i've spent the last couple of days getting my laptop into shape so i can take it on the road for apachecon next week. i reinstalled the operating systems, and have been tweaking the linux config to be more in line with my desktop. my goal was actually to start using the laptop as my desktop, since its actually a slightly faster machine (p2/300 vs. p2/266), although it also has less ram (64 vs. 128). i think the real showstopper is going to be the video problems, though -- the vaio can't handle driving the external monitor at better than 60hz when the lcd is also on, and xfree86 is unstable with just the external monitor. the video performance is also pretty mushy compared to the voodoo3 in my desktop.

it would have been nice to be able to get rid of a machine. if i just had an lcd monitor, the refresh rate wouldn't be an issue. maybe i should just ditch the external monitor. hmm. (that would also make it easier to sell the desktop, if i went that route.)

the laptop does have better sound than the desktop. there's too much bass and no bass control on the desktop's sound card.

if i were to sell the desktop, i'd likely put the proceeds towards a wireless access point and wireless card for the laptop and join the home-wireless-network crowd.

on the other hand, selling the laptop and upgrading the desktop may be a better route to go. i don't use the laptop all that often, and it won't be possible to upgrade that in the piecemeal fashion that i've been upgrading the desktop all these many years.

(decisions, decisions. before i sell either computer, i should really do something about the bass that's been sitting unused in my closet since college.)