Questions About the X40

[akkadian]

So I've come across a X40 that I'm thinking of getting. I have a T420 on the way but I'm a filmmaker and I want to have a durable and simple laptop on the set. It would be handling very simple things: Google docs, other simple web apps, Eclipse, HTML/CSS editing basically nothing graphically intensive.

The I'm looking at is a 1.2 GHz CPU with 512 MB RAM. I was going to upgrade to a 1.8" SSD, add a 1 GB RAM stick and get a fresh battery. I basically am looking for similar functionality as found in something like the Cr-48 notebook. A simple laptop that mostly lives on the web.

I have a couple questions.

1. Has anyone tried Ubuntu 10.04/10.10 desktop or Unity on the X40? What was your experience?

2. How do YouTube videos play on it? Let's say at 360p.

3. Do things like Skype work well on it?

Basically I want to see what the limitations are and see if this will work as an on set open web device for basic productivity.

[Brian10161]

I ran Mint 10 on mine (Which is based off Ubuntu 10.10) and it ran quite well. I notice a minor stutter every few minutes though. I actually installed Mint 9 XFCE instead. Fedora 14 works out of the box quite well too.

Youtube at 360 work fine. 480 I think works too, but might cause some system lag.

Depending on the price, I'd say just get it and fool around. It's not a powerhouse, but it's fairly capable. My first one was $115 and my second one was $120. Not too much IMO for the abilities of the machine. Play with it, then decide on upgrading components.

[Tasurinchi]

I have two X40s (both now with a friend and a niece of mine respectively) and never had a problem running Ubuntu or Mint on them. Skype worked (no video supported), Youtube worked as well and I used to watch movies using VLC with no problems at all (but no 720p or higher).

If you plan to buy more RAM and SSD, just be careful that you don't end spending too much, prices for X6x, are dropping as well.

[madkat]

Skype runs well even with video. Decent with 1gb of RAM, very ok with 1,5gb. (other specs in my sig)

But after getting a cheaper-faster memory, hdd and processor X60 for a little over 200$ - i would not consider the option of an X40 again. Only because of the limitations and bottlenecks. If you can live with those its a nice little machine.

[pianowizard]

So I've come across a X40 that I'm thinking of getting.

I would get a new netbook with webcam instead. It's not worth upgrading the X40.

[topmahof]

Comparing it to a cr-48, you wouldn't have to upgrade it that much.