New Light/Thin (12"?) Laptop for Linux

[hone02]

Hi, I run Debian Linux as my workstation and everything works fine (x86, AMD Athlon XP). I'm looking to replace my 2 year old laptop, Dell Inspiron 1100 with a new much lighter laptop. My current one is 7+ lb and has a 14.1" screen. I'm looking into around 12.1" screens. I'm not entirely sure if 12.1" is worth it, but people tell me it's significantly lighter and more convenient to carry around. I've been looking around, but most x86 type laptops have either crappy keyboards or no optical drives. I'm not exactly sure how much I'd actually use the optical drive, but it'd be nice to have. I've heard IBMs run linux the best. I have dell and pretty much almost everything is supported minus power management. The other option that I've seen that has a nice keybarod has been the powerbooks. For the hardware specs I think the 12" powerbook is cheaper, but the airport extreme cards aren't supported in ppc and I'd be stuck using the nv driver for their nvidia card. That sort of sucks, but most 12.1" don't have dedicated 3d cards anyways for x86, just integrated intel graphics cards which aren't that great. If anyone could shed some light on the issue, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[Ecgtheow]

Don't get the PowerBook if you're just going to put Linux on it.

 

[RichieZ]

the one i have, and its for sale
click

i even have the atheros based 802.11a/b/g card, last I looked you need a wrapper for the intel broadcom based cards

dedicated ATI radeon mobility

 

[jdiddy]

Originally posted by: RichieZ
the one i have, and its for sale
click

i even have the atheros based 802.11a/b/g card, last I looked you need a wrapper from the intel cards

dedicated ATI radeon mobility

Thats an awsome laptop to run Linux on. The x31 is just a great laptop in genetral

 

[hone02]

how's the keyboard on it, I'v heard it's sort of cramped especially comapred to full sized keyboards. But I've also heard ibm keybaords are the best. Could you give me more specs than what's listed on the page. I've really interested in buying it. What's the optical and what kind of wireless card is it? Sorry, I don't know much about laptops, just what I have. How old is it, any problems or anything? Does the warranty transfer over? My friend told me extended warranty can only be transferred with written permission from ibm. Also do you have more pictures? One more thing, how much is it the docking bay is that the ultrabase docking station?

 

[Wuzup101]

Thinkpad definitely. Powerbooks are nice (I have one) but it would be useless to get and then throw linux on (not that linux is bad or anything). But OSX doesn't need replacing. That being said you could just use OSX

 

[hone02]

It's not that OS X is bad or I have anything Apple's OS or hardware, it's just a principle thing and I like linux. I've been using for 5-6 years now. Things are rapidly improving too. I just like the open source thing. I know it would make it a lot easier to run WinXP on my desktop to play games and stuff, but I only play games I can play on linux.

 

[RichieZ]

Originally posted by: hone02
how's the keyboard on it, I'v heard it's sort of cramped especially comapred to full sized keyboards. But I've also heard ibm keybaords are the best. Could you give me more specs than what's listed on the page. I've really interested in buying it. What's the optical and what kind of wireless card is it? Sorry, I don't know much about laptops, just what I have. How old is it, any problems or anything? Does the warranty transfer over? My friend told me extended warranty can only be transferred with written permission from ibm. Also do you have more pictures? One more thing, how much is it the docking bay is that the ultrabase docking station?

the keyboard is excellent, its like using a full sized keyboard excpt the backspace and cntrl keys are a bit smaller tha normal.

there is no optical drive, the dockation station i have is more of a port replicator, makes hoooking it up to an external lcd much easier, jsut put it in when ur at the desk. I used to have a dvd burner in an external case but I sold that off when I go the ibook.

the laptop is a little less than 1.5 years old, its is in perfect condition. I always keep it in a neoprene case.

the wireless card is an atheron based 802.11 a/b/g mini-pci card, so it should be supported under linux.

IBM warranties are tied to the machine, i'm not sure if the 1yr extra warranty from visa will transfer though, visa extends the warranty 1yr if the entire purchased was made with a platinum visa.

The HD is a 4200RPM, that is dead silent. The ram is a Samsung original 512MB PC2100 stick, there is another free sodimm slot so memory can be upgraded. I used to run 1GB in the x31 but took out one stick for use in the ibook.

what else would you like to know? I'm sure the X31 runs linux great, I used to run redhat on my old T20 and the X31 is a far superior machine.

more pictures can be provided on request

 

[hone02]

can you supply a few pictures. So no optical drive comes with it, so I'd have to buy one? That's ok. The IBM warranty then expries @ 8/25/2006, so about a year and a half left? Then can you check the deal with the platinum visa warranty and see if it transfers? Are you seeling the neoprene case? I've never done sales on anand, how does this work?

 

[Tiamat]

That IBM X31 that guy i selling sounds like a perfect match for you esp for that price.

Next on the list would be the ASUS ultra portable notebook that you can find on their website.

 

[CoPilotJim]

http://www.rjtech.com/miva/merchant.mv?...=PROD&Store_Code=RT&Product_Code=A-M5N

I'd check out that laptop. Configure one yourself for about 1400-1500. It has a built in optical drive, weighs about 3 lbs and only a half lb more with the 9 cell battery.

If you want to buy it from like a store with a warranty and what not buy one from

www.powernotebooks.com

 

[RichieZ]

YGPM