good notebook for linux

Troy Piggins · External Since: Jun 29, 2007 Posts: 1

I'm in the market for a notebook computer. While I have bought and built
from components many desktop computers for both linux and windows, I have
never bought a notebook and know next to nothing about their compatibility
with linux.

If using current distros like Ubuntu 7.04 or PCLinuxOS 2007 - I assume most
new notebooks' drivers will be automatically installed?

Can anyone recommend a good linux-friendly notebook?

In terms of specs: it will be dual boot Win/linux; I like a big HDD because
of that and plenty of photos; I like gaming so good (256Mb) graphics card;
plenty of memory. I'll have a separate USB cordless mouse and keyboard.

Wireless network cards pretty standard these days? I had some difficulty
in the past getting linux and wireless PCI card to play together, but it
wasn't essential and it was early days of wireless linux drivers so I
didn't persist. Much easier these days?

Can't think of anything else atm.

--
Troy Piggins
using Xnews from work while getting new home connected

HW-K · External Since: Jun 29, 2007 Posts: 1

This message is not archived

Kingsley · External Since: May 08, 2007 Posts: 7

On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 19:12:05 +0000, HW-K wrote:

> Avoid intel core duo

I've had a dual-core dell xps 1210 for about 6-8 months.

Everything works fine, but I've never used the bluetooth,
so can't be sure about that. Running Gentoo 64 bit.

Wireless worked perfectly first go, as did cabled connection.

One thing I don't like about this laptop is it doesn't have
a gigabit network connection, only 10/100.

Some of the drivers took a bit of catching-up for 64-bit,
particularly the built-in video-conferencing camera. I guess
because it was fairly new hardware when I bought it.

-kt

--
Kingsley Turner,
http://MadDogsBreakfast.com/ABFAQ - news:aus.bicycle Frequenly Asked Questions

Will Kemp · External Since: Oct 18, 2006 Posts: 2

On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:14:21 +0000, Troy Piggins wrote:

In general, most things seem to just work with Linux nowadays. But i
think Dell do make an effort to get their stuff working with linux. IBM
used to sell Thinkpads with Linux as an option instead of windows - but
not any more. And IBM don't make Thinkpads any more, anyway. My last
laptop was an oldish Thinkpad and i never had any problems with it as far
as i remember.

Before that, i had a Digital HiNote - which i ran Linux on since 1995.
But Digital have long gone!

My current one is a Toshiba Satellite M55-S331 - which i don't like much,
mainly because it's got a shiny screen (which is hard on your eyes), but
i bought it while i was working in Kabul not long ago, and i thought i
was getting a different one (long story...). Anyway, pretty much
everything works well with it - including the onboard winmodem, which i'm
using to write this (i'm in a remote area in the NT, so no broadband -
groan!). The only thing that doesn't work is the 5-in-one card reader -
SD cards are supposed to work with it, and appear to work to a point, but
i can't work out how to mount the things!

For an idea of what works with what, have a look at the Linux on Laptops
site - http://www.linux-laptop.net - it's a bit patchy, but it will give
you some ideas.

Will

Gregory Shearman · External Since: Jun 30, 2004 Posts: 492

Troy Piggins wrote:

> Can anyone recommend a good linux-friendly notebook?

http://www.vgcomputing.com.au/notebookcompare.html

This company also sells machines with linux pre-installed. They know what
works.

--
Regards,

Gregory.
Gentoo Linux - Penguin Power

Troy Piggins · External Since: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 7

* Gregory Shearman is quoted & my replies are inline below :
> Troy Piggins wrote:
>
>> Can anyone recommend a good linux-friendly notebook?
>
> http://www.vgcomputing.com.au/notebookcompare.html
>
> This company also sells machines with linux pre-installed. They know what
> works.

Thanks - I'll look into it.

--
Troy Piggins | http://piggo.com/~troy
RLU#415538 ,-O (o- O
O ) //\ O
`-O V_/_ OOO

Troy Piggins · External Since: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 7

* Will Kemp is quoted & my replies are inline below :
> On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:14:21 +0000, Troy Piggins wrote:
>
> In general, most things seem to just work with Linux nowadays. But i
> think Dell do make an effort to get their stuff working with linux. IBM
> used to sell Thinkpads with Linux as an option instead of windows - but
> not any more. And IBM don't make Thinkpads any more, anyway. My last
> laptop was an oldish Thinkpad and i never had any problems with it as far
> as i remember.
>
> Before that, i had a Digital HiNote - which i ran Linux on since 1995.
> But Digital have long gone!
>
> My current one is a Toshiba Satellite M55-S331 - which i don't like much,
> mainly because it's got a shiny screen (which is hard on your eyes), but
> i bought it while i was working in Kabul not long ago, and i thought i
> was getting a different one (long story...). Anyway, pretty much
> everything works well with it - including the onboard winmodem, which i'm
> using to write this (i'm in a remote area in the NT, so no broadband -
> groan!). The only thing that doesn't work is the 5-in-one card reader -
> SD cards are supposed to work with it, and appear to work to a point, but
> i can't work out how to mount the things!
>
> For an idea of what works with what, have a look at the Linux on Laptops
> site - http://www.linux-laptop.net - it's a bit patchy, but it will give
> you some ideas.

Thanks for that.

--
Troy Piggins | http://piggo.com/~troy
RLU#415538 ,-O (o- O
O ) //\ O
`-O V_/_ OOO

Troy Piggins · External Since: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 7

[Subject changed - it wasn't OT]

* Stanislaw Flatto is quoted & my replies are inline below :
> Troy Piggins wrote:
>> I'm in the market for a notebook computer. While I have bought and built
>> from components many desktop computers for both linux and windows, I have
>> never bought a notebook and know next to nothing about their compatibility
>> with linux.
>>
>> If using current distros like Ubuntu 7.04 or PCLinuxOS 2007 - I assume most
>> new notebooks' drivers will be automatically installed?
>>
>> Can anyone recommend a good linux-friendly notebook?
>>
>> In terms of specs: it will be dual boot Win/linux; I like a big HDD because
>> of that and plenty of photos; I like gaming so good (256Mb) graphics card;
>> plenty of memory. I'll have a separate USB cordless mouse and keyboard.
>>
>> Wireless network cards pretty standard these days? I had some difficulty
>> in the past getting linux and wireless PCI card to play together, but it
>> wasn't essential and it was early days of wireless linux drivers so I
>> didn't persist. Much easier these days?
>>
>> Can't think of anything else atm.
>
> Can you think at all?

Yes. That's why I posted here asking for the advice of linux
users with experience using notebooks with linux as the OS,
rather than just buying a notebook and finding not everything
works.

> You buying a toy for Linux or for the humanoid sample using it.

You calling me a "humanoid sample"? Haha. I like you. You
remind me of my cousin who dressed up in medieval gear for his
wedding.

> Once you decide which then the criteria will be different.
> Like comfort of fingers on keyboard, eyes on display, carrying 'IT' and
> the attachments from one point to another and such.

Correct. But to narrow down my search for the perfect notebook,
I thought I could draw on the expertise of this group to point me
in the direction of notebooks recommended for linux compatibility
and ones to avoid. Once I have a list of potential candidates I
can then test the feel etc of them.

> What it will be used for and how depends on quality of gray matter and
> 'it's' OS.

Quality of gray matter? "It's" OS? What? I'm having doubts
about your "quality of gray matter", mate.

I thought I was pretty clear in my OP - perhaps you should
re-read it. I said I have no experience with notebooks and was
concerned about linux-compatibility. I asked if anyone had any
recommendations on linux-friendly notebooks. I asked if wireless
is not as difficult to get running as it used to be. I mentioned
graphics.

Do you have any recommendations? Perhaps ones to avoid would be
simpler?

> But this in different group.

Why? Isn't this a linux group and I was asking about
linux-compatible notebooks? I don't see any of this as OT.

> Have fun

I will, thanks.

Peace.

--
Troy Piggins | http://piggo.com/~troy
RLU#415538 ,-O (o- O
O ) //\ O
`-O V_/_ OOO

Troy Piggins · External Since: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 7

* Kingsley is quoted & my replies are inline below :
> On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 19:12:05 +0000, HW-K wrote:
>
>> Avoid intel core duo
>
> I've had a dual-core dell xps 1210 for about 6-8 months.
>
> Everything works fine, but I've never used the bluetooth,
> so can't be sure about that. Running Gentoo 64 bit.
>
> Wireless worked perfectly first go, as did cabled connection.

Good to hear. Thanks.

> One thing I don't like about this laptop is it doesn't have
> a gigabit network connection, only 10/100.

My network is only 10/100 now anyway.

> Some of the drivers took a bit of catching-up for 64-bit,
> particularly the built-in video-conferencing camera. I guess
> because it was fairly new hardware when I bought it.

But they did "catch up" eventually? So all working now?

--
Troy Piggins | http://piggo.com/~troy
RLU#415538 ,-O (o- O
O ) //\ O
`-O V_/_ OOO

Stanislaw Flatto · External Since: Apr 21, 2007 Posts: 37

Troy Piggins wrote:
> [Subject changed - it wasn't OT]
>
> * Stanislaw Flatto is quoted & my replies are inline below :
>> Troy Piggins wrote:
>>> I'm in the market for a notebook computer. While I have bought and built
>>> from components many desktop computers for both linux and windows, I have
>>> never bought a notebook and know next to nothing about their compatibility
>>> with linux.
>>>
>>> If using current distros like Ubuntu 7.04 or PCLinuxOS 2007 - I assume most
>>> new notebooks' drivers will be automatically installed?
>>>
>>> Can anyone recommend a good linux-friendly notebook?
>>>
>>> In terms of specs: it will be dual boot Win/linux; I like a big HDD because
>>> of that and plenty of photos; I like gaming so good (256Mb) graphics card;
>>> plenty of memory. I'll have a separate USB cordless mouse and keyboard.
>>>
>>> Wireless network cards pretty standard these days? I had some difficulty
>>> in the past getting linux and wireless PCI card to play together, but it
>>> wasn't essential and it was early days of wireless linux drivers so I
>>> didn't persist. Much easier these days?
>>>
>>> Can't think of anything else atm.
>> Can you think at all?
>
> Yes. That's why I posted here asking for the advice of linux
> users with experience using notebooks with linux as the OS,
> rather than just buying a notebook and finding not everything
> works.
>
>> You buying a toy for Linux or for the humanoid sample using it.
>
> You calling me a "humanoid sample"? Haha. I like you. You
> remind me of my cousin who dressed up in medieval gear for his
> wedding.
>
>> Once you decide which then the criteria will be different.
>> Like comfort of fingers on keyboard, eyes on display, carrying 'IT' and
>> the attachments from one point to another and such.
>
> Correct. But to narrow down my search for the perfect notebook,
> I thought I could draw on the expertise of this group to point me
> in the direction of notebooks recommended for linux compatibility
> and ones to avoid. Once I have a list of potential candidates I
> can then test the feel etc of them.
>
>> What it will be used for and how depends on quality of gray matter and
>> 'it's' OS.
>
> Quality of gray matter? "It's" OS? What? I'm having doubts
> about your "quality of gray matter", mate.
>
> I thought I was pretty clear in my OP - perhaps you should
> re-read it. I said I have no experience with notebooks and was
> concerned about linux-compatibility. I asked if anyone had any
> recommendations on linux-friendly notebooks. I asked if wireless
> is not as difficult to get running as it used to be. I mentioned
> graphics.
>
> Do you have any recommendations? Perhaps ones to avoid would be
> simpler?
>
>> But this in different group.
>
> Why? Isn't this a linux group and I was asking about
> linux-compatible notebooks? I don't see any of this as OT.
>
>> Have fun
>
> I will, thanks.
>
> Peace.
>
Pax.
Lets do it slowly. As computers invaded our lives few decades ago it
gave us time and opportunity to meet various solutions to 'human
engineering'. And it tought us to like or dislike some of them. The
miniaturisation of laptops for ease of carrying them on long flights or
in cars meant that the keyboard shrank to level that does not fit a
working man (humanoid) creature. So laptops as a group are an existing
trouble which is _never_ invited in front of my comfortable 'computer
chair'. And the box, keyboard and screen can have as much space as
needed as long as they fit mine parts. ( No cosmetic surgery for me to
fit computer manufacturers designs.)
You ask what to avoid, any discomfort, just say 'thank you' and move to
different item. Till you find one that fits like a glove.

Good hunting

Stanislaw

Kingsley · External Since: May 08, 2007 Posts: 7

On Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:10:05 +1000, Troy Piggins wrote:

>> Some of the drivers took a bit of catching-up for 64-bit, particularly
>> the built-in video-conferencing camera. I guess because it was fairly
>> new hardware when I bought it.
>
> But they did "catch up" eventually? So all working now?

Yeah, everything works.

At one stage I was thinking about dropping back to 32bit, but
after a few months the final bits fell into place.

If you want me to boot an Ubuntu CD and check something, let
me know.

cheers,
-kt

--
Kingsley Turner,
http://MadDogsBreakfast.com/ABFAQ - news:aus.bicycle Frequenly Asked Questions

Troy Piggins · External Since: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 7

* Kingsley is quoted & my replies are inline below :
> On Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:10:05 +1000, Troy Piggins wrote:
>
>>> Some of the drivers took a bit of catching-up for 64-bit, particularly
>>> the built-in video-conferencing camera. I guess because it was fairly
>>> new hardware when I bought it.
>>
>> But they did "catch up" eventually? So all working now?
>
> Yeah, everything works.
>
> At one stage I was thinking about dropping back to 32bit, but
> after a few months the final bits fell into place.
>
> If you want me to boot an Ubuntu CD and check something, let
> me know.

Thanks mate.

--
Troy Piggins | http://piggo.com/~troy
RLU#415538 ,-O (o- O
O ) //\ O
`-O V_/_ OOO

Doug Laidlaw · External Since: Apr 12, 2007 Posts: 46

Gregory Shearman wrote:

> Troy Piggins wrote:
>
>> Can anyone recommend a good linux-friendly notebook?
>
> http://www.vgcomputing.com.au/notebookcompare.html
>
> This company also sells machines with linux pre-installed. They know what
> works.
>
I notice that they will also sell you one with NO OS preinstalled, not even
windows. So if you don't like their flavour of Linux...

Doug.
--
Perhaps the most important thing we give each other is our attention.
-- Dr R. N. Remen.

atec77 · External Since: Jul 03, 2007 Posts: 1

Troy Piggins wrote:
> [Subject changed - it wasn't OT]
>
> * Stanislaw Flatto is quoted & my replies are inline below :
>> Troy Piggins wrote:
>>> I'm in the market for a notebook computer. While I have bought and built
>>> from components many desktop computers for both linux and windows, I have
>>> never bought a notebook and know next to nothing about their compatibility
>>> with linux.
>>>
>>> If using current distros like Ubuntu 7.04 or PCLinuxOS 2007 - I assume most
>>> new notebooks' drivers will be automatically installed?
>>>
>>> Can anyone recommend a good linux-friendly notebook?
>>>
>>> In terms of specs: it will be dual boot Win/linux; I like a big HDD because
>>> of that and plenty of photos; I like gaming so good (256Mb) graphics card;
>>> plenty of memory. I'll have a separate USB cordless mouse and keyboard.
>>>
>>> Wireless network cards pretty standard these days? I had some difficulty
>>> in the past getting linux and wireless PCI card to play together, but it
>>> wasn't essential and it was early days of wireless linux drivers so I
>>> didn't persist. Much easier these days?
>>>
>>> Can't think of anything else atm.
>> Can you think at all?
>
> Yes. That's why I posted here asking for the advice of linux
> users with experience using notebooks with linux as the OS,
> rather than just buying a notebook and finding not everything
> works.
>
>> You buying a toy for Linux or for the humanoid sample using it.
>
> You calling me a "humanoid sample"? Haha. I like you. You
> remind me of my cousin who dressed up in medieval gear for his
> wedding.
>
>> Once you decide which then the criteria will be different.
>> Like comfort of fingers on keyboard, eyes on display, carrying 'IT' and
>> the attachments from one point to another and such.
>
> Correct. But to narrow down my search for the perfect notebook,
> I thought I could draw on the expertise of this group to point me
> in the direction of notebooks recommended for linux compatibility
> and ones to avoid. Once I have a list of potential candidates I
> can then test the feel etc of them.
>
>> What it will be used for and how depends on quality of gray matter and
>> 'it's' OS.
>
> Quality of gray matter? "It's" OS? What? I'm having doubts
> about your "quality of gray matter", mate.
>
> I thought I was pretty clear in my OP - perhaps you should
> re-read it. I said I have no experience with notebooks and was
> concerned about linux-compatibility. I asked if anyone had any
> recommendations on linux-friendly notebooks. I asked if wireless
> is not as difficult to get running as it used to be. I mentioned
> graphics.
>
> Do you have any recommendations? Perhaps ones to avoid would be
> simpler?
>
>> But this in different group.
>
> Why? Isn't this a linux group and I was asking about
> linux-compatible notebooks? I don't see any of this as OT.
>
>> Have fun
>
> I will, thanks.
>
> Peace.
>
I bought a decent 2 gig Dell lappy the other day at a market , added a
suitable pcmcia wireless card and just installed Umbutu , video took a
fiddle but its fine on xp and better on nix , I suggest short of a
wireless card the lappys of today shouldn't be problematic at all/

Unruh · External Since: May 27, 2005 Posts: 2213

atec77 <"atec 77 at hotmail dot com"> writes:

>Troy Piggins wrote:
>> [Subject changed - it wasn't OT]
>>
>> * Stanislaw Flatto is quoted & my replies are inline below :
>>> Troy Piggins wrote:
>>>> I'm in the market for a notebook computer. While I have bought and built
>>>> from components many desktop computers for both linux and windows, I have
>>>> never bought a notebook and know next to nothing about their compatibility
>>>> with linux.
>>>>
>>>> If using current distros like Ubuntu 7.04 or PCLinuxOS 2007 - I assume most
>>>> new notebooks' drivers will be automatically installed?
>>>>
>>>> Can anyone recommend a good linux-friendly notebook?
>>>>
>>>> In terms of specs: it will be dual boot Win/linux; I like a big HDD because
>>>> of that and plenty of photos; I like gaming so good (256Mb) graphics card;
>>>> plenty of memory. I'll have a separate USB cordless mouse and keyboard.

This is silly. The one thing which notebooks do is to be portable. That
comes at a cost. They cost at least twice and up to three times what a
desktop costs, they are slower and they have less memory/disk space. Those
are the prices you pay for portability. If you want lots of memory, great
graphics, lots of hard disk, get a desktop, not a laptop. If you try to
fulfill your requirements with a laptop it will be heavy, will have
terrible battery time, will be expensive and still will not live up to what
a desktop could do.

>>>>
>>>> Wireless network cards pretty standard these days? I had some difficulty
>>>> in the past getting linux and wireless PCI card to play together, but it
>>>> wasn't essential and it was early days of wireless linux drivers so I
>>>> didn't persist. Much easier these days?

Depends on the wireless card. Some manufacturers still insist on not giving
any info to Linux writers. YOu can use ndiswrapper or linuxdriver, but even
that is not 100% guaranteed. Ie, get a wireless that you know works with
linux ( a number do)

Gregory Shearman · External Since: Jun 30, 2004 Posts: 492

Doug Laidlaw wrote:

> Gregory Shearman wrote:
>
>> Troy Piggins wrote:
>>
>>> Can anyone recommend a good linux-friendly notebook?
>>
>> http://www.vgcomputing.com.au/notebookcompare.html
>>
>> This company also sells machines with linux pre-installed. They know what
>> works.
>>
> I notice that they will also sell you one with NO OS preinstalled, not
> even
> windows. So if you don't like their flavour of Linux...

Yeah, I bought an IBM Lenovo Thinkpad off them with no OS installed. In
fact, I'm using it right now with Gentoo Stable installed. The only thing I
don't like much about it is its ATI Radeon graphics hardware, but it works
with the ATI binary blob and provides 3D graphics. If I bought another I'd
make sure it had nvidia graphics hardware.

--
Regards,

Gregory.
Gentoo Linux - Penguin Power

Troy Piggins · External Since: Jul 01, 2007 Posts: 7

* Unruh is quoted & my replies are inline below :
> atec77 <"atec 77 at hotmail dot com"> writes:
>
>>Troy Piggins wrote:
>>> [Subject changed - it wasn't OT]
>>>
>>> * Stanislaw Flatto is quoted & my replies are inline below :
>>>> Troy Piggins wrote:
>>>>> I'm in the market for a notebook computer. While I have
>>>>> bought and built from components many desktop computers for
>>>>> both linux and windows, I have never bought a notebook and
>>>>> know next to nothing about their compatibility with linux.
>>>>>
>>>>> If using current distros like Ubuntu 7.04 or PCLinuxOS 2007
>>>>> - I assume most new notebooks' drivers will be
>>>>> automatically installed?
>>>>>
>>>>> Can anyone recommend a good linux-friendly notebook?
>>>>>
>>>>> In terms of specs: it will be dual boot Win/linux; I like a
>>>>> big HDD because of that and plenty of photos; I like gaming
>>>>> so good (256Mb) graphics card; plenty of memory. I'll have
>>>>> a separate USB cordless mouse and keyboard.
>
> This is silly. The one thing which notebooks do is to be
> portable. That comes at a cost. They cost at least twice and up
> to three times what a desktop costs, they are slower and they
> have less memory/disk space. Those are the prices you pay for
> portability. If you want lots of memory, great graphics, lots
> of hard disk, get a desktop, not a laptop. If you try to
> fulfill your requirements with a laptop it will be heavy, will
> have terrible battery time, will be expensive and still will
> not live up to what a desktop could do.

Fair enough and good points.

>>>>> Wireless network cards pretty standard these days? I had
>>>>> some difficulty in the past getting linux and wireless PCI
>>>>> card to play together, but it wasn't essential and it was
>>>>> early days of wireless linux drivers so I didn't persist.
>>>>> Much easier these days?
>
> Depends on the wireless card. Some manufacturers still insist
> on not giving any info to Linux writers. YOu can use
> ndiswrapper or linuxdriver, but even that is not 100%
> guaranteed. Ie, get a wireless that you know works with linux (
> a number do)

Thanks.

--
Troy Piggins | http://piggo.com/~troy
RLU#415538 ,-O (o- O
O ) //\ O
`-O V_/_ OOO