Single-Spindle 3 lb. Actius Dual-Boot ?

[MegalosSkylaki]

DOOG may have made a mistake !

Was looking for a light-weight Notebook less on the cheap.

Found sub- 3 lb.one on clearance for $900 brand-new with 1 yr. warentee. Figured I could skip 3yr. extension at that price and put $ to bigger machine later.

Brand-new Sharp Actius UM20 Notebook with only a Hard-drive (20G).

The optical drive is an extra-cost option and is only a CD-ROM. Did not order it. (Will probably get its $130 Port Replicator on backorder as there are No bays.)

Also Floppy drive priced at $100 --so I passed.

I have a Microsolutions Backpack3 external CD-RW that runs off either USB, PCMCIA, or Serial. Needs AC, though. Figured I could load SW and files when at home or Hotel --and take a sub-3lb 12" lappy outside.

(Of course problem if it needs Boot Disk, and I don't know if Notebook can Boot from Keychain USB flash-memory-gismo.)

So I ordered a "single-spindle" (Hard drive only) which come with both (!) 2000KPro and WinXPpro OS's !

Not clear from online Manual if it can Dual-Boot both OS's --or you get a choice when you first Setup the Lappy

I have an old Lappy 98SE with swap Floppy and CD-ROM I can take with me on the road, if needed.)

Also, says it can run Unix --so I assume it can also load LINUX.

- - - - Problem Did I make a MIStake when I ordered so limited a machine --with NO on-board Drives, other than the Harddrive ? ? ? - - -

What problems/solutions do you foresee ?

Gotta make up mind Soon to Cancel order!

Most 3 lb. Notebooks are $2,000 + But are Dual-spindle (optical drive onboard). See the problem
Worried about single-spindle...

[PresterJohn]

correction "256 not expandable"....i misread that. it means if you want more ram capacity, you will need to replace the installed chips...not able to find a link to this model but might have 512mb ram capacity (the UM30 does). but i would double-check that before buying.



>So I ordered a "single-spindle" (Hard drive only) which come

with both (!) 2000KPro and WinXPpro OS's !

you won't be able to dual-boot both OS's...you must choose one at bootup and it will configure afterwards.

the specs i see ,show that it will only hold 256mb ram max...i consider that to be the most serious shortcoming. the cpu isn't the fastest either although it should be suitable for most portable laptop use (which is why i assuming you want such a light notebook).

http://store.sharpsystems.com/product.asp?sku=2319398

ps. some bios do not support booting from usb devices. this means if you ever have to use the recovery cd, the backpack cdrom unit might not work...

pps. descript says the keybd is retractable?...if this means if it slides in/out...this could be a potential problem in the future.

[MegalosSkylaki]

Yeah, I noticed that 256 Ram After I ordered it--but figure not that big an issue with limited objectives --like Wordprocessing , internet, and email. Still a negative in my book.

The BackPack3 can also run from PMCIA card (or serial port which is not onboard) --but that is a major worry, that it Won't boot from anything but its own CD-ROM...gotta reread manual on this . Despite 117 pps., it doesn't say much.,

Could get USB floppy on the cheap though, for old files. Figure I would just transfer them to USB memory gismo.

I'm leaning toward canceling..But <3 lbs. is a powerful inducement on a sub-$1000 machine..

Also wonder if I could make it into a Windows/Linux Dual boot. The external peripherals would then have to run on Linux. DK.

Also, don't like having to worry on issues on something Brand-new ! And $900 is not exactly loose change.

But most Lappys in that price range are <6 ibs. and P4Celeron machines. Figure PIII can beat it.

Also figure Sharp Actius is better made than the Celeron machines flooding the market. So there is a quality issue.

Kinda a lot of Pros & cons....

[PresterJohn]

imo $900 is a little on the high side for that machine & w/the limitations it has, ie. no peripherals.

is it absolutely necesary that your laptop be <3 lbs? a lot of good bargains to be had for sub notebooks that are a little larger...

[MegalosSkylaki]

Well the situation is, that not just for me, Prester John.

Yeah, like most people I would prefer lighter when carrying something--but I figure about 5lbs. is still moderate, compared to some 8 lb.machines with lotsa features.

But it's intende in large measure for my Gf, who is a writer. So a 12" 3 lb. can fit in a handbag, and not need a seperate bag. We are going on a trip to CA soon.

Truth be told, most of the time you are sitting in a car in CA, so 3 or 13 lbs. don't matter if you pull up to coffee shop, or sit on patio.

But Mall-ratting --a passtime in CA --is a different story, and carry you must ! She often carries books--and I have a bad back.

The KB is "retractable" in the sense of "pop-up". This is so to keep the lappy 0.7 inches thin when closed.

They way I looked at it when I ordered, is that I probably won't get an opportunity soon for a low-priced ultraportable. These are often made for business persons who are attached to them at the hip --or rich people who want toys -- and co$t.

But some of the problems are convenience issues. And some may be technical issues--like booting up from a made "Restore disk".

I bought the parts for a slim aluminum microComputer to build and leave out there. I used to be bi--coastal until I injured my back. Just haven't gotten around to it. But a lappy I figure should be light --if you have good access to a desktop --and don't need a desktop replacement..

Still uneasy...need to "cut it off at the pass" if I decide to pass on it. Just that I figure I,m looking at $2,000 + the next time I look at a <3lb. lappy...something I could drop, etc.

[PresterJohn]

i dunno...you can probably find a thinkpad 240x for about half that price on ebay and other places, ($350-500) if you look around.

it has a slightly smaller screen, 10.4" and is a tad slower (something like a 550mhz cpu). i have one...not a bad lappie.. never actually weighed it...probably around 3+ lbs. max memory capacity is 192mb ram.

i have mine set up as a dual boot w2k/xp machine.

[MegalosSkylaki]

Cancelled out.

Why buy when in doubt ?

ThanX for your help.

Now back to the proverbial drawing board...

DOUBTLESSDOOOOOG