[LUNI] Laptop component recommendations

[Larry Garfield]

Thanks Robert.  Yes, I did look at Emperor Linux.  As I mention in the last 
paragraph below, their markup over the price direct from Lenovo seems to be 
around $1000.  (I speced out a system for $1300 and change, then looked at 
something roughly comparable on Emperor Linux's site and it was $2300.)  I 
saw another Thinkpad-with-Linux reseller as well, and their markup was around 
the same.  At that price I'd rather pay the MS tax.  

On Sunday 29 July 2007, Robert Smith wrote:
> I've run Linux on three different Thinkpads over the years. My first
> attempt was on a 600e (Red Hat 6 or 7). There were issues with the
> soundcard and some other items as I recall, but it ran well enough to suit
> my needs. Since then, I've used one distro or another on both a T20 and an
> A22 (SuSe 9 Pro or Mandrake 10). Hardware was detected much better than on
> the 600e.
>
>   Not IBM related, but more recently, I've run Linux (SimplyMEPIS) on an
> Armada M700 and (the PCLinuxOS 2007 distro) on a Compaq N600c. On both
> machines, it pretty much ran right out of the box.
>
>   If you are thinking about the T61, have you considered Emporer Linux?
> They sell the T61 sans any M$ software, and pre-loaded with the distro of
> your choice. Anyway, just a though. Good luck in your purchase.
>
>   http://www.emperorlinux.com/
>
>   Rob Smith
>
>
> Larry Garfield <larry at garfieldtech.com> wrote:
>   Hi folks. I am on the verge of *gasp* buying a laptop. Naturally since
> I'm asking this list about it my intention is to run Linux on it,
> exclusively, specifically Kubuntu. Because laptops can be tricky beasts
> compatibility-wise, though, I wanted to get some second opinions before
> actually spending money on it.
>
> Right now I'm leaning toward a Thinkpad T61. Part of that is the Thinkpad
> reputation, part of that is I'm a weirdo who likes the pointing stick. :-)
> My understanding is the Thinkpads also have a good Linux track record. I
> also spec'ed out a similarly equipped Thinkpad and HP laptop and they were
> within $10 of each other, so there doesn't seem to be much of a premium.
>
> However, I still would like to see if anyone has experience with some of
> the options on it:
>
> - The T61 offers either an Intel X3100 graphics chip or an nVidia Quadro
> NVS graphics chip. According to what I've found, the nVidia version runs
> with the usual nVidia caveats: Great chip, works wonderfully in 3D, but
> only with nVIdia's proprietary driver. The Intel chip, though, seems to
> have Free driver support right in Xorg. True? How is the 3D? I'm not an
> avid gamer but something that can show off Compiz or be a viable LAN Party
> system (yes on Linux, I've done it) would be nice.
>
> - The sound chip is an AD1984 (oh what a model number...), which
> thinkwiki.org says only works with various kernel patches. True? It's
> surprising to see something like sound not "just work" these days. Has
> anyone gotten sound to play nice with a T-series?
>
> - It appears to offer an Aetheros-based a/b/g WiFi chip or an Intel a/b/g/n
> WiFi chip. I've had very good experience with Aetheros chips before "just
> working" with GPLed drivers, but haven't used the Intel chips. I really
> don't want to dick around with ndiswrapper if I can avoid it. Any
> experience with things like Free drivers, WPA support, etc?
>
> - Is the Bluetooth Linux-friendly, again preferably with Free drivers? I'm
> planning to get a Bluetooth mouse to go along with it, so Bluetooth really
> does have to work. :-)
>
> - Perennial problem power management: Good, bad, or ugly?
>
> - Any other comments, good or bad, on running recent Thinkpads Linux-only?
> I do want to use as much Free Software drivers as possible, for both
> pragmatic and philosophical reasons, but I'm not Free-only.
>
> A few places, such as EmperorLinux.com, sell rebadged Thinkpads with Linux
> pre-installed. From what I've seen, though, their markup is on the order of
> $1000. At that price I'd rather just pay the Windows tax and take my
> chances on being able to "refund Windows". I already figure I'm voiding the
> software warranty by installing Linux, so I may as well go whole-hog. :-)
>
> Thanks in advance for any advise on helping me spend money!
>
> --
> Larry Garfield AIM: LOLG42
> larry at garfieldtech.com ICQ: 6817012
>
> "If nature has made any one thing less susceptible than all others of
> exclusive property, it is the action of the thinking power called an idea,
> which an individual may exclusively possess as long as he keeps it to
> himself; but the moment it is divulged, it forces itself into the
> possession of every one, and the receiver cannot dispossess himself of it."
> -- Thomas Jefferson
> --
> Linux Users Of Northern Illinois - Technical Discussion
> http://luni.org/mailman/listinfo/luni


-- 
Larry Garfield			AIM: LOLG42
larry at garfieldtech.com		ICQ: 6817012

"If nature has made any one thing less susceptible than all others of 
exclusive property, it is the action of the thinking power called an idea, 
which an individual may exclusively possess as long as he keeps it to 
himself; but the moment it is divulged, it forces itself into the possession 
of every one, and the receiver cannot dispossess himself of it."  -- Thomas 
Jefferson