Netbook, back again

Sorta. ;-)

Quite.

Ages ago I put Linux on an old laptop for an elderly lady because it happy on her hardware and potentially did all she needed (I went though the list with her).

She contacted me the other day with issues with her iPad (she had forgotten her Apple ID and password) but someone else contacted Apple for her and sorted it.

I asked her how she was getting on with the Linux laptop and she said she tried it once, couldn't get on with it and so hasn't touched it since. Now, I can't see how at a user level the likes of Mint is that far removed from most Windows desktops and once in Firefox or Thunderbird it's nearly the same.

Buy you would be surprised just what little difference (where the differences aren't any harder to use etc) will put some people off. ;-(

Cheers, T i m

With Word, the de facto WP program across the business world?

Let's see (from those who *really* know).

Cheers, T i m

From memory demoing some software ... they needed access to the internet, so plugged an ethernet cable into the company network and ... ka-boom - whole lot stopped working. Took the ops guys a few minutes to twig. Then it turned out the sales guy didn't have an admin account on the laptop, so had to call *his* ops guys for a password. They were very suspicious and had to speak to our guys to understand why ...

Of course this was all pre proper infosec procedures. These days you'd have to provide a completely separate network for internet access for visitors. My last employer set my Win7 laptop up to connect using certificates whether via WiFi or ethernet. but if I wanted my BYOD tablet to connect it had to use the public WiFi.

Well there is a comparison here

I am not sure it copes with multiple users editing the same documents at all well from the list of features.

It quite specifically states that the word processor can't cope with advanced layouts, like bullet points and various other paragraph types.

Are you really saying that LibreOffice cannot track changes in a text document?

And that

NB I use MS Word and have done since the 1980s but LibreOffice is IMO an adequate application for most who don't want to shell out.

Google Docs does, from the ground up.

it very probably doesn't

But that's the s*it targeted at commercial users (who happily pay for it when they need it) that makes the costs of "owing" it higher than domestic users are prepared to pay for features that they haven't any need for

tim

And I'd be willing to bet neither does WORD.

Thats more a file access locking network issue

No?

No?

Quite, but that wasn't what we were talking about. We weren't talking about what might be considered 'adequate' for a home users but what is considered 'essential' for a business user.

So, if a Word user can email a OO/LO user and that user continue to track changes then OO/LO have moved on. ;-)

I'm not a secretary so don't (and never have) used any WP past a very basic level, I'm just going by those people who have tried to use OO/LO in a commercial / serious environment and who have had to give up on it.

Again, this is left brainers like the likes of TNP thinking they have the bigger picture but don't (and never will). ;-(

Cheers, T i m

While I could, I can't see it buys me anything. I know the hardware works, I have had it connected to the network.

Ok.

Yes, but I didn't say the hardware didn't work, I said it would allow you to see if the 'WiFi functioned properly', including DHCP, something I'm not sure you have yet seen?

Ok, if you were there in front of that box and with some bootable Linux media, wouldn't you try it, just for the S&G's?

Cheers, T i m

Something else TNP knows nothing about but will still claim to.

No... from my PoV its not actually answering a useful question...

We know the hardware works, and the machine can connect to the wifi, so what we have is a software problem of some form.

We already know the router can connect to other devices ok, so that leaves the problem at the netbook.

Swapping the entire software platform (OS, drivers etc) on the netbook may indeed get a working setup, but gets no closer to getting a working windows XP setup.

I can see why you snipped your original comment:

"And Word can Track Changes, again important in many organisations."

I've generally found only only narrow-brained, arrogant pricks think that only "secretaries" use document processing software beyond basic levels.

you could put win10 on. It needs less resources so it will probably work better. I think you may be able to get it free if you need the accessibility features.

Why, did you actually think many organisations ran OO/LO and would be just tracking changes between themselves?

Aw bless, another one who can't spot humour ... I hadn't included you in with the binary left brainers but now ...

I'll make sure I put a smiley on there next time, so you aren't confused. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

And that's fine. From mine it would, because (and assuming you aren't privy to more than the OP has said here etc).

Agreed, software or compatibility?

(or other devices connect to the router .. <ducks>?)

Erm, quite. Or that Notebook and that particular (range of) Router(s)?

;-)

No, but see above (and that the hardware *will* support an OS OOTB

But as I say, you may have further info. If the OP doesn't specifically require XP (or Windows) and could use Linux (functionally, even if not familiar with it right now), mightn't that be better than throwing the netbook away or even having to re-install XP (if it's not required)? [1]

Cheers, T i m

OOI, do you know if they have fixed the limitation that prevented modem mode working if you have a static IP?

I don't think so, but you really don't want to use a static IP with VM (except by tunneling one from elsewhere). I had no end of trouble with a VM business line that had static IPs and going to dynamic IP in modem mode solved nearly everything. I think VM use a GRE tunnel in static ip mode which seems to be implemented in a very unreliable way.

John