On 2013-04-12 3:44 PM, "Randy Stapilus" <[email protected]> wrote:
>My wife, who has been using a MacBook (now almost 7 years old), has >decided >she'd like her next notebook to use Linux Ubuntu. I've been using it for >years and been happy with it, and have installed Ubuntu on both a laptop >and a desktop. Dual booting with Windows might be useful but not at all >necessary - neither us have any plans to use Windows on the machine. The >question now, in these days of Windows 8 and UEFI, is, what would be a >good >notebook to use, and whether dual booting is even much practical, or >whether getting a machine with no OS or one with Ubuntu pre-installed >would >be a good idea. Preferably in somewhere near PDX, though we're open to >shipping. Budget runs up to $600 or so. > >Today we picked up a Lenovo ideapad Z585, which I was told ought to work >for dual booting. But that's been a generic statement, and information >about making it happen has been spotty. Until I'm confident of an Ubuntu >install the box will not be opened. Indications via web searching so far >are mixed. (I don't care to pay the $70+ restocking fee imposed once the >box is opened.) If I can't so satisfy myself, it goes back to the store. >I've been googling the subject, and comments on dual booting w/Windows 8 >(and UEFI), from the Ubuntu site and elsewhere, seem to be all over the >map. Any thoughts, or this machine or others? For whitebox high-end laptops i've been pretty happy with Sager/Clevo - you can get them without any OS and spec the disk, video, etc. They also have more budget-oriented modles that look good. The two i've owned during the last 6-7 years have been real workhorses, but on the bulky side. My next machine will likely be a System76 or ZaReason. Both companies specialize in preloading Ubuntu, and their laptop lines seem pretty comparable (they include models more or less in your price range). Wife & i have a System76 netbook that's lovely - the System76 folks are great for both purchase and support. My wife had used Mac and windows machines previously, she had no problem transitioning to Ubuntu 10.04. re: dual-booting: VirtualBox works fine for me for the few Windows apps i rely on. ________________________________________ Joe Shisei Niski Portland, Oregon, USA 至誠 _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
