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Thread: What laptop should I buy?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Columbus, Ohio
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    5
    Distro
    Ubuntu Breezy 5.10

    Question What laptop should I buy?

    I'm going to buy myself a laptop as a graduation gift!

    I used to run Ubuntu all the time at home on a desktop, but for a number of reasons I haven't used it in a couple of years. I'm very much looking forward to getting back to Linux and I want my new laptop to be Ubuntu-only (no Windows) laptop.

    The question is: what laptop do I get? I've written down a loose set of specs that I'd like to see:
    • two-core CPU, around 2ghz
    • 2 gig RAM
    • S-video out (HD component out would be cool too)
    • CD/DVD burner
    • SD card slot
    • Video card with its own RAM--not shared
    • 100-160 gig HDD
    • 802.11g wifi
    • Gotta be Ubuntu friendly
    • Typical stuff like ethernet/headphone/mic/USB
    • Decent battery life


    I'm flexible, so it wouldn't have to match exactly. My budget is somewhere in the $500 - $1000 range, preferably on the low end. I've looked around at a lot of refurb sites, and I've got a few things in mind, but I'd love to hear ideas or recommendations from UbuntuForums, since UbuntuForums is one of the primary reasons I like the Ubuntu distro in the first place.

    Thanks,

    Matt

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    US
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    2,782
    Distro
    Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron

    Re: What laptop should I buy?

    I would go with system76 or lenovo.
    I have a T61 myself and love it. If you get this though it will come with windows. You try to get a refund for the OS by rejecting the EULA.

    The nice thing about system76 is that they are all ubuntu laptops and it is all preinstalled ( they also dont charge a premium for opensource laptops like D*** does).
    http://system76.com/index.php?cPath=28
    Last edited by tamoneya; August 7th, 2008 at 04:48 PM.
    Desktop: Q6600 OC: 343 x 9, 4 GB RAM, 8600 GTS Twinview (22",17"), 1.5 TB RAID 5
    Laptop: Lenovo T61 T7300 @ 2 GHz, 2GB RAM, Nvidia 140M Quadro, 160 GB harddrive
    Remember to mark posts as [SOLVED] when your problem is resolved

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
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    Columbus, Ohio
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    5
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    Ubuntu Breezy 5.10

    Re: What laptop should I buy?

    Quote Originally Posted by tamoneya View Post
    I would go with system76 or lenovo.
    Good suggestions. I did look at both of those already though, and they both seem fine, but a little on the higher end of my budget. I use a Lenovo right now for work and I think it's a fine laptop.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
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    Ubuntu Development Release

    Re: What laptop should I buy?

    For some reviews of laptops running Linux:

    http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/index.php/cat/507

    HP (NC) or Lenovo probably overall. IBM has beeen supporting Linux for some

    time, plus they are built very rugged. Priced the T61-

    http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/c...011B825513BCED

    Looks like a very good deal at $714-

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    24,961
    Distro
    Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa

    Re: What laptop should I buy?

    Moved

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
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    Toronto, Canada
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    136
    Distro
    Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron

    Re: What laptop should I buy?

    Again, I'd recommend the laptop I just bought, the Lenovo Ideapad Y510. There's a massive thread on these forums dedicated to it, so there's good support here. As for stuff working, there's some minor issues with the sound and webcam, but there's a very detailed how-to for these issues.

    As far as specs and price goes, it sounds like its a perfect fit for you. Mine is dual core, 2.3Ghz, 2 gigs of ram, and has almost all the other features you had in your list, although I haven't tested all of them myself yet (like s-video out). The video card is the only thing that's a little acking since it's just an integrated intel card, but I can do without that. It does compiz just fine, and I have my desktop for games. Price? I bought mine for $650 CAD.
    Visit my blog! -> tuxrant.blogspot.com
    Help fix my bugs! Bug #251142 & Bug#255393.

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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Beans
    35

    Re: What laptop should I buy?

    Acer Aspire's, and modern Acers in general, run Ubuntu very well. My 5315 is supported 100%, and although its a single core, it runs very fast. Compiz is running perfectly under Hardy. The Acer Aspire's on NewEgg are around $600.

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