Next step completed
I have ordered my laptop, it’s an Acer Aspire 3692WLMi, with an Intel Celeron M420 1.6GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 80GB hard drive (split into two 40GB partitions) DVD±RW Drive, 5-in-1 Flash Memory Card Reader, and pre-installed Windows XP Media Center. It has up to 224MB graphics using the Intel GMA 950 chipset, hopefully this will all run Mandriva properly and with the beautiful XGL.
The second part of the second step was to purchase (or download) Linux, I decided to purchase a copy of Mandriva 2007 instead of downloading the 4GB+ file because this would have taken ages and my internet connection has a cap on it (currently 2GB or 5GB, BT won’t tell me which). I have also put my name on Ubuntu’s list which means that I should get a free (yes, totally free) copy of Ubuntu in 6 – 10 weeks, so if Mandriva doesn’t do it for me, I can switch to Ubuntu.
Next step will come after my birthday on the 30th April, when I will get the laptop and start using Linux. I will probably install it before my bday though, so come back soon for step three.
Kubuntu (a ubuntu spinoff, for want of a better word, it uses the KDE desktop environment as apposed to Ubuntu’s Gnome desktop environment, you can of course install Gnome on Kubuntu, and KDE on Ubuntu if you like) anyway, kubuntu is also IMO an excellent choice, and worth checking out if you find yourself prefering KDE as apposed to Gnome. Also if you wanted I could send you copies of either ubuntu, kubuntu, or whatever, no cost, no problem, be glad to help, just Email me if you want, the offer is there. Probably get them quicker than 6/10 weeks to boot.