Zotac SAM102 Netbook

**waterhead** · 12-05-2009

I just picked one of these up from NewEgg. It is a barebones netbook, without hard drive, memory or operating system. Since there is almost no info about these on the internet, I thought that a thread on this would draw some interest.

Newegg.com - Zotac SAM102 Intel 945GSE Netbook Barebone - Notebook Barebone Systems

SAM102 Netbook

I got it during a NewEgg special, so I also get a $50 rebate (no longer available). That puts the price at $149.99, not bad! I also purchased a 80GB SATA hard drive, NewEgg special of $30. I had 512MB RAM stick, left over from my Eee PC upgrade, that I used.

I installed Ubuntu 9.10, and it seems to run pretty good. Since it has a regular hard drive, I made a swap partition, and I may not need to install more RAM. My Eee PC has a solid state drive, and you don't want a swap partition on that, so I maxed out the memory on that. That is why I had the extra memory stick.

There may be trouble getting the rebate from Zotac. I tried to submit it with their online submittal form. It said that I first needed to register it. When I tried to register it, it said that I was using an invalid serial number! It said that a valid number is from a product purchased from North and South America. It seems that this netbook wasn't meant for our market.

I will mail the rebate form in, anyway, and see how is goes. The Zotac forums have posts that say you must wait 18 weeks before getting the rebate, and some still haven't gotten it after that!

**waterhead** · 12-05-2009

OK, I booted into it to get the system specs. Here is the output of lshw:

Code:

computer
    description: Computer
    product: Concord River CRB Board
    vendor: Intel Corporation
    version: Not Applicable
    serial: [REMOVED]
    width: 32 bits
    capabilities: smbios-2.5 dmi-2.5 smp-1.4 smp
    configuration: administrator_password=disabled boot=oem-specific cpus=1 frontpanel_password=unknown keyboard_password=unknown power-on_password=disabled
  *-core
       description: Motherboard
       product: Netbook Board
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 0
       version: Not Applicable
       serial: [REMOVED]
     *-firmware
          description: BIOS
          vendor: Phoenix Technologies LTD
          physical id: 0
          version: NAPA0001.86C.0000.D.0910261126 (10/26/2009)
          size: 96KiB
          capacity: 960KiB
          capabilities: pci pnp apm upgrade shadowing escd cdboot bootselect acpi usb smartbattery biosbootspecification
     *-cpu
          description: CPU
          product: Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N270   @ 1.60GHz
          vendor: Intel Corp.
          physical id: 4
          bus info: cpu@0
          version: 6.12.2
          serial: [REMOVED]
          slot: U1
          size: 800MHz
          capacity: 2048MHz
          width: 32 bits
          capabilities: boot fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic mtrr pge mca cmov pat clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 xtpr pdcm movbe lahf_lm cpufreq
          configuration: id=0
        *-cache:0
             description: L1 cache
             physical id: 5
             slot: L1 Cache
             size: 64KiB
             capacity: 64KiB
             capabilities: asynchronous internal write-back
        *-cache:1
             description: L2 cache
             physical id: 6
             slot: L2 Cache
             size: 512KiB
             capacity: 512KiB
             capabilities: burst external write-back
        *-logicalcpu:0
             description: Logical CPU
             physical id: 0.1
             width: 32 bits
             capabilities: logical
        *-logicalcpu:1
             description: Logical CPU
             physical id: 0.2
             width: 32 bits
             capabilities: logical
     *-memory
          description: System Memory
          physical id: f
          slot: System board or motherboard
          size: 512MiB
          capacity: 2GiB
        *-bank
             description: SODIMM DDR2 Synchronous 533 MHz (1.9 ns)
             physical id: 0
             slot: M1
             size: 512MiB
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 533MHz (1.9ns)
     *-pci
          description: Host bridge
          product: Mobile 945GME Express Memory Controller Hub
          vendor: Intel Corporation
          physical id: 100
          bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
          version: 03
          width: 32 bits
          clock: 33MHz
          configuration: driver=agpgart-intel
          resources: irq:0
        *-display:0
             description: VGA compatible controller
             product: Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: msi pm bus_master cap_list rom
             configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
             resources: irq:16 memory:f0000000-f007ffff ioport:1800(size=8) memory:d0000000-dfffffff(prefetchable) memory:f0200000-f023ffff
        *-display:1 UNCLAIMED
             description: Display controller
             product: Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 2.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:02.1
             version: 03
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
             configuration: latency=0
             resources: memory:f0080000-f00fffff
        *-multimedia
             description: Audio device
             product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1b
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1b.0
             version: 02
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=HDA Intel latency=0
             resources: irq:22 memory:f0440000-f0443fff
        *-pci:0
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1c
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.0
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
             resources: irq:24 ioport:2000(size=4096) memory:20000000-200fffff ioport:f0500000(size=1048576)
           *-network
                description: Ethernet interface
                product: RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller
                vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
                physical id: 0
                bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
                logical name: eth1
                version: 02
                serial: [REMOVED]
                size: 10MB/s
                capacity: 100MB/s
                width: 64 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix vpd bus_master cap_list rom ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
                configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=2.3LK-NAPI duplex=half latency=0 link=no multicast=yes port=MII speed=10MB/s
                resources: irq:26 ioport:2000(size=256) memory:f0510000-f0510fff(prefetchable) memory:f0500000-f050ffff(prefetchable) memory:f0520000-f053ffff(prefetchable)
        *-pci:1
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1c.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.1
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
             resources: irq:25 memory:f0100000-f01fffff
           *-network
                description: Wireless interface
                product: AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express)
                vendor: Atheros Communications Inc.
                physical id: 0
                bus info: pci@0000:03:00.0
                logical name: wmaster0
                version: 01
                serial: [REMOVED]
                width: 64 bits
                clock: 33MHz
                capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list logical ethernet physical wireless
                configuration: broadcast=yes driver=ath9k ip=[REMOVED] latency=0 multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11bgn
                resources: irq:17 memory:f0100000-f010ffff
        *-usb:0
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.0
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: bus_master
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:23 ioport:1820(size=32)
        *-usb:1
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.1
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: bus_master
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:19 ioport:1840(size=32)
        *-usb:2
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.2
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: bus_master
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:18 ioport:1860(size=32)
        *-usb:3
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.3
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.3
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: bus_master
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:16 ioport:1880(size=32)
        *-usb:4
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.7
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.7
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm debug bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=ehci_hcd latency=0
             resources: irq:23 memory:f0444000-f04443ff
        *-pci:2
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1e
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1e.0
             version: e2
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci bus_master cap_list
        *-isa
             description: ISA bridge
             product: 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.0
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: isa bus_master cap_list
             configuration: latency=0
        *-ide:0
             description: IDE interface
             product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) IDE Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.1
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: ide bus_master
             configuration: driver=ata_piix latency=0
             resources: irq:19 ioport:1f0(size=8) ioport:3f6 ioport:170(size=8) ioport:376 ioport:1810(size=16)
        *-ide:1
             description: IDE interface
             product: 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA IDE Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.2
             logical name: scsi2
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 66MHz
             capabilities: ide pm bus_master cap_list emulated
             configuration: driver=ata_piix latency=0
             resources: irq:19 ioport:18c8(size=8) ioport:18c0(size=4) ioport:18a8(size=8) ioport:180c(size=4) ioport:18b0(size=16) memory:f0444400-f04447ff
           *-disk
                description: ATA Disk
                product: WDC WD800BEVT-22
                vendor: Western Digital
                physical id: 0.0.0
                bus info: scsi@2:0.0.0
                logical name: /dev/sda
                version: 11.0
                serial: [REMOVED]
                size: 74GiB (80GB)
                capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
                configuration: ansiversion=5 signature=000ab8aa
              *-volume:0
                   description: EXT4 volume
                   vendor: Linux
                   physical id: 1
                   bus info: scsi@2:0.0.0,1
                   logical name: /dev/sda1
                   logical name: /
                   version: 1.0
                   serial: [REMOVED]
                   size: 18GiB
                   capacity: 18GiB
                   capabilities: primary bootable journaled extended_attributes large_files huge_files dir_nlink recover extents ext4 ext2 initialized
                   configuration: created=2009-12-02 21:27:36 filesystem=ext4 lastmountpoint=/cSï¿œï¿œxIï¿œï¿œïï¿œï¿œï¿œï¿œïï¿œï¿œÈ*ï¿œxï¿œï¿œ9Zï¿œï¿œï¿œï¿œï¿œïï¿œï¿œï¿œï¿œï¿œïï¿œï¿œxIï¿œï¿œïï¿œï¿œÙ”ï¿œÙ•\ï¿œï¿œxIï¿œ@ï¿œ%ï¿œï¿œV modified=2009-12-02 21:37:42 mount.fstype=ext4 mount.options=rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,barrier=1,data=ordered mounted=2009-12-05 09:25:58 state=mounted
              *-volume:1
                   description: EXT4 volume
                   vendor: Linux
                   physical id: 2
                   bus info: scsi@2:0.0.0,2
                   logical name: /dev/sda2
                   logical name: /home
                   version: 1.0
                   serial: [REMOVED]
                   size: 53GiB
                   capacity: 53GiB
                   capabilities: primary journaled extended_attributes large_files huge_files dir_nlink recover extents ext4 ext2 initialized
                   configuration: created=2009-12-02 21:27:44 filesystem=ext4 lastmountpoint=/homeï¿œï¿œï¿œï¿œï¿œï¿œï¿œï¿œX7DÜ€ï¿œï¿œÝœï¿œ9Zï¿œï¿œ!VÜ˜!VÜ€ï¿œï¿œï¿œï¿œÙï¿œÙ•\ï¿œï¿œï¿œï¿œï¿œ@ï¿œ modified=2009-12-05 09:26:00 mount.fstype=ext4 mount.options=rw,relatime,barrier=1,data=ordered mounted=2009-12-05 09:26:00 state=mounted
              *-volume:2
                   description: Extended partition
                   physical id: 3
                   bus info: scsi@2:0.0.0,3
                   logical name: /dev/sda3
                   size: 2392MiB
                   capacity: 2392MiB
                   capabilities: primary extended partitioned partitioned:extended
                 *-logicalvolume
                      description: Linux swap / Solaris partition
                      physical id: 5
                      logical name: /dev/sda5
                      capacity: 2392MiB
                      capabilities: nofs
        *-serial UNCLAIMED
             description: SMBus
             product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f.3
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.3
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             configuration: latency=0
             resources: ioport:18e0(size=32)
  *-remoteaccess UNCLAIMED
       vendor: Intel
       physical id: 1
       capabilities: inbound

**waterhead** · 12-05-2009

I find this info curious:

Code:

computer
    description: Computer
    product: Concord River CRB Board
    vendor: Intel Corporation
    version: Not Applicable

I got no hits when I Googled Concord River CRB Board. It does say that it is an Intel board, so I may look at their web site.

This also has an extra internal miniPCIe slot. I am going to try to add broadband wireless to this. I found a used Sierra Wireless Verizon MC5720 card on eBay for $8, so not too much invested in that. But it doesn't have the internal antennas for broadband wireless. I found some of those on eBay too, for $9. Now, I won't have a SIM card for this. I hope that Verizon supplies that when you get their service.

**waterhead** · 12-05-2009

I took a few pics of the boot screens. Not a lot of info there, but as long as I took them here they are.

The BIOS has this info, but a search come up empty for that too:

M/B Version: 05NF-G

**waterhead** · 12-05-2009

I almost forgot this hardware info:

Code:

paul@Zotac-SAM:~$ lspci -knn
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Memory Controller Hub [8086:27ac] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel
	Kernel modules: intel-agp
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27ae] (rev 03)
	Kernel driver in use: i915
	Kernel modules: i915
00:02.1 Display controller [0380]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27a6] (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller [8086:27d8] (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: HDA Intel
	Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel
00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 [8086:27d0] (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1c.1 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 [8086:27d2] (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver
	Kernel modules: shpchp
00:1d.0 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 [8086:27c8] (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.1 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 [8086:27c9] (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.2 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 [8086:27ca] (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.3 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 [8086:27cb] (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd
00:1d.7 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller [8086:27cc] (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd
00:1e.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge [8086:2448] (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge [8086:27b9] (rev 02)
	Kernel modules: iTCO_wdt, intel-rng
00:1f.1 IDE interface [0101]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) IDE Controller [8086:27df] (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: ata_piix
00:1f.2 IDE interface [0101]: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA IDE Controller [8086:27c4] (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: ata_piix
00:1f.3 SMBus [0c05]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller [8086:27da] (rev 02)
	Kernel modules: i2c-i801
02:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller [10ec:8136] (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: r8169
	Kernel modules: r8169
03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Atheros Communications Inc. AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express) [168c:002b] (rev 01)
	Kernel driver in use: ath9k
	Kernel modules: ath9k

Code:

paul@Zotac-SAM:~$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0c45:62c0 Microdia Sonix USB 2.0 Camera

Code:

paul@Zotac-SAM:~$ lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
nls_iso8859_1           3740  0 
nls_cp437               5372  0 
vfat                   10716  0 
fat                    51452  1 vfat
usb_storage            52576  0 
cbc                     3516  101 
aes_i586                8124  102 
aes_generic            27484  1 aes_i586
binfmt_misc             8356  1 
ppdev                   6688  0 
dm_crypt               12928  0 
snd_hda_codec_realtek   203328  1 
snd_hda_intel          26920  2 
snd_hda_codec          75708  2 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep               7200  1 snd_hda_codec
iptable_filter          3100  0 
arc4                    1660  2 
snd_pcm_oss            37920  0 
snd_mixer_oss          16028  1 snd_pcm_oss
ip_tables              11692  1 iptable_filter
snd_pcm                75296  3 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_pcm_oss
joydev                 10272  0 
x_tables               16544  1 ip_tables
snd_seq_dummy           2656  0 
ecb                     2524  3 
snd_seq_oss            28576  0 
snd_seq_midi            6432  0 
snd_rawmidi            22208  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event      6940  2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
ath9k                 258744  0 
lp                      8964  0 
mac80211              181236  1 ath9k
snd_seq                50224  6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer              22276  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device          6920  5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
led_class               4096  1 ath9k
snd                    59204  16 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hwdep,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
ath                     8060  1 ath9k
soundcore               7264  1 snd
uvcvideo               59080  0 
psmouse                56500  0 
snd_page_alloc          9156  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
parport                35340  2 ppdev,lp
videodev               36736  1 uvcvideo
v4l1_compat            14496  2 uvcvideo,videodev
serio_raw               5280  0 
cfg80211               93052  3 ath9k,mac80211,ath
fbcon                  36640  72 
tileblit                2460  1 fbcon
font                    8124  1 fbcon
bitblit                 5372  1 fbcon
softcursor              1756  1 bitblit
i915                  221064  3 
drm                   159584  3 i915
i2c_algo_bit            5760  1 i915
video                  19380  1 i915
output                  2780  1 video
r8169                  32064  0 
mii                     5212  1 r8169
intel_agp              27484  2 i915
agpgart                34988  2 drm,intel_agp

Let's see if that drums up any business, um I mean interest. I would like to know what others think of theirs. Also, what operating systems people are installing on them.

**smoyle** · 12-14-2009

i have purchased this same computer but waiting on parts for it however i was wondering if the computer it's self had a wifi connection or if i had to buy something else for that too.

**waterhead** · 12-14-2009

Yes, it has this wireless miniPCIe card in it.

Code:

03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Atheros Communications Inc. AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express) [168c:002b] (rev 01)
	Kernel driver in use: ath9k
	Kernel modules: ath9k

On Ubuntu 9.10, it worked out-of-the-box. I would be interested in your experiences with this netbook.

I think that this unit is very customizable. I have the $8 Broadband wireless card, that I got from eBay, now installed in it. It recognizes it as a modem and tries to make a connection. But I am still waiting for the antennas to arrive, and they are coming from China so it may be a while.

I also read in the NewEgg review that someone was installing a Broadcom HD card in this. So, I just ordered one of those this morning!

BroadCom BCM970012 Mini PCI-e HD Decoder Chipset 4 UMPC - eBay (item 320436937576 end time Dec-16-09 00:39:44 PST)

This would have to go in the slot where the wireless-G card is, as the second slot (with my new broadband wireless card) is a USB slot.

Code:

paul@Zotac-SAM:~$ lsusb
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 1199:0218 Sierra Wireless, Inc. MC5720 Wireless Modem
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0c45:62c0 Microdia Sonix USB 2.0 Camera

**smoyle** · 12-14-2009

just wondering here why you would need a broadband wireless card when the computer came with a wifi connection then? and i put in a 1 gig ram with a 160 gig sata hard drive. also i will be putting onto it windows xp since i already have it laying around. how did you put on your installation disk? did you just put the files on a usb and plug it into the notebook?

**waterhead** · 12-14-2009

Originally Posted by smoyle

just wondering here why you would need a broadband wireless card when the computer came with a wifi connection then?

If "Because I Can" isn't a good enough reason, How's this. I work outdoors for a local water utility (hence the username waterhead). Quite often there is down time, and instead of leaning on a shovel, I would rather surf the net. There aren't enough wifi hotspots to do this, and connecting to someone's private AP would be illegal.

and i put in a 1 gig ram with a 160 gig sata hard drive. also i will be putting onto it windows xp since i already have it laying around.

Speaking of things that are illegal.

If you have already installed this in a PC, then doing so in another PC is considered piracy. AARRGGHH MATEY!!! Got yer' eye patch ready?

I would encourage you to first try Ubuntu. You can actually put both on a hard drive that big.

how did you put on your installation disk? did you just put the files on a usb and plug it into the notebook?

Not sure how to do it with windows, but a USB CD drive would be the thing to use. You could also use it for other things after the installation.

If you try Ubuntu, the LiveCD of Ubuntu has the option to create a bootable USB pen drive with Ubuntu on it. You would first boot the CD on a PC that has a CD drive. Then select this from the menu:

System->Administration->USB Startup Disk Creator

It couldn't get any easier! It will overwrite anything on the pen drive, so be forwarned. This will then be a dedicated Ubuntu LiveUSB drive, until you reformat it. You can boot it on any PC that supports USB booting.

**rokytnji** · 12-15-2009

Ya know. I was looking at Zotac at Newegg and also the Gecko Netbooks. But I ended up with the wifes Acer Aspire One instead. Runs Easy Peasy 1 really nice and been playing around with Macpup via live USB. Been reading your posts with interest waterhead. Can't afford a Broadband 3G contract. Besides, we have free wifi at rest stops and truck stops and certain motels in my neck of the woods.

Noticed that the Zotac Mobo is pretty much intel like my aspire one.

Code:

:~$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 02)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller (rev 02)
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter (rev 01)
04:00.0 System peripheral: JMicron Technologies, Inc. SD/MMC Host Controller
04:00.2 SD Host controller: JMicron Technologies, Inc. Standard SD Host Controller
04:00.3 System peripheral: JMicron Technologies, Inc. MS Host Controller
04:00.4 System peripheral: JMicron Technologies, Inc. xD Host Controller

Just figured I would post a comparison. Sounds like that Zotac is much more accessible when it comes to upgrading ram and such. Does it have a lot of access panels. Or are you having to pull the whole thing apart like I would have to do if I wanted to upgrade the ram on this ZG5.

accessible

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