Which notebook for linux?

Hello,
I've previously posted in 'which notebook to buy' but I was wondering which notebook do people think is easier to use if you have a partition with a linux distro on it. I have heard most of the distros are a major problem with any distros but I am only going from what I've heard.

I have Debian on one of my desktops and I've had Ubuntu before. I am not an expert, though, as I usually get help when using it to any extent. I am more used to Debian-based distros but I am willing to try others (such as Fedora for e.g.) if another distro works better on a notebook. I would like wireless, too, so that is probably another problem area.

I still would be using Windows on another partition, though.

Any ideas or suggestions? All will be appreciated.

 

You can make most things work with enough googling and puttering. I have had Ubuntu installed on the T60 and the e1505, both with good results. I think the best thing to do would be find a computer that fits your needs and then check and see if there are any major linux issues.

 

another sneaky way is to go to a shop and ask to pop a LiveCD (Ubuntu, Knoppix, etc.) into the computer and reboot it. it won't install anything, it'll just load Linux into the system RAM and you can check stuff out.

If things work, you're golden.

 

Thanks, each reply had good advice! The LiveCD idea is very clever! I'm not sure you can get much of an idea of how much trouble it would be to set up wireless, though.

Btw, I would like to get a core2duo machine. A 17" desktop replacement screen would be ideal but it's not essential.

 

Well, come back to us here with any potential machines you're looking at, and we'll give you the heads up. It's really only wireless cards that give people trouble nowadays. And sometimes webcams.

 

http://tuxmobil.org/mylaptops.html

Once you have a laptop in mind, you can search that site and see if someone has installed Linux on it before and see what their experiences were. If you find nothing there, try Google. As Lysander said, wireless is really the biggest problems right now, but as long as you get something Atheros-based or Intel-based you should be fine. Another thing to look out for is proprietary hardware, such as fingerprint readers, webcams, etc. Those will likely not be supported either.

 

Okay, excellent site! Thanks! Yeah, I don't own a laptop yet but my bro does and he had some problems with wireless on it although it has worked at times. (It would stop working ultimately. I didn't get to witness the entire install procedure, though.)

 

I've had great results with mine, the only thing not working is the webcam. Everything else runs natively, with Beryl, everything on Kubuntu 6.10. Just a data point That being said, the T60 should be very compatible. You might also check out www.system76.com

 

Okay, I am considering the HP dv6700t (dv6757ca). It comes with Core 2 Duo 5450 and Nvidia 8400M GS. The wireless is the Intel 4965agn. Good candidate for Linux?

I am also considering Dell Vostro 1400/1500 since I can configure how I like but price goes up depending on what I choose. The configuration with the same hardware specs as the HP is around the same price as the HP. So, I guess I can go with the better quality laptop whichever that is?

I also think Thinkpads are at the top in terms of quality but I could only afford a used/refurbished model but some of the specs in those are quite good. But, they are not as new and probably can't get the same glossy widescreen? I would like to watch movies on the laptop or hook it up to a larger 22" LCD monitor or perhaps, later on, to a LCD TV. Can I get dvi signal/output from the HP laptop (which has HDMI port) so that I can hook up a dvi cable to a 22" lcd monitor or TV? I know I'd need an adapter.

Which laptop would be better suited for Linux and fit the rest of my needs (or should I say, preferences)?

 

well i can confirm that the wireless card will work with ubuntu 7.10 right out of the box, no work needed. As for the nvidia 8400, it probably wont work right away, you will probably need to download, install, and run envy to install the right driver for it.

 

I've used Envy to install video drivers before. I can get by with minor video drivers issues but wireless is pretty critical (for me).

I was curious if it matters if the video/graphics chipset is the Intel GM965/X3100. If it is between a laptop with the dv6000t configuration mentioned previously and a HP dx6000 series laptop with T7250 2.0GHz cpu and Intel 3100, which would you choose? Also, the former has a HDMI input and the dx6000 series one doesn't. I would like the option of hooking up an lcd monitor with DVI if possible.

The cpu benchmark shows the T7250 slightly ahead of the T5450?:
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

I think the Nvidia graphics might make the difference and make up somewhat for the slower cpu? I like the idea of a faster machine but perhaps, I won't do anything on the laptop that really requires the increase in speed? Having a fast (7200rpm) HDD would be more useful as messing around with distros might encourage ideas of having a faster drive? Anyway, please consider and advise on the two laptops mentioned!

The HP T5450 dv6000 model sounds good and seems to get good reviews. Comments?

 

My Acer 5920 has the Intel 4965 card and Intel X3100 graphics like you described. Running Ubuntu 7.10. Drivers for the new 4965 have been described as a bit flaky. That's likely to improve with a little bit of time. I've had a couple of funny experiences where the wireless card didn't pick up the network at our library and then it did. But that coulda been the library's fault. Their wireless seems unreliable.

The graphics work fine for basic functions, but no fancy Beryl Compiz options. The software for multi-monitor is a bit primitive but I'm hoping for improvement there as well.

Sound might be a little flaky - lots of people (myself included) having minor trouble. I get sound on only one side and headphones don't turn off the chassis speakers.

 

As long as it doesn't have Intel 3945abg, that's 80% of headache annihilated .

 

They both have Intel Pro/Wireless 4965 AGN.

The differences as I perceive them:
dv6757 (dv6000 series): T5450 cpu, HDMI port, Nvidia 8400M GS

dx6665ca (dx6600 series): T7250 cpu, no HDMI port, Intel GMA X3100 graphics

So, which one to choose if both are same price?

The later one, dx6000 series seems to be listed on sites as more expensive. The video graphics is a major difference and in favour of the slower machine but the dv6700 series one is only slightly slower, right? The HDMI port is useful if using an external LCD monitor (that has dvi port), right?

Does any of that factor in deciding which one to choose? I'm not a gamer but stuff like Google Earth, Compiz might run better in the T5450/dv6700 machine?

 

I chose to go with the Intel GMA X3100 when purchasing my ThinkPad T61 instead of going with an Nvidia card. The reasons:

• Better battery charge life.
• Less heat, which means quieter performance and will also extend the longevity of your battery.
• Open source drivers and specifications. This means that my laptop will be current and supported well into the future by Linux distros.
• The performance of the Intel graphics are head and shoulders over any previous integrated graphics solution. It even does OK on some heavy duty games.

Unless you are a heavy duty gamer, the Intel graphics offer several advantages and no disadvantage.

Here is a good discussion on the performance of this GMA:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=201011

 

Almost everything works in Kubuntu Gutsy (7.10) on my dv9700t CTO out of the box except sound, for which I had to compile the new ALSA driver, which was fairly simple. In Hardy Heron (8.04), which is coming out in late April, everything should be supported.

I believe the only thing that isn't support is the fingerprint reader, and maybe the microphone, which I haven't tested. Even the webcam shows a picture in Kopete config out of the box.

 

dont worry about nvidia card support being dropped in the linux world any time soon, linux is too big for a major company liken nvidia to drop support for it

 

Nvidia won't drop support for Linux, but they may (and have) dropped support for specific cards that they consider outdated, or "obsolete". They do that even on Windows. That is why it is so important to have hardware that is open source friendly.

http://www.mandrake.tips.4.free.fr/review2008.0.html#hwrec

 

I beg to differ, my Acer 5620-6830 has the Intel 3945abg, and it has zero issues for me in Ubuntu 7.10. Strong signal, stable, and good throughput.

 

I use Fedora 8 on my laptop, it will recognize your wireless adapter, but it will have problems figuring out your gateway. But when you are wired, update everything then restart again wired...you can connect via wireless. The only thing that is not detected automatically for me is my webcam, which I rarely use, so I just boot to Vista to make it work. I don't have the time yet to look it up and make it work, hehe.

 

Asus and Acer both work well with Linux generally. See my sig, no issues in Ubuntu...but with the 4965 card like I have, distros like PCLinuxOS don't support it yet so think about the wireless card. Nvidia is better for Linux than ATI.