firewall instead (just the firewall AV is crap)

Mine now runs just fine and I have even been able to do some light editing of large photos in Photoshop 7!

[simonDyna]

Originally Posted by grimsqueaker

fair point although i have put in a dual partition, and im self taught, it was just a suggestion, i only changed over after googling slow xp on asus notebook and every thread suggested linux or a larger (read bloody expensive ) ssd,
i installed mine using an sd card,

Many people do exactly as you have done. It works very well.