🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <34ED4233.3507994D@ThePla.net>, Chris Bitmead wrote:
>I'm thinking of buying a laptop (fairly high end), on which I  want to
>run, amoungst other things, Linux.
>
>Which brand has the best hardware support by Linux?

While it's tough to point out a specific brand, there are a few
things to avoid.
>
>I guess that means the video display, 

The most significant problem is the NeoMagic Chipset which is common in the
most recent batch of laptops. NeoMagic refuses to make information necessary
to write a driver for Xfree available.

One of the commercial X servers does support the NeoMagic. 
I think it costs about $100.

This problem is a pain, since the use of the Neomagic chipset is not
universal across product lines. For example, some IBM thinkpads use
Neomagic; others don't. Caveat emptor.


>sound, 

This can be a problem. Check out OSS/Free and OSS/Linux
to see what's supported either for free for for $.

>PCMCIA 

PCMCIA is not a problem. In fact, for most "normal" cards (SCSI, modem,
ethernet) linux works far better than windows. After intstalling the PCMCIA
package, all you need to do is insert the card. Most of these devices are
automatically recognized. 

You can also get fancy, like using a different network address depending
on which network card is used, or which slot in which it is inserted.

You can also define "schemes", like "home" and "work" which will alter
your configuration.

The PCMCIA HOWTO will give you a list of supported devices. There are a
few that should be avoided.

>and what else to
>worry about???
>

Built in modems. Often, these are of the stupid "winmodem" variety.

Thus, you may end up having to ignore a built in modem and use
a PCMCIA card.


>Good Linux support is my highest priority, and I want to get it right.

If you do your homework, you shouldn't have a problem.

>
>-- 
>Chris Bitmead
>http://www.thepla.net/~chrisb


-- 
| Michael Iverson                             (Iverson.8@osu.edu) |
| University Technology Services, the Ohio State University       |
| Department of Electrical Engineering, the Ohio State University |
| http://frith.acs.ohio-state.edu/~ivy/                           |