[wplug] Linux and laptops

[Randy Spark]

Questions for the LUG at large:

1:  I'm going to be purchasing a new laptop very soon and I need some 
help.  I've been looking at the available options and reviews that I can 
find, but can't make a clear decision.  From what I read, Compaq and DELL 
(if what I've been reading has any basis in fact) have been giving people 
support problems, and Compaq has been having quality control issues.  Does 
anyone have any direct experience (recently) with either of these brands 
and or customer service?

2:  Any recommendations for a purchase based on these minimum 
specs:  Duron/Athlon 850 MHz; 20 GB HD; 128 meg RAM; 13" 1024 x 768; 
DVD.  I'm looking in the price range of $1400, upgrades from these specs 
allowed across the board.  Compaq has a model that's an Athlon 1 GHz, 20 
Gb; 256 RAM (I believe), DVD/CD-RW, that I can find for $1239 currently.

3:  I remember hearing about a project to allow the running of windows apps 
on Mac, a long time ago.  Does anyone know if anything ever came of 
this?  I'd like to expand my search to Apple hardware, but have too many 
legacy Doze apps to start from scratch.  In this vein, has anyone ever 
triple booted a machine?  Apple OS, Linux and Windows?  Is this even 
possible given the differing chip architectures between Intel and 
Motorola?  It seems to me that if Linux can run on the Apple hardware, then 
Win should be able to also.  Then again I know nothing about this so I can 
be totally off base and not even know it.

Any help from anyone would be welcome.

Randy