[ILUG] Buying a laptop

[Vincent Cunniffe]

Brendan Halpin wrote:

> Can I pick your collective brains on laptops, Linux and Dell?
> 
> I've finally decided I need a laptop, but I suspect there are a lot
> of hardware issues I don't understand, particularly relating to
> Linux.
> 
> I'm looking at Dell's site and trying to figure my way around the
> models (when I alter the spec to get what I want in terms of Mbs
> and Gbs, they all seem pretty close in price). 
> 
> Question 1: They're all (broadly) Linux compatible, yes?


Pretty much, yes. All of the major mobile graphics and PCMCIA chipsets
work with the 2.2 series kernels.


> Question 2: WTF is a Xircom Combo Type III RBEM and its friends?
>             Alternatively, if I want a modem and cheap network
>             connector that work under Linux, what should I order?


It's a dual height card which takes up both PCMCIA slots, and thus can
afford the space to have recessed RJ45, RJ11, and RJ11 passthrough
sockets with no annoying external cable attachments. Very sexy, and
works perfectly with Linux.


> Question 3: Is installing Linux alongside WinMe any trickier than
>             alongside Win95?


Not really : I just used FIPS to resize the partition after cleaning and
then sorting it. Then just install Linux into the new blank partition
and make it active.


> Question 4: Should I be considering Inspiron, Lattitude, other
>             manufacturers? 


I have an Inspiron 8000 with the above Xircom card : every single piece
of hardware in it works perfectly.

Regards,

Vin