I'm in the market for a new laptop. Naturally I'd like to support companies that promote Linux or sell non-Windows machines, although I realize its likely that I'm going to have to get a laptop that has Windows pre-installed. I've been shopping around on NewEgg and at local retailers and I have a pretty good idea of what I want now, but haven't found the perfect match. With that said, here's the kind of laptop I'm looking for.


In general, I'd like a mid-range laptop that is powerful but not quite a "desktop replacement". I'll be using it mostly for watching movies, web browsing, and application development. Mostly I'll be using it to continue my work on Hero of Allacrost, an open source game that uses OpenGL. I'll probably do some low key gaming as well. So graphics are somewhat important.

• Like to stay under $1000 US, although I'm willing to go up to about $1300 for the perfect match
• Prefer about a 15.6" screen I think, with a max resolution of at least 1333x768
• Powerful processor, but don't need the top of the line
• 2GB DDR3 optimal. More is okay, but I'd prefer to keep the costs down
• At least 320GB HDD, 7200 RPM
• nVidia graphics card, though I may be flexible to get an ATI card
• Wireless networking with good Linux/OSS driver support (read: not a nightmare to get/stay working)
• All other standard accessories: DVD drive, USB ports, memory card reader
• As light, quite, and low heat as I can get with these specs
• Decent to superb battery life (at least 3 hours, preferably 4+)

I'd like to stay away from Dell and Sony models if possible because my last laptop was a Dell and it had issues after only a couple years (screen is partially broken) and Sony still hasn't earned my trust/forgiveness for their rootkit CD scam. ASUS laptops seem pretty nice and I've been giving some consideration to this model.


One more question: are ATI video cards still as much of a pain in the ass as they used to be? I've avoided ATI card since 2004 and have only built/bought machines using nVidia hardware and I'm pleased with the results. A lot of the laptops I've looked at though have ATI cards and it still sends up a red flag for me. Should it?


Thanks for any recommendations you can give.

May find this useful:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/index.php/cat/507

Well, in spite of your Dell problems I've got a Dell Inspiron 1750 that I'm really happy with that pretty much does everything you're interested in. I too have an older Dell, an Inspiron 6000, with a more-or-less dead display (it's the motherboard, not the panel, thing works plugged into a tube).

The 1750 (it's a 17" display) has a dual core processor, 3G RAM standard, 250G drive, USB's, and all the normal stuff. You do pay the Microsoft Tax (mine came with Vista, they sent a no-charge Windows 7), but you can simply wipe the thing and use it strictly Linux if you want (downside: Win7 uses three primary partitions -- you only get one primary for your Linux root but any other Linux partitions can be logical with no problems).

This thing was about $600.

One thing you might want to consider is picking a multiple core processor that does support virtualization (the standard processor in the 1750 does not). I run Slackware 13.0 64-bit (it's a 64-bit box) and had intended to install Win7 in VirtualBox but that's a no-go with the base dual-core processor (damn Intel for this kind of nonsense).

I do not give a hoot in hell about having Win7 (or XP or Vista or whatever), but, dang it, I did pay the tax and there a two miserydos-only applications I use so for the moment I'm running dual-boot plus XP in VirtualBox. Next time, I'll be smarter and get the "upgrade" processor that will support 64-bit virtualization and eliminate dual-boot completely.

Anyway, hope this helps some.

Yes. Avoid ATI. They drop support for their cards too soon and move them into "legacy status" while still supporting windows so linux users with relatively recent cards are stuck using older kernels and xorgs, older distros because ATI wont update the driver anymore. It's a horrible company.

I have always had success with Linux on Thinkpads. I have also used Linux with success on a Toshiba Quismo and an older Asus.

Unlike some I have never had any issues with ATI, and have run them almost exclusively for many years now.

www.linuxemporium.co.uk/products/laptops/

i have an asus 1005ha yes a netbook with a 10 screen currently running ubuntu 10.04 lucid beta 1 the only mod i upgraded to 2gb ram (ebay £23 all in ) 10 hrs batt life when your frugal almost full size keyboard ive played with numerous distros just installing for fun i wouldnt part with this tiny box for anything its outstanding dont overlook there capabilities a external dvd writer was £50 new and there even cheaper now they seem a bit touchy on mobile broadband unless you have vodafone which work out the box and the win nova dvbt usb freeview stick works out the box with me-tv which is in the normal repositories this is one area that size doesnt matter :-) .

Thanks for the help so far guys. I think I'm getting closer to a solution. The best laptop I've found so far is a Toshiba Satellite A500-ST6644 that I customized on Toshiba's website. The specs include:

- $894
- 16" screen
- Intel i3-330M processor: 2.13 GHz, 3MB L3 Cache
- 4GB 1066MHz DDR3 RAM
- 320GB 7200RPM HDD
- nVidia 310M, 512MB GDDR3
- High Capacity Lithium Ion Battery (12-cell)


I still have a few concerns about this model, namely whether the processor is powerful enough to meet my needs, the battery life, and noise/heat dissipation. But I think things are looking pretty good here and unless I find any outstanding issues, I'll probably go ahead with this laptop.

I just bought Dell Studio 15 w/ i7, 4G DDR3 1333mh, ati mobile Radion, 1080p, and BL drive at a little over $1000. I have used dell laptops at work and home and have had very good and very bad experiences. I decided to buy a dell laptop again because I have personally used dell inspiron 9300 that works for 5 years w/o problems.
I am still working on making windows 7 and Linux distro dual boots on my new dell studio 15. So far I installed centos on it, and there was no sound and fan control problem --and i am still working on the problems. But, I installed ubuntu and centos over VM in Windows 7, and they run very well so far. I was very impressed with the laptop's performance. It is very fast.

I've got a T3000 (dual 1.8ghz celeron) in my dell inspiron 15, and it's good enough for gaming and VM's. The 64 bit celerons are fudged though, and don't support 64 bit guests. The i3 should be fine.