Does anyone know where can I find the Linux compatible desktop? Thanks.

what do you mean? what kind of desktop? if you're talking about window managers like KDE or gnome, then they come with the distro.

I am looking for a desktop to run mandrake 8.1 or Suse 7.3. I went to bestbuy to check if HP desktop can run linux, but someone told me that all HP desktop does NOT support linux. Now I am kind of lost to find a linux supported PC.

By desktop, are you meaning "desktop computer"? If that's the case, any computer that can run windows will be able to run Linux.

there aren't really any computers out there from any major manufacturers that are MADE to run linux - dells are pretty good to use linux on, but hp isn't quite so linux-friendly. even so, it will work. my desktop computer is a hp pavilion 8???- everything but those little extra buttons and knobs on the top of the keyboard work. there's a way to get those going too, but i've been to lazy to investigate.

Since I am new to Linux, I am interested in Hewlett-Packard Pavilion 750N (http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...t=490&scat=491). Someone said it will run Linux (like mandrake 8.1), someone said it won't run Linux. I am kind of confused. I need help. Thanks.

in short, yes, it will run linux. possible points of problems :

the winmodem - almost all hp's ship with a lucent winmodem. a winmodem isn't a real modem, since it offloads a lot of the modem job on the processor, requiring extra drivers, but making the modem inexpensive. if it's a supported lucent modem, then you shouldn't have too much of a problem getting it setup. worst case scenario is that you need to buy a real modem - probably an extra $50.

nvidia support for linux is pretty good - they have drivers that will run well under linux, but you'll need to download those separately. again, not too much of a problem.

usb support under linux isn't quite as easy to use as it is under windows - but it works. if you don't plan on hot-plugging a usb device every five minutes, then you don't have any real problems there either.

the soundcard isn't specified, but i'd bet it will work right off. if not, then just tell us what the soundcard type is, and we'll be able to point you in the right direction.

the best desktop computer you could possibly get for and made for linux would be to build your own. get hardware you know that is supported by researching it and finding if what you want is compatible, if its not, then move to your next choice...then so on..

just a pointer...

-trickykid

ahh a computer!!! why didn't you say so?

I think the biggest trick Microsoft has pulled is getting everyone to believe that a computer is built for an operating system instead of the other way around. None of the end manufacturers support Linux on a desktop, except possibly Dell, but in support they mean that you will have somewhere to call if its acting screwy.

As Isajera pointed out in specifics, no matter what if its a PC, it can run Linux... but there's always going to be one little bit that might take a while to get working...
Then again, I installed 3 OSs on my computer the other day and the only one I haven't got everything working for so far is Windows.

-Cheers,

Finegan

pci "winmodems" might be supported depending on the type

http://linmodems.technion.ac.il/

http://www.linmodems.org/

I had my computer built for me (it was actually cheaper than the lowest prices I could find for the components) by a company in the SF/Bay area called Micronux. They have a website that allows you to configure your machine piece by piece in a fairly intuitive way. Check it out at: www.micronux.com even just to check out a short list of linux compatible components.

The flipside of this is that most folks who build linux boxes are aiming for the highend workstation/server class box. I don't want to plug Micronux to death but I did manage to get a nice system (including a monitor and whatnot) for less than the price of most Gateway/Dell/etc. low end preassembled machines that come standard with some Linux incompatible components.

Whew.

the best and cheapest way (and most fun too) is to build your own computer from scratch choosing only the stuff you know it will work under linux.
You also learn quite a lot this way too.
Hope that helps

-nskl