System76 Pangolin questions

[PGScooter]

I am considering purchasing a System 76 Pangolin (I'm very excited!) and have some questions:

1. If I have problems with the 64-bit version, can I easily install 32-bit Ubuntu? I have only used 32-bit Ubuntu so I don't know whether I will have problems or not.

2. One program which I will install is Stata. It states that "Stata for Unix requires a video card that can display thousands of colors or more (16-bit or 24-bit color)". Am I correct in assuming that the graphics card satisfies this condition?

3. Is the Pangolin particularly noisy when its fans are running full blast? I do not expect it to be stealth, but after having a very boisterous Toshiba Satellite that draws stairs in the library I want to be sure.

4. Is there any point in waiting a month before buying from System76? Will any new hardware options become available within a month?

5. Regarding Ubuntu 9.04, should I allow System76 some time to iron out any potential bumps or can I buy the laptop as soon as it is offered with the new version?

6. Could someone please explain the advantages to the 5300? I do not even know what phrase I could google to research the differences.
Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100 - 802.11A/B/G/N Up to 300 Mbps
Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300 - 802.11A/B/G/N Up to 450 Mbps ( +$25.00 )

(7.) I will be using this laptop for research: running statistical programs (such as Stata, R, etc.), using LaTeX a lot, etc. I will not be playing games and will watch an occasional DVD. The price comes out to just under $1100. I would appreciate any comments on the particular setup I am currently considering:

15.4" WSXGA+ Super Clear Glossy LCD (1680 x 1050) ( +$70.00 )
Core 2 Duo P8600 2.40 GHz 1066 MHz FSB 3 MB L2 (25 Watt) ( +$155.00 )
4 GB - DDR2 800 MHz - 2 DIMMs ( +$50.00 )
320 GB 7200 RPM SATA II ( +$55.00 )
Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100 - 802.11A/B/G/N Up to 300 Mbps

thanks a lot!!!

[thomasaaron]

1. If I have problems with the 64-bit version, can I easily install 32-bit Ubuntu? I have only used 32-bit Ubuntu so I don't know whether I will have problems or not.

TA: It will run 32-bit, but we only test with 64-bit. There is a chance that suspend and hibernate will not work correctly under 32-bit.

2. One program which I will install is Stata. It states that "Stata for Unix requires a video card that can display thousands of colors or more (16-bit or 24-bit color)". Am I correct in assuming that the graphics card satisfies this condition?

TA: The specs on the card...
http://www.nvidia.com/object/product..._g105m_us.html
...do not say. But pretty much all modern cards can deal with 24-bit color depth.

3. Is the Pangolin particularly noisy when its fans are running full blast? I do not expect it to be stealth, but after having a very boisterous Toshiba Satellite that draws stairs in the library I want to be sure.

TA: I'll let customers weigh in on this one.

4. Is there any point in waiting a month before buying from System76? Will any new hardware options become available within a month?

TA: Actually, this Pangolin (with the 512 MB graphics card) was just released last week or the week before. I doubt it will change again within a month.

5. Regarding Ubuntu 9.04, should I allow System76 some time to iron out any potential bumps or can I buy the laptop as soon as it is offered with the new version?

TA: You can buy as soon as it is offered.

6. Could someone please explain the advantages to the 5300? I do not even know what phrase I could google to research the differences.
Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100 - 802.11A/B/G/N Up to 300 Mbps
Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300 - 802.11A/B/G/N Up to 450 Mbps ( +$25.00 )

TA: All things being equal, the 5300 is 150 Mbps faster.

(7.) I will be using this laptop for research: running statistical programs (such as Stata, R, etc.), using LaTeX a lot, etc. I will not be playing games and will watch an occasional DVD. The price comes out to just under $1100. I would appreciate any comments on the particular setup I am currently considering:

Looked pretty solid. My general advice is to upgrade in the following order based on your needs and budget: CPU, MEMORY, HARD DRIVE.

[PGScooter]

thanks!

Should wireless work out of the box for all common encryptions? I know i have had trouble with WPA in the past.

[3Miro]

1. If I have problems with the 64-bit version, can I easily install 32-bit Ubuntu? I have only used 32-bit Ubuntu so I don't know whether I will have problems or not.

You will not have any 64-bit issues. Most of the "64-bit issues" are now incorrect myths anyway.

3. Is the Pangolin particularly noisy when its fans are running full blast? I do not expect it to be stealth, but after having a very boisterous Toshiba Satellite that draws stairs in the library I want to be sure.

It is very quiet, in fact it is hardly audible. Now I wish it were more powerful (i.e. blasts more air), but it is very quite.

6. Could someone please explain the advantages to the 5300? I do not even know what phrase I could google to research the differences.
Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100 - 802.11A/B/G/N Up to 300 Mbps
Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300 - 802.11A/B/G/N Up to 450 Mbps ( +$25.00 )

What I think it is, is just faster wireless. For Internet, you are limited by the connection anyway, for transferring files on a local network (and possibly games) the latter should be better. Also, it will be better if you have a humongous Internet connection (i.e. many megabytes per second).

(7.) I will be using this laptop for research: running statistical programs (such as Stata, R, etc.), using LaTeX a lot, etc. I will not be playing games and will watch an occasional DVD. The price comes out to just under $1100. I would appreciate any comments on the particular setup I am currently considering:

15.4" WSXGA+ Super Clear Glossy LCD (1680 x 1050) ( +$70.00 )
Core 2 Duo P8600 2.40 GHz 1066 MHz FSB 3 MB L2 (25 Watt) ( +$155.00 )
4 GB - DDR2 800 MHz - 2 DIMMs ( +$50.00 )
320 GB 7200 RPM SATA II ( +$55.00 )
Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100 - 802.11A/B/G/N Up to 300 Mbps

thanks a lot!!!

Without the screen and Wi-Fi upgrade, it is what I have. I am doing a lot of LaTeX and I am very happy about the performance and price and quality. Look for my Wi-Fi comment and for the screen it is probably better for your eyes and thus worth it.

[3Miro]

thanks!

Should wireless work out of the box for all common encryptions? I know i have had trouble with WPA in the past.

I am using WPA mixed on my home network. When I got the Laptop I:

1. Boot
2. Select Username + pass
3. Select time zone
4. Enter WPA password
5. Watch youtube video

(My school used some more complicated certificates, but I found a wiki on line and got that working too)

[Cygnia]

3. Is the Pangolin particularly noisy when its fans are running full blast? I do not expect it to be stealth, but after having a very boisterous Toshiba Satellite that draws stairs in the library I want to be sure.

I'm in the library right now reading and responding to this post on a Pangolin with precisely matching specs and it's utterly silent. I'm pretty sure the stares in my case are because of my looks...

[PGScooter]

I do not understand the comment about the monitors and eyes. Are you suggesting that I take the cheaper option, because it's native resolution is smaller?

With the WSXGA+ I cannot set it to 1280 x 800 ?

[PGScooter]

I'm in the library right now reading and responding to this post on a Pangolin with precisely matching specs and it's utterly silent. I'm pretty sure the stares in my case are because of my looks...

ah, its your looks that are annoying the people in the library? haha thanks for the comment!

[Scotty Bones]

I just ordered mine. can't wait!

[3Miro]

I do not understand the comment about the monitors and eyes. Are you suggesting that I take the cheaper option, because it's native resolution is smaller?

With the WSXGA+ I cannot set it to 1280 x 800 ?

What I meant was that I am using the cheaper option, however, getting the better one is probably better for your eyes.