Thanks to all who offered advice and opinions on my laptop questions. Due to the short deadline (to get a laptop in time for wife Barbara's genealogy trip), it seemed impossible to get a Linux-friendly machine.
I was thinking of the Dell E1505n, or one of the System76 boxen. Then B. said ~"why don't we get me a low-end one and then you can get something better for yourself without the time pressure?". ok, a compromise! .. now, go look at on-the-shelf choices. The $379 specials evaporated the day before we went out to look, but there were some $700 ones that seemed to attract B's eye. Hmmph for "low-end". Finally ran into a special on (a factory-sponsored promotion, I think) Toshiba A135-S4527, 15.4" Core Duo (T2080), 1GB ram, 120GB 5400 rpm. .. $599. Err, with Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium (32-bit). Well, so much for sink or swim intro to Linux, but it is a great deal. And they had 'em in stock at Best Buy. Actually BB seemed to have a variety of decently priceed things on display. Maybe I'll try installing Linux dual boot, and _maybe(?)_ Barbara will try it. So, I don't have "my" computer, yet, but I do have authorization to go out and spend even more than that for _mine_[1]. <heh> Seems like a good compromise, eh? All in all, it's an expenditure much above CB limits, but then I/we don't spend much on anything else, so we easily talked ourselves into self-pamperation. Anyway, thanks everyone, for the input. I wanted to post the outcome, as well as tell about the good deal in case anyone else might be interested. Regards, ..jim [1] for me, I'm thinking about T7200, 2GB, 7200rpm. I'm still wondering whether I'd get any benefit from (say) low-end Nvidia/ATI over vanilla GMA950. I'm inclined to look for a nice 14.1" box, 'cause I think the 15.4 _is_ a bit large for quick-on-the-draw operations. Actually, as apl suggested, even something smaller might be preferable, but so far it doesn't look like so many choices are available in smaller sizes. ..j -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
