linux + subcompact

hello all

i'm interested in getting a subcompact (pretty much anything less than 12") to use while learning linux (haven't decided what type yet). i will mostly use the lappy to surf the web (hence i'll need a PC card slot for a wireless card) and basic word processing but mostly i'm interested in a system that maximizes the portability/affordability.

budget is a big concern and i'd like to buy right at the minimum requirements at this point.

with these caveats in mind, are there any subcompacts that are particularly suited to run linux? any to steer clear of?

TIA

 

The Dell latitude can be ordered with linux preinstalled, so I would imagine that it has good hardware support for linux. I have also heard that IBM/Lenovo has great support for linux. Most laptops are fairly easy to set up with Linux as long as they do not have ATI GPUs, also just google the laptops+linux you are interested in. Also I have friends who will take the LiveCD to a store and see which one it will run on LOL, you could give it a try. Hear is the link for the Dell with linux on it Linux,

http://www.emperorlinux.com/mfgr/dell/koala/

Hey I just found an interesting link at the HP website. Apparently they certify Mandriva and RedHat to run on certain HP Notebooks.

http://h71028.www7.hp.com/enterprise/cache/337118-0-0-0-121.html

 

Most (maybe all?) <12" notebooks feature Intel graphics chips, which are well supported in Linux (You may have to install 915resolution to get widescreen support though). CPU you shouldn't worry about, anything this gen or last gen will do fine. (Celerons and Semprons included) but try and grab something with an Intel wireless card in it, as native Linux drivers are readily available for them and they are the most well documented.

As for the ATi comment, they aren't any harder/easier to set up than nVidia/Intel. You don't have to recompile your kernel anymore to get them working, but I don't know if they feature that much in tiny notebooks.

Good luck with your purchase, and let us know what you decide on!

 

i don't have any specifications in mind but i need something that is a) small and b) very affordable. i've been looking at IBM 240X (PIII, 500mhz) for instance but i'm not sure about its compatibility. also, i have no idea on what models from the previous gen would be particularly suited to running linux. i wouldn't be entirely opposed to buying a dell (or a toughbook or whatever else) if its something that will work better/easier with lunix. but it's also got to be small and affordable.




basically, this will be a second computer and i don't want to spend a lot so i'd like to buy something towards the bottom end of linux's system requirements

 

The great thing about linux is that there are several distros that have very few system requierments.

http://www.xubuntu.org/

Minimum system requirements

To run the Desktop CD (LiveCD + Install CD), you need 128 MB RAM, when using the Alternate Install CD you can do with 64 MB.

To install Xubuntu, you need 1.5 GB of free space on your hard disk.

Once installed, Xubuntu can run with 64 MB RAM, but it is strongly recommended to use at least 128 MB RAM.

 

If you find a laptop you think would suit your needs, try looking for it on: http://www.linux-laptop.net/

Keep in mind that if that website lists an older version of a distribution, the newest iteration will generally work .

 

Might be a bit outside your budget, but it's SUPER COOL.

http://www.figlabs.com/catalog/device_software.php