I'll throw in another +1 for Ubuntu. Among the mainstream
distributions, it's the one that makes the most effort to set things
in the Do What You Want way that Apple is so good at.
Regarding hardware: remember that ALL computer hardware these days is
insanely over-specced. So buy last year's model at half the price of
this years, and smile happily at the knowledge that (A) you really
won't miss the other 0.3 GHz of processor speed; and (B) the standard
Ubuntu distribution will have mature drivers for all your hardware,
which may not be the case for a latest-and-greatest model.
In my experience, the things that make the biggest difference to the
quality of experience when using a laptop are (1) screen resolution --
not physical size; (2) memory, which you should be able to upgrade as
needed, and (3) the big surprise for me, quality of pointing device.
The trackpad on new MacBooks is excellent, but those on most other
machines are terrible, so try before you buy. I also get on well will
ThinkPad nipples, but not everyone likes them.
Hope this helps,
-- Mike.
On 14 December 2011 17:00, Jon Stroop <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I've run Ubuntu on Dell, Sony, and (presently) Alienware laptops, all
> without a problem. Ubuntu tries extra-hard to make sure that this is the
> case with wireless, Bluetooth, webcams, etc. so as far as distros go that
> might be your best option, but since it's all I've ever run my perspective
> lacks scope.
>
> I'd say back into it--spec a laptop you'd like, and then have a poke around
> the web and see if anyone is having problems, remembering that no news is
> probably good news in this case.
> -Jon
>
>
> On 12/14/2011 11:51 AM, Ellen Wilson wrote:
>>
>> I have an Acer laptop that I bought for $298 at Walmart, so it's hardly
>> top of the line. However, I installed Ubuntu on it with absolutely zero
>> problems.
>>
>> On the Windows side, it runs Portal, so I'm happy.
>>
>> Ellen
>>
>> Ellen Knowlton Wilson
>> Instructional Services Librarian
>> Room 250, University Library
>> 5901 USA Drive North
>> University of South Alabama
>> Mobile, AL 36688
>> (251) 460-6045
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Chris Fitzpatrick<[log in to unmask]>
>> Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 10:32 am
>> Subject: [CODE4LIB] Linux Laptop
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>>> I just had a Howard Beale moment with Apple. I'm mad as hell and I'm
>>> not going to take it anymore.
>>>
>>> I'm curious what people can suggest for linux laptop?
>>> Any suggestions for distros and hardware?
>>>
>>> thanks. b,chris.
>>>
>
