What is the best 15.4" laptop for a linux solution?

Currently, I am looking at the Dell Studio 15 since it comes with Ubuntu Linux pre-installed, seems to be aesthetically comfortable from when I tried it out, and doesn't have that dedicated graphics solution that seems to be screwing up the XPS m1530.

Either way, what do you think is the best laptop for linux, most likely Ubuntu. Any other laptop manufactures offer native Linux drivers?

Also, I hear that in the end user agreement of Windows is required to offer an opportunity to get a refund for the Windows OS if a user buys a system with it pre-installed. Is that true?

 

I recommend ThinkPad T500 since there's a website whole about installing linux, including Ubuntu, on it called thinkwiki.org. here for T500 and here for T400. T500 and T400 share a lot of components so both articles will help.
According to the website, only fingerprint reader, screen resolution, and switchable graphics need some tweakings.

FYI, T500 comes with the powerful ATI 3650 VGA with 15.4" screen, and T400 comes with ATI 3470 with 14.1" screen.

 

Any laptop that uses a lot of intel stuff will likely work better. All my intel stuff worked out of box or with very minimal tweaking.

 

Linux works great on Thinkpads. I have a T61p and Ubuntu(along with other distros I have tried) have worked great on it. Like others have said usually Intel products work really well with Linux. Make sure to go with an Intel or Atheros Wifi chipset rather than a broadcom one. In fact there is a whole site devoted to Linux and Thinkpads here

 

Woo!!! Thank you for posting those links. They helped me to solve problems with the touchpad, suspend and hibernation on my T500!

thanks,
hank

 

Where does Dell sell Studio 15's with Ubuntu? All I see is Vista....

 

Nevermind I found it....

 

The Dell Studio 15 laptop is working well for me. I recommend it with the ATI graphic hardware and Intel Wireless. ie specifically, I have the 1537 version with ATI Radeon 3450 HD graphics, and Intel WiFi Link 5300 AGN wireless. I'm running openSUSE-11.1 RC1 on the laptop (i.e. I have the 2.6.27 kernel with this SuSE version , which is necessary for the wireless) . As noted, it works well.

Be careful as to which hardware graphics version of this laptop you procure. If you select a version with an Intel Graphic hardware, then in particular try to avoid a Studio 15 with an LCD Monitor manufactured by AUO - Manufacturer: AUO Model: 8174 Serial#: 0. This brand doesnt seem to work with the present variety of intel graphic driver.

Some bug reports.
https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=18342
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/297245

 

For me it's Nvidia for GPU, and Intel for Wireless as the two major players.

PS: Pixelot knows where you can pick up a 'ThinkBang' dirt cheap

 

How can you choose what LCD monitor you get? Dell doesn't allow you to do that as far as I can tell.

 

Why not just get a custom built laptop without an OS and install what you want? For example, I bought an MSI 1651 barebones and installed XP ($30 at my school) and Ubuntu.

 

IMHO its best to either:
a. purchase a Studio 15 with Linux already running (and hence presumeably does not have the non-Linux functional LCD monitor), or

b. purchase a Studio 15 that does NOT have Intel graphics (and its reasonably common for Dell to provide a small measure of choice on that (for example, I chose a Studio 15 with the ATI Radeon 3450 HD), or

c. chat with Dell purchasing, and try hard to have a pre-condition with your order that it should not include that specific LCD, and if it does, note you will return the laptop - I don't know if this later approach will work, but I do know that one can chat with Dell via email or on-line chat before a purchase.

 

Reference the Dell Studio 15, and a problem I noted with it:

Having typed the above, it is possible on openSUSE to get 1024x768 with the vesa driver (as I have read of both Mandriva and openSUSE users succeeding with this).

I now see an Ubuntu user has found would could be a "fix"/"work around" to get 1280 x 800 resolution with this LCD by adding a modeline in xorg.conf and 915resolution patch, and they have contributed to the openSUSE forum with an explanation of their fix, in the hope openSUSE users may also benefit from the Ubuntu fix: http://forums.opensuse.org/install-...-opensuse-dell-studio-1535-a.html#post1907459
Their Ubuntu fix assumes one starts with 800x600 vesa driver running, and then edits their configuration files to get 1280x800.