Hi, I'm in the same boat, but I'm maybe looking for something more high end than you. I've decided to buy something from PowerNotebooks.com, which sells laptops without Windows. (Although, I'm actually going to grudgingly put a small Windows partition on it so I can use GPS map nav software.)
> - w-lan
Look for an Intel chipset here. The 3495 works with an open source kernel module and a closed source regulatory daemon. At least (I think) it doesn't taint your kernel like ndiswrapper and some others do.
- 16:9 screen, preferably of the larger kind
Here's PowerNotebooks' selection of 17" models.
http://powernotebooks.com/category.php?catId=25
I am currently trying to decide between the PowerPro I 12:5 and A 2:38. Probably leaning towards the later at this point. Fully loaded they'll run you more than $2k, but you can get them for less.
Screen shouldn't be an issue though. AFAIK almost any screen works in Linux.
> - audio in/out slots (2.0)
Audio mostly works in Linux. But before you buy, try to find out the audio chipset, then google for "alsa chipset_name" and see what you get. For example, I learned that the RealTek ALC883, which is in both laptops I'm considering, only became fully functional starting in kernel 2.6.19. Guess I'll need to install the pre-release Ubuntu Feisty.
> - PCMCIA slot
Being replaced by ExpressCard slots, which are probably better. Unless you have old PCMCIA cards you need to use. The I 12:5 (above) has one of each slot... nice touch.
> - DVD burner
All but the cheapest laptops have them, and AFAIK none have trouble with Linux.
> - 100GB+ hard disk (but there's always my external HD)
Not an issue. The A 2:38 (above) even has a built-in eSATA port for FAST external data! I am waiting to hear back from them which chipset it uses to figure out if it should work with Linux.
> - 1GB+ RAM, better 2GB (and the option to extend the RAM to about 4GB)
Get 2GB definitely. Don't consider less. RAM is cheap. The A 2:38, I think, has an option for 4GB. But you may need to wait for the Santa Rosa platform in a few months to take full advantage of 4GB. If I'm not mistaken, the current Core 2 Duo platform maxes out usable memory at around 3GB. At least that's the case on the MacBook Pro.
> - large keyboard
The I 12:5 has a numeric keypad.
> - TV-out
Many laptops have them. I have no idea how well Linux supports it, if at all. But if you'll just use that in Vista, no problem.
> - VGA
Yeah. If you don't need high end, Intel integrated graphics would be great. That's the only option that won't taint your kernel, assuming you need 3D. Problem is, they are not available with 17" screens.
> - RJ-45, some USB slots..
All have them, 99%+ should work fine in Linux.
> (- preferably no touch pad, but I guess I can forget about that)
ThinkPad. But again, Lenovo doesn't make 17" screens.
If they did, I'd probably get one instead of a PowerNotebooks model.