Notebook recommendations

[eriznik]

Can anyone please recommend a good brand of laptop that is available new from the manufacturer without any of the proprietary software garbage installed. I would like to find a laptop in which I can install the OS/drivers/apps and such myself without the need of a install disk from the manufacturer.

Thanks for any input.

 

[DaveSimmons]

You'll still need a drivers disc or manufacturer downloads for:
- motherboard chipset
- onboard video
- audio
- keyboard including special / function keys
- network chip & wifi card
- power management

... also if you want to install XP or 2000 make sure the above drivers are compatible.

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
You'll still need a drivers disc or manufacturer downloads for:
- motherboard chipset
- onboard video
- audio
- keyboard including special / function keys
- network chip & wifi card
- power management

... also if you want to install XP or 2000 make sure the above drivers are compatible.

Or:

You need an Ubuntu Jaunty Jackelope CD and a list of compatible chipsets and components.

 

[armstrda]

Basically every laptop on the market will have OEM junk on it. If you have a copy of XP/2000/Vista you want to install, just be sure to get all the drivers from the laptop website first, then just blast away the installed OS and do a clean install. This is what I always do.

 

[IlllI]

dell vostro line has minimal junk on them. last vostro i got only had dell support center app and owners manual

 

[LikeLinus]

I ordered my Sager laptop with no OS installed. It saved me $95 off the price and I was able to install Win 7 RC.

Additionally, I only had to install one driver for the laptop. Everything worked with the exception of the SD Card slot. I did install a driver from Sagers website for that.