[ale] Linux laptops (dell)

[Transam]

While I've not used Dell's Laptops, I've, uh, suffered Linux on several
of Dell's (and Compaq's) server class rackmount systems for several clients.
Dell boasts "Dell-installed Linux".  Too bad they installed one version of
Linux as the kernel image and a different one in /usr/src/linux and
/usr/include/linux.

This prevented me from compiling kernel-loadable images on it.  This
was just plain sloppy and showing poor quality.

Compaq was even worse.  They go out of their way to use non-standard
components and configurations to make it impossible for one to add their
own peripherals, even floppy and CD-ROM drives or supply one's own
kernel.  I'll never recommend Compaq.

I hear that HP laptops are of very poor quality and break frequently.


When I analyzed laptops in January, the clear winners for me were IBM
Thinkpads (R31) and Toshiba.  This is based on quality, including expected
lifetime and pricing.  I went with the Thinkpad and have been quite happy
with it.  I will note that I've not yet bothered to set up suspend,
sound, or the WinModem, though the techniques are well-documented and
fairly easy.  X was easy, even with Slackware that did not automatically
figure it out.

Bob

On Wed, Jul 23, 2003 at 09:48:38PM -0400, Thomas Holmquist wrote:

> >The only problem I know of is the i810 sound card.  It only supports one 
> >application using the device at a time.


> WRONG! It's the OSS sound drivers that only support sounds from one app 
> at a time. try ALSA (http://www.alsa-project.org) for better sound 
> drivers that can play sounds from more than one source at a time.


> And in reply to Dow Hurst: my Inspiron 8100 does _not_ support ACPI, 
> heck it does'nt even support APCI! (two diffrent things) It only 
> supports APM, but the funny thing is, nVidia's linux drivers _dont_! 
> (tho you can hack the old drivers so they do.)
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