Hello.
I'm considering of buying a laptop. I would run Mandrake 10.x on it.

Simple questions:

Are there *usually* any problems with different laptops touchpad locks in linux? This is a mandatory feature, and I don't want to find out after I make the purchase that there is no software for linux to lock the laptops touchpad. Some laptops have a function key set up, but not all of them have. Do the functions keys work under linux (or are they OS-dependent?)

Now, I have heard that HP/Compaq put their bios on the hard disk. Are there any other makes who do this? Can this cause trouble, while re-partitioning and installing GRUB?

Are there any other trouble with laptops running linux, or any trouble that might occur during installation? All laptops I've reviewed come with xp installed (the M$ tax), and with a big C-partition which is highly impractical. Still most of the models are designed for who never reformat, repartition or reinstall their OS. They just want a computer to surf the web, go figure.

Please, share your advice.

I'd also like to hear your comments on different makes. I've been considering Acer, Asus, Fujitsu/Siemens, and a custom-build model (comes without OS installed, \o/ )

I'm running Suse 9.2 pro on an Dell 700m brand spankin new and I lovve it. I just used partition commander to resize the NTFS partition and then installed linux. I get good battery life and the touchpad is supported well.

I have an IPC. I had in the beginning problems with the graphic (solved with Mandrake 8.2, currently running 10.0). With installation of Linux I repartitioned the harddisk eleminating XP. Worked perfect. touchpad was never a problem also the driver is called generic. Controll for Battery works and everything else, too.
Lars