I am trying to research laptops. I was browsing in a store. I noted a few models. And later I was trying to look up the websites for the respective manufacturers. Usually I don't have much problem looking up product information on the web. But with laptops this week, I seem to have more trouble. Any pointers here? For example:

Toshiba A30-YS5
Compaq 2140 CA

you can think a little about getting the Toshiba, for it is good.

Anything that is a Compaw, HP, Sony....discard them...they are in general more problematic to install Linux on.

the two I suggest you taking a loot at are
Toshiba, and Fujitsu

I just bought my Fujitsu like 5 months ago
it is the LifeBook C2210

I believe the new one C2220 is out, and the only difference is that the CPU is faster like 200mhz more.

Anyway, right now I'm typing you this message through the Wireless card via Linux, ACPI is supported nicely, sound, video, DVD-rom, USB, everything you need works very well!

Plus, Fujitsu's are very nice and sleek laptops. And they are very well made, with good quality parts!!, I really advice you to get a Fujitsu my friend,

zLinuxz

I've bought a toshiba satellite 1950-801, and so far everything is working, except the wireless LAN card, but i didnt even attempt to get it to work yet. It's a nice 16" screen, nvidia geforce 4, etc...
So i suggest toshiba, and they even have a website devoted to putting other oses (Linux, BSD, UNIX) on their laptops.
-NSKL

it is of course depending on what you want with it.
i 've bought an asus l3800c a year ago.
rh9.0 works completely except acpi.
P.S.: i've updated from kernel-2.4.20-8
to kernel-2.4.20-20.9 using autoupdate, very smooth.
It is a pity that all the modules are beings shifted under kernel-2.4.20-20.9, i did not test to go back uninstalling the kernel, whether the auto-backup works ok.
The sleep function Zz does work now too (did i ever try it before???).
I installed ALSA as the default snd-driver is not full duples, ALSA is.
There are even Acrobat Reader rpms is you search so, including Open Office.Org of KWord et al you can miss windoz if you want. For some applications i still want to instal wine, no time yet.

I'd just want to add, DONT BUY A DELL!
I have some unsupported stuff, and a bios-hack that is needed to run X, and even than not in the good resolution...

I say go with the Toshiba

I have a Compaq Presario 2700 which runs Linux perfectly apart from a couple of niggles and a major problem.

The niggles are that the "fancy buttons" do not work. I do not care about shortcuts to mail and Internet Explorer but the volume button is software only and does not work.

The real biggie is that recent Compaq laptops only support ACPI and do not have APM support. No standby, no suspend, no hibernation, no battery meter and so on.

Linux support for ACPI is getting better but until it works properly I do not advise a Compaq. Apart from that it works better than a friend's IBM which is supposed to be more friendly

ZB

zLinux:
> you can think a little about getting the Toshiba, for it is good.
>
> Anything that is a Compaw, HP, Sony....discard them...they are in general more problematic to install Linux on.

I did notice lately there was one AD for a rebate on a Compaq. But, I suppose it could be to clear the way for some newer models.

Sony, I think they're good for small electronics. But they're
computers are too specialized, for niche markets.

HP seems to advance a lot of versatility all around. Any specific
reproach to them?

>
> the two I suggest you taking a loot at are
> Toshiba, and Fujitsu
>
> I just bought my Fujitsu like 5 months ago
> it is the LifeBook C2210
>
> I believe the new one C2220 is out, and the only difference is that the CPU is faster like 200mhz more.
>

Didn't see a Fujitsu at the store yet. Can't comment, but, Thanks for the info.

> Anyway, right now I'm typing you this message through the Wireless card via Linux, ACPI is supported nicely, sound, video, DVD-rom, USB, everything you need works very well!
>

If your laptop is on the receiving end of an on-line connection, does that mean there is a source around your home that is transmitting?

Hehe, this is getting to be a good thread I like what all of you guys have been saying,

Shadowhunter
you cannot be more correct, don't buy a Dell or.. Hell, hehehe

The problem with HP's, matamoto, is the following one.
HP's are packed with little gadgets that only work in Windows or Mac/OS. They have little rolling balls on the side, and a lot of buttons around the keyboard that would only work under Windows or MacOS.
And mainly, the reason why they will not work, is because it is "design" for Windows or MacOS, and the people like us with Linux get stuck in regard to these "features"

Anyway, if you want to research more on the two suggested computers, Toshiba and Fujitsu.

If you find toshiba's in the computer store you are going to, that's okay. But I advice you to go to both websites
toshiba.com and fujitsu.com

They have very similar services now like Dell and they will ship it to your home, and answer any questions related to installation use, balha, blah, blah....
And they are very good about the service...this way you may get some manufacturer rebates and the price will be cheaper than in a store most likely.

In regard to my wireless connection, I have a cable modem ISP connection, and they allow me to have up to 3 computers connected to the same cable mode, so I bought this HUB that is capable of having 3 computer connected directly from the computer ethernet card to the HUB and you can also connect 5 other computes via wireless, for a total of 8 connections.
So, I'm just in my room, laying on my bed, drinking a lemonade and just chilling, hehehe. And my hub is over in my house's office with 2 more computers conected directly to the hub. So this is how I'm writting to you right now, hehhe.
And I'm super happy with my wireless, it works like 1000 times better than in Windows....it's weird, I always have connectivity problems with my card in Windows, and now that I'm in Linux, it works in all of my house, hehehhe.
Okay, see ya.

From personal experience, DO NOT get an HP notebook if you want to install linux on it. I have tried no less than 7 distros, including Knoppix, JAMD, RH9, RH7.3, SuSE 8.0 Pro, and MDK9. It seems that HP (probably compaq too) still hasn't learned their lesson, and chooses to use proprietary hardware in their laptops. It's literally a nightmare, considering I paid over $1500 for the laptop, only to find out I wouldn't be able to use linux on it, as I had planned.

I've always heard that Toshiba makes good, linux-friendly laptops. Sounds like Fujitsu does too.

Check out http://www.linux-laptop.net/ for a list of laptops that will and will not work with linux. I have an IBM and there have been some problems but htey have been worked out. IBM has good laptops but they be sort of a hassle to get everything up and running. Avoid some cheap laptops that have things such as win-modems and cheap hardware that you may find on sale at circuit city.

my dell works fine ... the 2.4.22 kernel solved the bios and dsdt problems... a had to manually enter my large wide screen resolution into XF86... it's a little cheaply constructed but it does what I need it to... work.

My HP Omnibook runs SuSE 8.2 just fine, but not with 8.0. Knoppix 3.1 and 3.2 worked perfectly.

So I can't use the silly little buttons on the top of the keyboard. So what, I don't need that windows specific rubbish anyway.

Has anyone tried one of the new Paceblade machines with touch screen and the rest? Now that looks like a serious Linux machine to me - a real candidate for Linux pre-installed, and a sales winner.

How did you get your DSDT table Lupin?
I have a 500m, and nothing seems to work well

http://acpi.sourceforge.net/dsdt/index.php

check here...