[wplug] Laptops

[Nikhil Patel]

Henry,
  I have had a lot of laptop experience w/ linux and laptops, and by that I mean I have spent more than one night banging my head against a wall trying to get linux to run smoothly.  I have installed Linux on 8 laptops including compaq, dell, toshiba...  My advice to you is to goto dell and then click on "refurbished".  This is for two reasons. I have purchased (some months back) a refurbished Inspiron 8200 (P4 at 1.7) w/ 512 MB RAM, 1600x1200 15" display, 64MB Geforce 4 (mobile), 40 GB harddrive...and all the bells and whistles for only $1700.00 because some1 returned it because they didn't like it.  The bonus is that it carries the same warranty a new machine.  Also, there is not a lot of Dell proprietary hardware, so that linux drivers will already be out there.  Linux install went smoothly on my laptop and I don't have any complaints.  Also, if it doesnt work out for you, you have a 14 day window in which to return the machine for a full refund.    Anyway...here is my two cents for what it is worth.

Best of Luck,
Nikhil
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Henry Umansky <hmust2+ at pitt.edu>
Reply-To: wplug at wplug.org
Date:  Tue, 04 Feb 2003 09:37:55 -0500

>I'm in the market to buy a laptop and I would like some insight from you 
>guys.  Here basically what I want:
>
>-full hardware support for linux (trying asking for this a few years ago)
>-dual-boot with windows (only for games and some work-related stuff)
>-video card that can handle my graphic intensive games (Wolfenstein, 
>Morrowind, etc)
>-price range under $2000 if possible (willing to go up if I'm in a good 
>mood that day)
>-don't care about support or customer service, but a somewhat decent 
>warranty is a must
>
>I have a license through the University of Pittsburgh for any Windows OS, 
>so a laptop that comes without an OS would be awesome, although I won't 
>hold my breath. Right now IBM Thinkpad A series Value package is the front 
>runner, but I haven't done much research on Dell or Compaq laptops.  Any 
>information would be appreciated.
>
>-Henry
>
>``understanding arises through making''
>-Giambattista Vico
>
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