2nd hard dsik for vpr matrix 220a4

[Kayaker]

vpr matrix 220a4 dual hard disks - 2nd hd for linux

here is what i want to do:
1. keep the original hd which is preloaded with xp home
2. get a new hd for the notebook to install linux (slackware)
3. i will swap hds to use xp and linux
4. i don't want to dp "double boot" if all possible

why
1.0 widnows xp is already paid for in the purchase price
1.1 widdows xp has its place - although i would rather use linux but:
(a) not all the widnwos software are available in linux
(b) not all the xp "compliant" hardware can be used in linux
most importantly,
(c) i have to do app demos in m$ xp for some clients - it is the fact of life, u do what u get paid for. isn't it?

2. linux is really better - just in case you have any doubts
(a) it is STABLE
(b) you can do virtually anything you like with it - building a new kernel to streamline the os, to customize a business app environment - for intance, getting rid of all the "junks" and load only the os and your app - few things to go wrong <-- to debug and troubel shoot
(c). it is OPEN and FREE - you can give away anything linux without BREAKING THE LAW. how many times u have to tell your friends and clients that u CAN NOT give them the cool windows software you just dazzled them with.

Now, tell me

WHERE can i get the 2nd hard disk to work with 220a5?
and
WHAT do i have have to do to get the 2nd hard disk to inside the vpr matrix 220a5 box?
and
is there a BETTER WAY of swapping OS with 220a5?

is 220a5 capable of booting from external usb harddisk?

THANK YOU.

kayaker

[spankers]

You do not want to swap HDD's in the vpr on a regular basis. It is a tedious chore (17 or so screws, three of which are under the keyboard... a few fragile connectors to be removed, splitting the case, etc...) to disassemble and reassemble the 185A5/200A5/220A5. Believe me ... I've had mine apart a few times. Put a Windows partition on a common HDD and dual boot.

If you want much better performance from the IDE on the VPR get a Toshiba MK-6022GAX... 60 Gig with 16MB buffer vice 40 GB with 2 MB buffer stock. I'd put a FAT32 partition on the drive if you need. Here are the hdparm results:
hermes:/home/eherr# hdparm -Tt /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
Timing buffer-cache reads: 1184 MB in 2.01 seconds = 590.02 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 58 MB in 3.11 seconds = 18.67 MB/sec

The 220A5 has a mini-PCI slot available for wireless. Get a Xterasys XG-600 802.11g mini-PCI. Don't bother with an Atheros chipset based card... the VPR BIOS does not like. The XG-600 has a good Linux driver available at http://prism54.org .

Good luck.

[Kayaker]

pankers,

thanks a lot for the info. i finally made the purchase of vpr matrix 220a5 a few days ago - before i have a chance to read your insightful tips (just can't pass the thrill of being able to load knoppix without fooling around drivers in the 1st place and the cool look of the box). the price from bestbuy made it even seemingly unresistable as well - $950 after rebate.

after reading your reply, this new laptop is going to be a linux-only machine .

oh yes, i thank u specially on the info on 802.11g - i am looking for one right now.

thanks so much.

kayaker