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In the process of looking to get a new laptop....

H

Hyperblaze

Lifer
Been looking at places such as staples and future shop.

Two brands stick out the most in my mind - Toshiba and HP. They have some nice 17 inch monitor laptops. Really sweet.

All laptops I've seen have Windows Vista on it, but I care more if Linux runs on it (I'm not here to start an argument, but if Linux can't run on it, I'm not interested).

Curious to know what good models you folks would recommend?

 
Myself I like the IBM T series laptops.
They seem to match up with Linux pretty well. The only downside is they are a little expensive.

Hp builds a good laptop and I feel Acer builds a decent laptop for the price.
You pretty much have to look at the hardware each model laptop on your list has.
Then see how it matches up with Linux.
 
If you can, WAIT! Get a system based on the new Santa Rosa chipset. This way you'll be able to go to 4gig (useable) or more memory. Current laptops are limited with 32bit addressing so you never can go much past 2.5/3gig..
 
I've got an E1705 (Dell), and it has great linux support with the Intel 3945 wireless, and Go7900GS. I've got mine with 2GB 667, 100GB disk, it's a smooth system. I'm swapping disks for Windows and Linux, it's a smooth setup.
 
Originally posted by: SoundTheSurrender
17inch monitor is overkill. Why not use the cash saved and get a external monitor?
Click to expand...

Cause the external monitor is harder to pass thru security with 🙂
 
Santa Rosa would make a good Linux system eventually. Like everything else new hardware will have teething problems in Linux.

the principal reason for Linux users to use Santa Rosa style laptops will because it will come with the 965MG chipset which is the mobile equivelent of the GMA X3000, which is pretty decent for onboard graphics and have open source support.

The current Centrino laptops with Intel graphics use the 945G chipset, the GMA 950. This provides decent performance and has performance that is good enough for smooth Beryl/compiz type stuff.

Personally I am waiting for the Santa Rosa platform for the graphics, mainly. I don't mind futzing around with hardware to get it to work well either, but if you want to have as trouble-free experiance as possible stick with the current generation of stuff as it's pretty popular.

Maybe even check out the systems from System76.com. They don't install Windows, but they said installing Windows won't void your warrentee or anything like that. They do a pretty good job of supporting Ubuntu, do a good job on details, and from what I've heard from owners their stuff has good quality.
 
There are pretty much two rules to go by when buying a laptop for linux:
1. Stay away from broadcom wireless chipsets
2. Stay away from ATI graphic cards

Those 2 things right there will give you the most problems when it comes to setting up the system.

As far as good wireless chipsets the intel and atheros ones work very well under linux. Intel ones are supported straight out of the kernel and atheros ones are supported very well through madwifi. As far as graphics go believe it or not intel GMA cards offer the best performance for composite managers (3d effects) because the drivers are excellent. Nvidia drivers are also well supported. ATI on the other hand are a nightmare to set up correctly.

PS Intel has already released the new updated driver for X3100 support under linux.
 
I have had great luck with Dells. My D810 is great, installed out of box with nothing left (unless I wanted 3D, which I did...)
 
Yeah seeing as now Dell is about to have the option of having linux preinstalled I would go with a Latitude D630 or D830. Get it with X3100 and intel wireless chip and you shouldnt encounter any problem.
 
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