[conspire] Elise's laptop

[Dana Goyette]

Intel Bay Trail is a SoC (System on a Chip), and that platform has more
problems with Linux support than the more standard platforms.

Most Bay Trail systems have a 64-bit CPU but 32-bit EFI, so the OS can be
installed in EFI mode if you use a 32-bit EFI version of Grub.  This site
has a script to make adjustments like this to the Ubuntu ISOs:
https://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com

I think Broadcom has actually gotten a bit better with openness in their
newer chips, yet still refuses to fix the distribution issues for the
firmware on the older chips.  The new drivers are called brcmsmac and
brcmfmac.

I couldn't find online (at least with a quick search) whether the Stream 11
has an SDIO wifi card or a PCIe one.


On Sep 3, 2017 9:27 PM, "Rick Moen" <rick at linuxmafia.com> wrote:

> Quoting Elise Scher (elise.scher01 at gmail.com):
>
> > Hi Rick,
> >      I am about to look at Little Blue. HP Stream. Model 11-r010nr, S/N
> > 5CD5387LQL, P/N N5X86UA#ABA. I will take pictures of bottom and send to
> you.
>
> Hi, Elise!  Thanks for the mail (and photos).  Seems like a really nice
> little notebook.  And light!
>
> Some notes in passing about the wee beastie:
>
> Intel Celeron N3050 'Bay Trail' (dual core) 1.6 GHz, which is 64-bit (yay!)
> Probably comes with either 2 GB or 4 GB DDR3L SDRAM -- but best to
>    assume it's 2GB, which is a pity and (with the CPU) makes this a bit
>    challenging to get decent performance on modern desktop Linux
> Comes with an SSD, not a hard drive (might be on account of limited
>    space inside, but that's fine).  SSDs are awesome.  Capacity probably
> 32GB.
> 11.6" LED screen able to do 1366x768 pixels
> Intel 'HD' integrated graphics
> Wireless chip: 802.11bgn (but this is an option, hence might be
>   present, or might not), probably Broadcom BCM43142, driver name 'wl'.
> Some touchpad or other
> 1 x USB 2.0 port
> 1 x USB 3.0 port
> 2.6 pounds
> no optical disc included
> fanless design (hence silent, which is excellent)
> Memory slot is said to be 'not user accessible', which only
>    means it's a bit more trouble to get to than usual.
> Slot for several types of flash media (SD cards, etc.)
> Some audio chip, not well documented
> HDMI video port
> headphone + microphone combo jack
> apparently has _no_ ethernet LAN port
> probably includes a webcam
> there's Bluetooth, but getting it going requires some work
>
> This wee beastie was marketed as a 'cloud computing' appliance, not
> really as a standalone computer.  They loaded it with Window 10 Home
> and included a one-year subscription to MS Office 365 Personal, where
> the MS-Office applications mostly run off of Microsoft's cloud computing
> cluster, and by default your data files would live there, too (if I
> recall correctly).
>
> Basically, it's a lightweight 'cloud' appliance bitty-box, like a Google
> Chromebook but bundled with Microsoft 'cloud' subscription stuff.
>
> However, have no fear:  This machine has (probably? maybe?) enough grunt
> for a reasonably modest Linux desktop distribution like Linux Mint,
> though it's certainly not a _fast_ machine by 2017 standards.  You'll
> need to be a little careful not to burden it with too heavy-weight
> desktop software.  Make no mistake, though:  The CPU is a bit anemic
> by 2017 standards.
>
> Here's a slightly sobering article about installing desktop Linux on a
> similar HP Stream 11 model:
> http://thepurdman.com/install-galliumos-linux-on-hp-stream-11/
>
> I need to explain that article's main points:
>
> 1.  He found it necessary for performance's sake to skip the
> heavy-weight Linux distros like Ubuntu _and_ even the main Linux Mint
> variants.  He went with a lighter-weight variant of Xubuntu, the
> XFCE4 Desktop flavour of Ubuntu called 'GalliumOS'.  XFCE4 is less
> stressful on hardware than any of the GNOME variants in Mint and Ubuntu.
>
> 2.  After experimenting, he also gave up on the internal wifi chip and
> bought a $9 USB-wifi adapter off Amazon that works better.
> https://www.amazon.com/Edimax-EW-7811Un-150Mbps-Raspberry-
> Supports/dp/B003MTTJOY
> He says the notebook's internal chip just isn't very good, with range
> and dropout problems.  It is a very good idea to have in your possession
> any such software at the time of Linux conversion, so you might wish to
> order such a thing now.
>
>
> Even better than XFCE4 for a relatively low-end notebook would be a
> distro furnishing the nice but modest LXDE desktop environment, such as
> _Lubuntu._  I will probably make a point of having the latest Lubuntu
> for x86_64 around, too.
>
> Hope to see you on Saturday, Sept. 9th.  CABAL meetings during the
> summer and fall are leisurely, outdoor affairs.  I enjoy cooking for
> company, often on the outdoor grill.  There is always plenty of food
> to share, nobody is obliged to bring any, but, if you want to be sure
> of having what's to your taste, the best way is to bring something or
> you never know for sure what'll be here.
>
> (Some of the regulars are really good cooks, but, for example, I felt
> awful once when a new attendee arrived who was evidently a religious
> Hindu on on one occasion when I happened to be grilling hamburgers.)
>
>
>
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