Buying a Laptop - Advice from Ubuntu Users

[Elycian]

Soo college is right around the corner for me and I'm going out to get a laptop, I have about $1000 to spend and I was wondering what you guys would recommend getting that would work well with Ubuntu? I'd like to have Vista/XP/Ubuntu installed on it. Also I was wondering if it might be better to buy an assembled computer from some place or just one from best buy with manufacturer parts? And any other tips you might have in buying a laptop :]

Thanks :D

[komputes]

System76

This is a great value and works very well with Ubuntu, no issues or headaches and you have $300 for beer! Have fun at college... and spread the Ubuntu joy!

http://system76.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=60

[TheMemphisExperience]

System 76 is nice, I suppose. Mac pricing for a decent computer, though.

Then you would have to buy Vista for your dual boot.

I have an Acer Aspire 5920 with just the integrated graphics card and Compiz-Fusion works just fine. No water effects though...

Acer was dumping them for 650 for some time, but they are available for about 800 w/o the NVIDIA card. 1000/with.

You would gain Vista,a webcam/microphone, bluetooth, and wireless b(if you are a caveman) over he system 76. But then you cannot say cool things like "I have a System 76" or "That looks like an Acer anyway".

[szf]

Lenovo now pre-installs SLED (Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop) on thinkpads. You can effortlessly add an Ubuntu partition and have Hardy 8.04 goodness.
It's what I chose... for a short time there's a nice discount at lenovo.com, too.

[victor9098]

Hi Elycian,

I am in a similar situation, have just finished my 1st year in Uni and got a Sony Vaio last year but just run Ubuntu on it so no messing around with dual booting. But some thoughts:

I am getting a new laptop this summer, the Sony with it's widescreen is just too much for commuting, I ride a motorcycle and have a 70 mile commute each day. Some guys I know have 'asus' laptops but they are so awkward to use (IMO).

When it comes to presentation work check way beforehand if it works with the projector!

Also for essay/projects and so on...I hate to say it...but MS Word has a much better grammar/dictionary database the Openoffice.org at the moment. So if you do something in Openoffice.org, save as a .doc and run it through ms word just to double check.

Personally I have sort-listed the new MSI Wind (http://www.expansys-usa.com/p.aspx?i=168086) and you can get it cheaper if you specify it without Windows! But I think you would prefer it.

Like everything try to weigh against what you want versus what you need! Oh and get insurance to cover the laptop you decide on with the some of money you save ;-)

[komputes]

5920 - 1.5x or Double the guy's budget

Mac - Way too expensive plus any firmware updates have to be done through Mac OS X

Lenovo - Known to have suspend issues in Ubuntu

Vaio - good computers but expensive

MSI Wind - I'd like to test one of these

All together I chose system76 since it has a good track record and great support for Ubuntu. Since you are using Ubuntu and Windows, I would recommend them for an optimal user experience.

[shae]

Maybe you should consider a Dell N series (preloaded with Ubuntu) and a copy of Vista bought through your university (should set you back 75$ for Vista Business)? I got a 1420N with the T7500, 2GB, and the 8400M GS for 800$ with a coupon and absolutely love it.