Carl Lowenstein wrote:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Christoph Maier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Feb 20, 2006 7:19 PM
Subject: [SDLUG] Newbie question: What computer is suitable for Linux?
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Hi all,
Richard Gray suggested that I ask this in your mailing list:
Hi,
it's finally time for me to buy a computer and install Linux on it.
So, before I come to an installfest, I first need to buy a (laptop)
computer.
The applications I want to run (under Linux if possible) are Mathematica and
analog and digital circuit design programs.
I also want the computer to connect to the internet for email and web
browsing, through cable (Earthlink via Time Warner, and the network at work)
and wireless in cafes etc.
Are there any laptop computer models particularly suitable or unsuitable for
Linux (or some that the local gurus at the installfests are particularly
familiar with)?
Any help or pointing in the right direction to start looking would be
greatly appreciated.
(I'm a computer semi-literate - my PhD is in _analog_ IC design).
Thanks,
Christoph Maier
--
carl lowenstein marine physical lab u.c. san diego
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
I think that for identifying a laptop that will run Linux, esp. for a
novice coming from WinOS worlds, the best way is to burn a copy (under
your WinOS will work) of the latest Knoppix CD and take it to local
vendors of laptops and see if they will let you boot from the Knoppix CD
(remember to set the BIOS to boot from CD first before HD).
http://www.knoppix.org/
While this ends up in an either "yes" the laptop will boot or "no" the
laptop will not boot from CD condition there are other issues (does
modem work? etc) that you probably can't test on a display model. You
will at least know before you unwrap and sit down at home whether the
laptop will boot Linux at all. (The 30 day return policy should come in
handy if any major problem shows up AND after you get assistance from
lists like KPLUG-Newbie, KPLUG installfests, and help from SDLUG, etc.)
There may be a better way for a newbie other than sticking in a Knoppix
disk and taking note of whether it works but I don't know what simpler
way there could be... That's how I decided on my laptop at Fry's 3 years
ago and it was a very good method (narrowed it down to 4 models that
worked and then decided between them based on physical features)...
HTH,
RBW
--
[email protected]
http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-newbie
