Linux and Laptops: recommendations

[walla]

I am a computer engineering graduate student and am kicking around the idea of buying a new laptop. I build my own desktops, and am knowledgable about hardware, but I know nothing about the laptop market since I've never owned one.

However, I'd like one that is Linux/unix friendly. Much of the work/research I do deals with applications that run in the *nix environment...plus saving on software costs would be nice. I am familiar enough with Linux to install and use it (as I have with my desktop).

I'd like a near-top-of-the-line [nice, but sensibly priced] model that I could dual boot. I would even entertain an Apple laptop if it gave me a good interface with Unix.

I was wondering what people may recommend as far as models or companies to purchase from. Any links to websites that talk about this are appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[phisrow]

http://www.linux-laptop.net/

http://www.linux.org/hardware/laptop.html

I have somewhat limited experience with Linux on laptops, myself(student budget and all that). My current box is an IBM T42(pentium M 1.7ghz, radeon 9600 mobile, intel pro wireless 2200 b/g, etc.) Linux pretty much works, on the whole(Ubuntu even set everything up properly out of the box). Both the touchpad and the trackpoint just work, PCMCIA just works, volume control, screen brightness, and thinklight are all in hardware and continue to just work. There are a few sticking points, though. IPW2200 support sucks a lot less than it used to; but you still want the Aetheros a/b/g if you can get it. Radeon open source drivers are nice and stable and just work; but don't do 3d. Radeon binary drivers suck, a lot. I've not tested the modem or irda. I really, really like the Thinkpad, as a box. Light, powerful, high enough resolution(1400x1050 on a 14 inch screen), really nice keyboard and trackpoint, etc. If you want something a little more desktop replacement style, you might consider an A64 box, preferably with NVIDIA graphics. 64 bit Linux is coming along quite nicely.

I don't know too much about the Apple offerings; but I get the impression that Linux on Apple is something of a mixed bag. Having an OS that gives you access to BSD right out of the box is quite nice, and the X11 environment is supposed to be pretty well integrated as well. You will face a smaller selection of OSS software, though, as most of it begins its life on x86 and maybe makes it to PPC in the end. Also, if you actually want to install Linux, rather than just run OSS under OSX, support on recent Apple gear isn't much better(if at all) than on recent x86 gear.