[PLUG] Buying a Linux laptop

Mark lemming at quirkyqatz.com
Wed Apr 14 18:50:03 UTC 2004


Dave Scott wrote:
> Did you check "Linux on Laptops",  www.linux-laptop.net
> 
> Also, I hear IBM's work pretty good for Linux.  I'm using a Compaq 
> Presario 1700 and it works great.
> 
> I'm still wondering why IBM doesn't support GNU/Linux on Laptops since 
> there stance on the Linux thing.  You would think they would offer 
> GNU/Linux installs as an alternative to Windows.
> 
> As for the battery indicator, I believe you need to make sure the BIOS 
> on the laptop is ACPI compliant and the Kernel needs to be built with 
> ACPI support in order to get that to work.  I believe most linux distros 
> ship with a default kernel that does not have the ACPI compiled.  Maybe 
> someone else here has some more info about this.

I've got a Sony Vaio (Older model from 2000).  With the 2.6 kernel it 
disabled my ACPI as too old of a BIOS. APM worked fine though for 
battery indicator.  Newer laptops should be fine in that respect.

I'll second the recommendation for checking linux-laptop.

-Mark




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