Programming laptop/software

[nzafi]

I am looking at the Compaq....i love the widescreen....my only purpose for the laptop is to use it for programming...i am a cs student....im looking at a base model so p1.4M 256mb ram......how are these machines?how is the keyboard and monitor??I have read lots of good things about them.....right now there is a $100MIR and 10%off coupon so it would be about $1050 +/- a few dollars.....what do you guys think?......also what kind of OS do you guys use?I was thinking of putting the latest version of linux on it instead of windows XP?and what editors do you guys use?Currently I do all my programming in Java and use Textpad, but will soon be downloading netbeans or eclipse. I was thinking of learning how to use emacs..any suggestions?

 

[tkdkid]

If you're going to put Linux on it, you may check some linux forums for laptops that have hardware that works properly with that OS.

I'd recommend 512MB for programming, especially with Java. I'm a .Net programmer and am happy to have 512 on my laptop (a dell inspiron 500m). So make sure you at least have the capability of upgrading the laptop.

 

[Descartes]

As tkdkid said, you'll definitely want 512 at a minimum. I have 512 on my thinkpad, and when I crank up SQL Server, VS.NET, command line, text editor (UltraEdit), etc. it barely chugs along. If you're doing Java programming in TextPad it's less important, but today's IDEs are pretty expensive in terms of RAM.

Why would you want to install Linux over XP if it already comes with XP? Is Linux your target platform? If you're wanting to run Linux to test your Java apps you could always get something like VMWare or Virtual PC (now owned by MS) and create a Linux VM.

Oh, and UltraEdit has been my favorite editor for years.

 

[nzafi]

Im a cs major, and it is frowned upon when people ask you if you know anything other than windows and you say no.. I want to install linux so i get to experience something other than windows, and i get to play around alittle bit.....i have been thinking about moving away from windows for awhile now, and this is a good opportunity for me.....if i choose i dont like it, i can always remove linux and put xp back on