hi!
I am planning to buy a laptop so i'd like to ask a few clumpsy questions :

1- what is the best way to buy a laptop (used) that linux(slackware) can really work with ( of course most of all would , but some easier than others).

2-i've been seeing some nice prices on auctions , but i have no clue on where to look for a "safe buy" , anyone would know of any good link ?

3-i don't know what are the main differences amongst portable computers (i read that this is a good time to purchase a computer, the new year and new technologies comming forward will make the prices go down for older machines.) I want to buy a good machine , but i don't fancy any dvd, just a plain reliable portable . Are IBMs any good ? eheh i just saw a IBM T20 700Mhz for $760 on an auction (3 hours to go).

BTW i have to give an answer about the laptop specs in one week, hope you understand.

thanks

I forgot to say i have a friend of mine in boston that can buy and send it to me through a deliverer (january 14th)

i just saw this :

http://www.linuxcertified.com/linux_laptops.html



once again, i look forward for any reply

i've had good luck with the 1800 series toshibas

http://www.linux-laptop.net/ is also a good site. Tells you what distros run on what laptops and other info.

I found this link on the toshiba 1800 series rshaw

http://goios.free.fr/linux/Linux_toshiba.html

among other problems this :

" Known problems
Modem

My modem is not working under Linux. I tried installing the ltmodem-6.00a package from the LinModem project page, but it didn't work.

The modem incorporated in this laptop is not really a modem: it's a software modem, which means that some chips usually included in the modem are replaced by software, and so included in the driver. Ltmodem-6.00a includes drivers for some of these modems manufactured by Lucent Technologies. However, Lucent SCORPIO (the one in Toshiba 1800 series) is not yet supported."

thanks for the site ubien that sure will help me make up my mind . I wonder why the hell this people won't just make it easier on linux for a change , doesn't the linux community stand as a potential buyer , or what ?

Nearly every laptop has an internal modem. I suggest that you make sure that you buy a laptop that has a Lucent Winmodem. These are very simple to set-up and configure.

Forget linmodems.org. Just go to www.heby.de/ltmodem and download the CORRECT rpm for your kernel or get the tar.gz file. Then just install it and you are done.

For what it is worth, I have an IBM X22 with an external cdrw. It is essentially runs perfectly with Mandrake 9.0, RedHat and SuSE. It is as simple as putting the cd in the drvie, then booting it up. As for other distros .... well it has been time consuming.

I bought a new printer, then had days of work trying to work it out, then bought a digital camera that is not working after about 70 hours of research.

What do you want to use it for? If it a few documents, internet, digital photos, etc, then personally, I think a Mac iBook may be the way to go. Windows pisses me off with all the virus and security probs, but MAC works well ... and most importantly is likely to be the most TIME EFFICIENT.

By the way the T20 is great. I used one with work for a year. I hated the black design to start with but it really grew on me after a few months, then I ended up buying the IBM X series notebook (for the smaller size).

well thanks SML i really didn't know about the Mac iBook , can you run Linux ?

:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/jaguar/unix.html

looks nice, but still don't know exactly (pardon my ignorance) how does linux fit in ?

thanks again

i looked in the BSD forum and found acid's most valuable thoughts on the subject .
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
originally posted by acid kewpie :

"well, OS X is based on a heavily modified version of BSD, using tsch as standard. This was a HUGE move for apple as all previous versions of
MAC OS were based on their own kernels etc... as a result no OS 9 programs run on OS X without some sort of emulation involved.

There are also programs and projects around such as Fink which is a compatability layer (kinda like wine but actually working) which will allow you to run any linux app under OS X immediatley. And of course you can already get gnome for Darwin (the core of the OS X system)"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well ... that was kind of my point in suggesting the iBook. Consider what you are planning to do with it. Do you already own printers, digital cameras, videos, scanners, games etc? Are these going to work easily with linux? Some problems can be extremely time consuming with linux especially for a newbie. Do you really have the time to spare to learn or can you use your time more efficiently.

The iBooks with Mac OSX run slower compared to Windows and Linux but in the long run OSX may actually be the most productive. Windows pisses me off with virus updates every day or two. Linux just started pissing me off when a new HP printer didnt work with RedHat 8.0 and a Panasonic digital camera. Even after months of full-time research. (on uni holidays).

The MAC OSX may be the best compromise. Nice and stable based on UNIX. Everything seems to work easily.

You can get linux distros for macs. Distros such as gentoo and yellow dog and probably others. Although if you want to run linux then dont get a mac - just get a pentium.

(sorry - i am a little anti-linux at the moment).

i see your point and i am still considering the ibook option , they maybe more expensive but they sure have some very nice stuff ( i read about their CAD software , wonder how much it costs ?) . But anyway i'm thinking of a pentium

thanks again and sorry for not posting sooner