On Tue, May 4, 2010 08:34, Rik Tindall wrote: > Hi all, > > > A change of employment leads me into the laptop market, with gnu/linux > compatibility the prime requisite (0): > > 1. Economy - can be new / 'on special' or ex-lease. > > > 2. Wireless that goes (bluetooth too? - have yet to cross that bridge). > > > 3. Infrared - because that's how I connect my cellphone, having not got > bluetooth functioning yet (on my preferred Ubuntu desktop - whereas I did > have bluetooth going on Kubuntu or Mepis once four years or so ago). > > 4. Low data quantity needs mean that any other modern hardware spec will > probably suit ok. > > All advice welcome.
Get a netbook. I assert that you do not need the large screen or faster CPUs that 'full-size' laptops have. They are also cheap (which addresses point 1). They usually have wifi built in. My Acer Aspire One does, and it works well after I recompiled the ath5k drivers. For Bluetooth you can get a tiny BT dongle[1] For IR you can get a tiny IR dongle[2] If you go for a netbook, try and get one to play with for a few minutes (maybe in a store or something). I tried most of them and decided the Aspire One keyboard was the most acceptable. Best wishes, Andrew [1] http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11866 [2] http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.753
