I have ubuntu linux running as a dual boot on my Gateway Laptop.  It runs pretty nicely - I leave it run for days when I' m doing some Web testing and such.

Nic.

-----Original Message-----
From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark Diggory
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 2:41 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Linux Laptop

If Apple is "evil", I'd look more towards hardware and its environmental manufacturing impact rather than software/OS/culture.

Everyone puts up a good face:

http://www.apple.com/environment/
http://www.lenovo.com/social_responsibility/us/en/index.html

But recent news is a bit alarming...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/04/apple-chinese-pollution-concerns
http://valuestream2009.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/chinese-ngo-claims-apples-supply-chain-sustainability-is-rotten-to-the-core-will-consumers-agree/

Apparently it is difficult to capture statistics on the full supply chain. However, if your interested you can pickup the first "Carbon Neutral Footprint" laptop from ASUS

*http://tinyurl.com/d6lb76g*

Mark

On Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 10:25 AM, Erik Hetzner <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> At Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:54:09 -0800,
> Chris Fitzpatrick wrote:
> >
> > Thanks everyone for all the recommendations. I know this would be 
> > this
> list to ask.
> >
> > Sounds like Ubuntu is the overwhelming favorite. In the past when 
> > I've used a linux in a non-server computer, there are always some 
> > annoying problems... things like the laptop not waking from sleep 
> > mode, power consumption problems, or the microphone not working.
> >
> > So, I wondering about specific laptop brands/models and linux 
> > distributions/versions that people have found to work really well. A 
> > Dell or ThinkPad with Ubuntu seems to be the popular choice?
> >
> > But, yeah, I know i started it, but I'm going to avoid going deeper 
> > into my opinions on Apple vs. Windows vs. Linux and the implications 
> > vis-à-vis productivity, copyright, social justice, and the plight of 
> > the polar bear. If only out of concern that introducing this 
> > discussion might cause the poor mail server at ND to meltdown…..
>
> For what its worth, I run Ubuntu happily on my old (2007) macbook. The 
> only real tricky part is the lack of 2 pointer buttons. So you don’t 
> need to get rid of the mac to switch off OS X.
>
> That said, I would not buy a mac again, if only because Apple has gone 
> into full-bore evil mode.
>
> Finally, in my biased experience, a system running Ubuntu is now more 
> usable than a system running OS X. This is my experience, and I am not 
> going to argue about it. :) I imagine it works even better if you buy 
> a system that is certified or pre-installed. And if you are interested 
> in a netbook, although Ubuntu has discontinued the Ubuntu Netbook 
> Edition, I think the Unity interface is pretty slick on a small 
> netbook screen.
>
> best, Erik
>
> Sent from my free software system <http://fsf.org/>.
>
>


--
[image: @mire Inc.]
*Mark Diggory*
*2888 Loker Avenue East, Suite 305, Carlsbad, CA. 92010* *Esperantolaan 4, Heverlee 3001, Belgium* http://www.atmire.com