success

[faceless_wonder]

i have successfully set up my main laptop as an SSH server! this is awesome, as it means that i can remotely connect to it from elsewhere, from either my shiny new eee or any other box i happen to be playing on.

i win!

i know this is trivial stuff for you linux superusers out there, but it's super exciting to a narb like me. :D

Comments

[serawench.livejournal.com]

If I upgrade my bank account with my bank, I get a free Eee laptop. Would it be worth it? (I would pay an extra $15/mo for better features and a laptop) I really would like one I can use other places - like out and about and my bedroom.

[faceless-wonder.livejournal.com]

as far as portability, the eee is fantastic. it's teeny-tiny [about the size of a standard steno pad], weighs less than a kilogram, and can be carried around with ease. it's got wireless capability out of the box, so that adds to its portability.

of course, there are major hardware limitations on it. the keyboard is smaller than a standard one, so it takes some getting used to. the screen is also very small, so if you have trouble reading small text, then that could be a problem as well. as for hard drives, it comes in 2 gig, 4 gig, and 8 gig versions...the 2 gig and 4 gig are more commonly available. [i have the 4 gig.] then again, if you want to save a lot of files, you can get very large memory sticks or external hard drives for cheap nowadays...they connect by USB, and the computer has three USB ports. [it doesn't have a CD ROM drive, but you can buy an external if you really need CD ROM capability, or just use your current computer to copy files saved on CD to a USB stick or drive.]

if all you are planning on doing with it is websurfing, email, office applications, or mainly text-based remote access to a more powerful computer, then it's a very portable solution. it's a good secondary box to take around with you--that's why i got one. but, i don't recommend owning it as a main computer.

as for whether it's worth the $15 a month for better services and the computer? are you planning on using the services? if you're interested in the services, go ahead and do it. if you're not, you may be better just buying one at a computer store, since they're not that expensive as computers go. i don't know the prices in Canada, but in America they run about $300 for the 2 gig version and $350 for the 4 gig.

[serawench.livejournal.com]

That's what I needed to know! :)

I have until the end of September to take advantage of the offer, so I have time to think on it. The better features on my account would be helpful, and I've been considering upgrading for a while anyway. The laptop is just a bonus!

[faceless-wonder.livejournal.com]

if you're interested in the account features, then it's probably a good deal. if you want to take one for a test-drive before you decide, most computer stores have them in stock. the weirdest thing to get used to is the smaller keyboard.

the interface, out of the box, is also weird...if you're used to using a regular computer, the default "simple desktop" seems pretty dumbed-down. i don't know if it's quite so easy to change to the full desktop in the windows version, but i know it took me very little time to get the linux version of it to work in the more familiar and more functional full desktop mode.

[serawench.livejournal.com]

I've been wanting a laptop for a while, but knew I didn't need one with all the bells and whistles. With my current financial crunch (disability really cuts the income!), I can't afford to buy one outright, so I though this would be better than trying to find a decent working one second hand.

I'm usually pretty handy, so I don't anticipate too many difficulties changing desktops. Thanks for your input!