[lug] Linux-Friendly Computer Dealers in Boulder?

[Bill Thoen]

On Wed, 21 Jul 2004, Zulaware wrote:

> I just happened to pick up a copy for the first time in probably 2 years 
> -- it's MD&I Computers http://www.thepcplaza.com
> 
> 3380 Arapahoe Ave,
> Boulder
> 303.448.0256

Well, I'll be dipped! I've bought my last two (Windows) computers from 
Howard (MD&I's owner), but I didn't know they did Linux too. Their 
equipment is reliable, the prices are great, and they don't mind customers 
calling or showing up with questions.

However, their software support for Windows is a bit weak. For hardware 
tweaking, no problem -- they know their stuff as far as I can tell -- but 
the last two problems I had with XP software the tech guy wasn't as
knowlegeable as I had hoped. I don't know how much they know about Linux 
software, but I think maybe I'll go back and see what they can do me a 
Linux laptop. 

Plus, as just mentioned in an earlier post, BLUG is local and seems to be
pretty helpful, too!

- Bill Thoen

> 
> bill ehlert wrote:
> 
> >
> >
> >**  in most issues of  COMPUTOREDGE  there's
> >    a large ad from a boulder store (sorry
> >    i can't recall the name) which says
> >    "we support linux".
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >--- Nick Golder <purenrg at hiveportal.net> wrote:
> >  
> >
> >>On 2004-07-20 20:03 -0600, Bill Thoen wrote:
> >>    
> >>
> >>>I'm thinking of getting a laptop computer for
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>use as a portable
> >>    
> >>
> >>>workstation (but I intend to play on it a bit
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>too) and I was wondering if
> >>    
> >>
> >>>there was a dealer in the area who can supply
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>such hardware and who also
> >>    
> >>
> >>>can provide advice on Linux software
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>recommendations and configuration? By
> >>    
> >>
> >>>"advice" I mean anything from face-to-face or
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>phone support for a limited
> >>    
> >>
> >>>time to a good web page. Is there anyone
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>local who's got a good rep?
> >>
> >>I can't speak for local dealers but I can say
> >>that I have heard good
> >>things about EmperorLinux
> >>(http://www.emperorlinux.com).  I didn't
> >>purchase my laptop from them (Sony VAIO
> >>PCG-R505DSP) but they were more
> >>than willing to answer some questions.  In my
> >>book, that says a lot.
> >>
> >>    
> >>
> >>>Or would you recommend I just buy a la cart
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>online for the lowest price
> >>    
> >>
> >>>from Texas or China and bother BLUG when I
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>have questions? What's the best
> >>    
> >>
> >>>route? I'd rather see my money stay in
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>Colorado, but the price needs to be
> >>    
> >>
> >>>within reason too.
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>I have purchased my laptops via online and
> >>local resellers.
> >>If you watch local corporate monsters, they can
> >>occasionally beat out
> >>online dealers with either open box (which
> >>still has the same warranty)
> >>or with rebate offers (although rebate offers
> >>are about as fricking 
> >>annoying as using swipe cards at local grocers
> >>to get a normal, more
> >>sane price).  Pick your poison.
> >>
> >>As for support, BLUG exists to build a local
> >>GNU/Linux community.  Use it.
> >>You can also check lists for your distribution
> >>of choice.  A couple of
> >>distributions have a designated portable/laptop
> >>mailing list (such as
> >>Debian).  There are also a couple of vendor
> >>specific mailing lists for
> >>general GNU/Linux support.  I have seen these
> >>for IBM Thinkpads and Sony
> >>VAIO.
> >>
> >>    
> >>
> >>>I've been using various versions of RedHat in
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>a text-based http-smtp-ftp
> >>    
> >>
> >>>server for a few years, but now I'm
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>interested in trying out the other end
> >>    
> >>
> >>>of the Linux world -- the GUI one. I'm not
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>sure I want to continue with RH
> >>    
> >>
> >>>or Fedora either, and am looking at Slackware
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>as an alternative. I prefer
> >>    
> >>
> >>>stabilty over the lastest bleeding edge
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>experimental stuff. I don't know
> >>    
> >>
> >>>enough Linux yet to enjoy sliding down the
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>razor's edge into a cold bucket
> >>    
> >>
> >>>of salt water.
> >>>
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>I have used quite a few different distributions
> >>and settled on Debian
> >>about three years ago.  People are obviously
> >>very objective and unbiased
> >>when it comes to making a decision about which
> >>distribution to use. ;-)
> >>Therefore, I will make my unbiased and
> >>objective pitch about the merits
> >>of using Debian.
> >>
> >>As for an actual laptop to use, I lean heavily
> >>on Sony VAIOs, IBM
> >>Thinkpads, and Apple Powerbooks (RISC can be
> >>better than CISC).  Again,
> >>this is completely unbiased and objective. ;-)
> >>
> >>Good luck!
> >>
> >>-- 
> >>-Nick Golder
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>Web Page:  http://lug.boulder.co.us
> >>Mailing List:
> >>
> >>    
> >>
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> >  
> >
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> >>channel=#colug
> >>
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >
> >
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