[K]ubuntu 6.06 now has a live CD that you can take along to test the hardware, and from which you can install Linux. The benefit of [K]ubuntu over Knoppix is that a hard disk install from the live CD is a little cleaner. Knoppix on the other hand tends to have more bleeding edge versions of packages (including, with 5.01, the ability to write to an NTFS file system, so I may consider it for the next VivA live DVD). Better yet, take both.
Apropos wireless, look for native Linux support. It is possible using ndiswrapper to use Windows Wifi drivers under Linux, but sometimes configuration can be a little tricky. Run iwconfig to see whether your hardware is recognized. Avoid the Staples / Best Buy / Comp USA / Office Depot type laptops because they may not have good video chips and displays. Of course, you may not care about video just to run VistA, but I have kids who sometimes want to play games on dad's laptop, and good video makes a difference. [Anyway, 3ddesk runs so much better on hardware with native 3D support - not that I use it, but it looks pretty...] Basically, if you are planning to run Linux, you can look for a laptop that comes with Linux pre-installed or with no operating system. They are competitively priced these days. -- Bhaskar Nancy Anthracite wrote: > > AMD is fine. I suggest you take a Knoppix disk or some Live version > of Linux > and A USB drive and ask to put it in the computer. Make sure it comes > up, > can read your USB drive and that it can see the wireless network. > That may > not be easy. Burn yourself the latest Knoppix disk and look at this > before > you take off for the store. > > http://www.knoppix.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7804 > > My son always says to look online to see what people have said about a > particular make and model of notebook and whether they could get it > going. > The wireless network card is probably going to be the toughest part. > He will > look at the hardware in the Control Panel, System, Hardware for the > particular cards, etc., and knows pretty much what works and what > doesn't. > > Maybe you can check out the machines and then get on the Internet at the > store and find out if the Knoppix trick doesn't work, but the Knoppix > technique is really a great one to let you rest easy. Generally, > Knoppix is > superb at getting any hardware that can be run with Linux running > right off > the bat. > > Take a look at Tom's Hardware online. They probably have a head to > head on the > chip performance somewhere on that site. http://www.tomshardware.com/ > > I would warn you not to use the latest Intel chips because they have > some new > technology that has to do with copy protecting video that is not Linux > friendly. > > When my son gets up, in another hour or so, maybe I can connect you up > with > him so he can explain about the new Intel chips should you be > tempted. If > you send me a number, I can try for a three way with my phone so there > will > not be any long distance charges. > > I think the Sempron is just a notebook, low power consumption chip, > with a > smaller cache than an Athlon so it is cheaper. We have avoided the > Celerons, > but I do understand they now have a cache. The Centrinos have low power > consumption as well. I must say, once you have been introduced to low > power > chips, it is hard to go back, even on desktops. I actually do not > have a CPU > fan on my server any more - just a very quiet heat sink. > > _______________________________________________ Hardhats-members mailing list Hardhats-members@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/hardhats-members
