Intel i5 and i7 linux questions

Hey all,
I am not a newbie to linux but I just been about of the game for a while. I am looking to buy a new laptop, my 4 year old asus is kicking the bucket. So I have some questions I need to get cleared up by some of you.

It is my understanding that if I buy a laptop with an i5 and say a
nvidia 425m video card, that the i5 kicks in optimus and since there are no optimus drivers for linux, I can only use linux with the intergrated intel graphics. Correct?

Now if I get the same laptop with an i7 and Nvidia 425m, optimus does not kick in, and therefore Linux should be able to see and use the full 425m card correct? or is it the 425m that is causing the linux issues? Are there any switchable graphics solutions that currently work with linux?

Please fill in the old dawg with your new tricks,

Thanks,
Erock

 

There has been a minor update on the Optimus front, not working yet, but some minor progress. I'll post that link in a second in the Optimus thread.

Any 4 series card that isn't optimus equipped should work fine. That's anything with an i7, at least until sandy bridge comes out when i7 will have an integrated GPU as well.