Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.setup
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.setup
> need help selecting a graphics card for a new system i am building. I > don't run games, but kids might play a few.
You might want to look into an NVIDIA GeForce 2 GTS or the geForce 2 MX as both of these are supported in Linux and the drivers are readily available at Nvidia's web site. The MX is the "Value" version of the GTS. The GTS Runs great on my Linux box. The prices are dropping considerably on these cards as well…
> Get a GeForce2 MX card. They can be had for under $200 (usually around > $100-150), and offer excellent 2D and 3D performance at a very attractive > price point. These cards are sold by a variety of manufacturers under > various trade names, so do a little shopping first. Try www.pricewatch.com.
Definitely! I just built a new system which is an athlon 1g, 384mb of memory, 17g scsi drives. I included a GeForce 2mx 32mb card. My only issue was an inclination of X 4.0.2 to crash under the 2.2 kernels at odd times with the nvidia drivers in place or without. I downloaded and compiled the 2.4.4 kernel and selected athlon/duron optimizations and the crashes have stopped completely. I am playing a few nice games on this system now including descent3, simcity 3000, and soon Quake III arena and Alpha Centauri. Thanks Loki!
The 2MX cards can be found on Yahoo for around $139. I would also consider, if you are running X4.0.2, a ATI Radeon 32mb DDR card. These are well supported now as well. I found one of these for $159.
Michael Perry
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 10:31:36 -0600
>I need to buy a *CHEAP* digital camera to publish some photos on a >website and to print a small booklet.
>Could you recommend a model?
Don't get *CHEAP* - especially for printing. Don't buy less than 2 megapixels - preferably, the more the merrier.
>Finally - I would prefer to give my money to a company which pays some >attention to Linux.
Don't know who that would be, but my preference is for people who make _cameras_ instead of companies that make _computers_. This preferences means choosing Kodak, Olympus, Fuji over Sony, HP, Gateway….
Last time I checked, all three of those photographic manufacturers have been getting awards for their cameras.
A favorite camera of mine has been the Kodak DC240/280 which is now off the market and can be had used for $100 or $200 I think.
My current favorite is the Fuji FinePix S602 - which is just now getting into the used market.
I have rule I abide by when looking at new digital cameras: don't buy anything that sells for less than $100. Those (right now anyway) are invariably sub-megapixel cameras.
2.1 Megapixels will produce quality 4x6 prints; 5x7s are visibly blocky.
Most cameras are supported by gphoto - which is a fantastic piece of software.
Also avoid "digital zoom" like the plague - get OPTICAL zoom. If you want the possibility of using off-camera flash and other such accessories, look for a hot shoe.
David Douthitt
>Could you recommend a model?
Olympus makes several great models with larger lens (equivalent to 35mm of f2.8, I believe) which produce well balanced color.
Now about the compatibility with Linux: If you buy a camera which has a memory card for which you can get an adapter, either USB or in my case a PCMCIA to work in my laptop, you can transfer the pics immediately to your computer since the card will act as another drive. I use both PCMCIA -> Compact Flash and a PCMCIA -> Smart Media adapters and they work great in my laptop. If you have a desktop then perhaps there is a USB reader adapter.
Edwin Johnson