Linux on ultraportable notebook?

I am going to buy a new notebook within the next month. I want to install Linux
and I want things like WLAN and switching to a remote screen to work

I had a few problems when I installed linux on my old heavy Dell C840 3½ years
ago (remote screen, modem, ...). Since it takes a while to get support for new
components in Linux I am thinking maybe I should buy a notebook without the
latest components? But of course I want this new notebook to last for 3 years....
So I though maybe someone has successfully installed linux (whatever distribution)
and can recommend me a notebook.

I have looked at these models:
Fujitsi Lifebook S7110
HP nc4400
Dell Latitude D410/D420
Acer Travelmate 3022WTMi
Acer Ferrari 1005
Lenovo Thinkpad X60 (s?)

 

Things have progressed since then. If you want native 3D acceleration, go with the GMA series of graphics cards. Make sure you have an Intel wireless chip, not a Broadcom or any other brand. Atheros would be ok. Other than that, you should be able to run everything except possibly some of the special function media buttons and the like. I put a LiveCD of kubuntu in my T43, and it worked perfectly. Loaded up everything, full resolution on the screen, and even got the wireless connected automatically to an insecure network in the neighborhood.

In short, I'd suggest the X60, especially since I believe they'll even ship it with Linux if you ask them. I'd disbelieve them about the Wireless not working, as I'm sure it does work natively with the latest distributions. If nothing else, you can use ndiswrapper and just use the Windows drivers. Not a huge deal if you know your way around Linux.

See:
http://www.linux-tested.com/results/lenovo_thinkpad_x60_1709-97u.html
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-48NT8D.html

 

Thanks for the tips on notebooks and on places of information! I've tried
to google to this type of info but I am apparently not too good at gooogling ....

 

I have a Ubuntu live CD and when I'm bored or I'm testing/troubleshooting, I often pop it in other people's computers. It runs perfectly on my 4 year old Dell, a brand new Dell, a Sony SZ series and a few others. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen it have an issue. The only thing you've gotta watch for with wireless is WPA security. Linux can't handle WPA yet but it can do WEP pretty easily.

~ Brett

 

I know Thinkpads have really great Linux support. HP's generally do as well. I don't know about Fujitsu, but they build excellent ultraportables. Check out tuxmobile.com in the laptop install guide database.

 

When I am looking for a new laptop, I always check for linux compatibility by looking at the installation instructions that people have written:

http://tuxmobil.org
http://www.linux-laptop.net/

and google searches.

The HP business laptops worry me a little bit as http://hpwiki.cactii.net/hpwiki/NC6400 talks about CPU Freq stepping being broken with a newer BIOS level.

Jules

 

wpa_supplicant

Linux DOES do WPA, it's just a bit of a trick to get it working. I have WPA working on my home wireless, with a media machine running Ubuntu and connected via the wireless. It's possible WPA just isn't built-in to the kernel like WEP is, basically.

 

Well, it isn't built into the kernel... yet. The stuff that has made it in there over the last 8-10 years makes me think the kernel is turning into a Giant Ball of Garbage...

 

Meh. That's why it's so modular. The kernel has lots of options you CAN enable, but you don't HAVE to enable them. I prefer having it that way, loading modules and such, so you can tune the kernel to your system. For things that are system-wide, and require hardware access, like WPA, WEP, encryption, etc., I see a very good reason for putting it into the kernel, as a module or otherwise. Keeps all the source in the same place, keeps interfaces open and extensible and changeable as the technology progresses, etc. I mean, just look at the things like the constant-time scheduler and such. That's amazing stuff, doesn't appear in any other OS.

And, for the record, Karamari Damacy is a great game

 

-----> on topic

Got a x60 with SLED(SUSE) 10.
IT - JUST - WORKS.
3dsupport, wireless its in there.


Im posting from it now.

Im not a fanboy in general but I will never buy anything other than Lenovo again. This is the best **** laptop Ive ever used.

-Your Pusherman

 

Did your X60 come pre-installed with linux?

I didn't know the Intel gfx adapter could do 3D, at least everything I've read says not well enough to play games on but as I only play PySol I wouldn't know. If you don't mind me asking, what do you use 3D for?

What do you think the 1024x768 screen?

 

Don't get me wrong Pita, I have no problem with the kernel as it stands (except downloading it over a dialup connection ), just trying to stress the importance of newbs learning how to build a custom kernel for their machine. The default kernel on most modern distros is getting very chunky.

I wouldn't be surprised though if the source contained a port for the Babbage Engine, complete with Carrier Pigeon networking...

Too true, very strange and very addictive. I worry about the Japanese.

 

Ubuntu is so modular, it's really quite lean when it's installed. It just loads the modules necessary, and otherwise, it's fine. You really should only worry about compiling your own kernel if you're wanting a monolithic kernel, or running Gentoo. Otherwise, the defaults work well, especially for as little extra overhead as they incur.

 

I think Ubuntu is a nice distro. Nothing special, it's more a meat and potatoes style distro. I like my current setup, and I'm sure with a little more tweaking, I could get quite a nice system running. Still, I suppose I would switch to Gentoo, if I could install the system LOL and have the patience to run emerge --sync.

 

I don't know about 3D on Intel adapter, but other than games, 3D desktop with xgl/compiz or beryl could be pretty cool? I've seen that in SLED (nvidia card though).

 

I have an intel 915 chip, and it'll run AIGLX/Compiz fine. There is a bit of system overhead, but everything's still responsive, but for me the novelty wears off pretty quick. The only thing that I would actually want is the "real" transparency, and it's not worth all the extra overhead, personally.