notebook worries - advice needed!
 

Hey. I'm looking to get a new notebook and want to use linux as my primary OS. I've used mandrake 9.0 for about a year, and just recently switched over to gentoo.

I was almost 90% convinced that the notebook I was going to buy was the compaq 2525 until a tech guy at the store said that it will be "next to impossible" to get linux operating correctly on a compaq, and that my only consideration should be a toshiba. Specifically, he said that I would have problems with the touchpad, dvdrom, etc...

Does this guys claim have any weight? I have never done a linux install on a notebook, so I am pretty worried about some of the problems I might have. Is there more support in the linux community for toshiba notebooks, or does toshiba make it easier for non-windows users to get along w/ the hardware?

Thanks everybody for any help. Al.

Okay that sounds great! Do you have a question or are you just informing us about your switch to gentoo?

<EDIT>
Okay. I thought your original post was missing something.
</EDIT>

sorry about the cutoff... I hit 'tab' one to many times:)

i use redhat on my laptop inspiron 2650 works greate out of the box.
u can check this site is your compaq is listed
http://www.linux-laptop.net/
u have to work a bit get thing work under linux like you graphics card modem donno about the touchpad mine works without configuration.
but i recommend nvidia graphic card they alwayas release new driver for linux

I have run mandrake,slackware,gentoo,redhat, and libranet on my compaq 715us laptop all run fine except have to compile the kernel for acpi thats it.

I've used an HP, an OLD (I mean old) IBM, and a new Toshiba with Linux and I've been happiest with the Toshiba. Everything worked the first time. I didn't have to scrounge around looking for additional modules/drivers.

Well I don't know about the new Compaqs but when I installed Linux on my old Compaq 1250, everything pretty much worked right from the start, had to locate the driver for the modem but that was all. Plus I now have a Dell Inspiron 2650, everything works pretty much out of the box except you had to find the graphics driver for NVIDIA card and the Conexant driver for the modem and a little tweaking which wasn't needed but I did it anyway for my satisfaction.

Good Luck :)