[15:26] <BluesKaj> Hey all
[15:31] <dscassel> Morning, BluesKaj :)
[15:32] <BluesKaj> hi dscassel :)
[16:17]  * genii-around makes coffee
[16:33] <BluesKaj> snowing in the north channel
[16:38] <bregma> cripes, I just accidentally started the upgrade to precise on my main machine
[16:39] <bregma> here's hoping it's stable
[16:45] <genii-around> bregma: I guess BluesKaj and I may see you later in #ubuntu+1  ;)
[16:47] <BluesKaj> genii-around,  I reverted to 11.10 so I haven't been hanging around there much lately
[16:47] <bregma> actually, I'm in the same hotel in Hungary as the entire Canonical desktop team, I'm in good hands
[16:48] <bregma> if they're not already in a nearby bar
[16:50] <genii-around> Nice!
[17:47] <epod> meh.,...
[17:47] <epod> I'd order a system76 system, but they don't collect duties... so I have no idea WTF Canada customs would charge me, and shipping is already almost $100
[17:47] <epod> :S
[17:49] <pangolin> epod: they will charge you the normal tax rate for your province
[17:49] <epod> ah so 12%
[17:50] <pangolin> I believe that is how they do it.
[17:50] <pangolin> don't quote me on it.
[17:50] <epod> so $84
[17:50] <epod> which would make, with shipping, the laptop almost $900
[17:51] <epod> I might as well buy a retail system at futureshop/bestbuy with those specs for $600 and put ubuntu on it
[18:10] <genii-around> I think the Dell linux boxes can still be ordered from in Canada
[18:13] <dscassel> epod: With System76, it's not customs you need to worry about. It's brokerage fees.
[18:14] <dscassel> I'm probably going to try zareason for my next machine.
[18:14] <dscassel> Much as I think the System76 guys are awesome...
[18:18] <epod> dscassel, oh right ups' brokerage fee... ugh I guess system76 is out
[18:19] <epod> I'm currently thinking either http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX34104 or http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX34111 I'm just a bit concerned about AMD Fusion stuff under Linux not being mature.  And I don't know which is better for windows gaming.
[20:29] <DarwinSurvivor> epod I got a system76 machine a few months go. had it shipped to a location in the US, then brught it over myself
[20:30] <DarwinSurvivor> paid about $25 shipping and duty was just the 12% (I believe)
[20:56] <DarwinSurvivor> actually, I don't think we had to pay anything to bring it accross, just the $25 shipping to get it to blaine
[20:56] <DarwinSurvivor> you just have to get the shipping destination added as an authorized shipping destination to your credit card (5 minute phone call to the bank)
[20:57] <epod> DarwinSurvivor, yeah, I could do that I suppose, Fargo isnt that far south.
[20:58] <epod> genii-around, I havent found any on Dell's site, do you where I'd look?
[20:58] <DarwinSurvivor> just add the shipping address to your card, then verify it with system76 before buying it
[20:59] <epod> DarwinSurvivor, mmkay.
[21:01] <dscassel> I'm very pro buying Ubuntu pre-installed.
[21:01] <dscassel> But failing that, you can always look up potential purchases here: https://friendly.ubuntu.com/
[21:01] <DarwinSurvivor> some manufacturers (Acer I know of) will give you a partial refund on the OS if you send in your HDD for a full wipe right after purchase
[21:02] <epod> dscassel, I'd like to, but Dell apparently has no ubuntu notebooks for sale in Canada anymore, and its a 3 ring circus (or really expensive) to get a system76 :(
[21:02] <genii-around> epod: This is the old page: http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=ca&l=en&cs=cadhs1    if you use their search bar on top right with: linux laptop the first hit at top is the Inspiron N411Z
[21:02] <DarwinSurvivor> just get something in writing from the manufacturer before purchase
[21:02] <epod> genii-around, yeah, but if I go to BUY one, only win7 is available
[21:04] <DarwinSurvivor> another route is small shops, they are usually more willing to bring in custom-build systems with no OS
[21:04] <DarwinSurvivor> If you live in lower-mainland BC, geeks-are-us will probably do that for you
[21:06] <epod> I'm in winnipeg, just checking out google to see if there's anything around here
[21:07] <epod> DarwinSurvivor, I'm currently just thinking of going with http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/dell-dell-inspiron-15-6-laptop-featuring-intel-core-i3-2310m-processor-i15rn-7059dbk-black-i15rn-7059dbk/10174369.aspx?path=b79161cf9d839f2c30aa72808a84e255en02 and putting 11.10 on it
[21:08] <epod> from what I can tell, all the hardware ought to work out of the box
[21:09] <DarwinSurvivor> nice
[21:09] <epod> oddly, $50 cheaper than buying the SAME laptop from Dell.ca
[21:09] <DarwinSurvivor> there should be an equivalent on Dell's site
[21:09] <epod> which I don't get :S
[21:09] <epod> yeah there is, it's $50 more.
[21:09] <epod> lol
[21:09] <DarwinSurvivor> it won't be the same model number (bestbuy gets custom numbers for "price comparison" reasons), but there should be a VERY close one on Dell's site
[21:10]  * DarwinSurvivor just read up 5 lines, nvm...
[21:11] <DarwinSurvivor> before you buy it, e-mail Dell's sales support asking what the procedure is for OS refunds (not if they exist, ask what they are)
[21:11] <DarwinSurvivor> you can probably get 50-100 back :D
[21:11] <epod> I just wonder if I can do some decent gaming on it, and ok, I will do that.
[21:11] <epod> (by decent I mean, minecraft, trine, maybe wow)
[21:12] <epod> all under linux of course, dual booting is the debbil.
[21:54] <BobJonkman> Is there any advantage in a bulk purchase?
[21:55] <BobJonkman> What if we created a Laptop Buying Consortium amongst Ubuntu-ca people.  Would that reduce our cost in shipping, duty, brokerage fees?
[22:14] <dscassel> Probably only works if we're all in the same city.
[22:14] <dscassel> Although duty (and probably brokerage fees, because they're evil like that) are a percentage of the declared value.
[22:14] <dscassel> But you'd save on shipping...
[22:17] <epod> yeah the whole customs brokerage fees from UPS are insane.
[22:17] <epod> I'd rather stuff ship USPS, but that isnt an option