**VANITY**Looking for a laptop, see thread for details**VANITY**

None | Today | None

[Michael Barnes]

I am looking at purchasing a laptop in the next few days. My top price is 2K (possibly more depending features). Few things I am looking for:

64 bit, dual core
2-3GB Mem
160GB+ HDD
17 inch screen
CD/DVD R (write would be cool).
Not too worried about weight or how "thin" it is.
I intend to run Redhat Enterprise WS 5

Looking to see what your experiences have been in laptop land.

[Michael Barnes]

I have considered apple, but for what I want to do, prefer a laptop that I can easily run Redhat on.

Thanks in advance...

[chaos_5]

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=32&name=Laptops-Notebooks

[HAL9000]

Intel-based Macs should have no problem running Red Hat Linux in native mode, or with virtualization.

[Michael Barnes]

*note, I like apple hardware and the OS (unix under the hood). Looking for a laptop I can easily run Linux on.

[dit_xi]

What do you intend to do with your laptop? Gaming, graphics/CADD, video editting? What’s your graphic card requirement?

[Randy Larsen]

You just described my Dell E1705...

I love it!

[Michael Barnes]

Thanks. Been out there already. Looking for user input on the varying brands before I buy.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

2,000? Wow. I think I paid about $700 for mine ( got a free printer with it after rebate). My only advise is avoid Dell. I have a Gateway and it’s been fine so far.

[Michael Barnes]

Graphics don’t have to be bleeding edge. 256MB is probably more than enough. I intend to run servers on this laptop so I can develop outside of the office (websphere, jvm’s, apache/tomcat, oracle, etc..)

[Michael Barnes]

Gona surf back over to Dell with that model#

[HAL9000]

One other note - If you want to run Red Hat Linux, but don't need an expensive service contract, take a look at CentOS. They claim it is binary-compatible with Red Hat, but without the trademarked logos.

[Michael Barnes]

If I buy a laptop, I want it to last me for quite a while. I don’t mind paying upfront, just don’t want to re-buy in three years.

[Michael Barnes]

Thanks, appreciate the input.

[Billthedrill]

Those are BIG laptops! On a dual-core system with 3 GB of RAM you could run Vista. If you wanted to run any applications you could always add a processor and some more memory.

OK, just kidding. ;-) (Bitter Vista user here...)

Don't have a specific recommendation but you might consider a screen warranty on one that size - may I assume you have some fairly graphics-intensive uses in mind? If you're traveling with it you ought to cost in a VERY well-padded case of some sort. Some of the ones the manufacturers send are pretty cheesy and aren't padded at the corners. Extra power supply if you're shuttling it between two settled locations.

Let us know what you settle on!

[Michael Barnes]

I’ve had two different Dells in the past and had no real issues with them. Will check out gateway as well...thanks!

[Michael Barnes]

Yeah, extended warranty would definitely be part of the deal. I am betting on some sort of hardware failure within three years. As to screen size, nothing graphics intensive, more of a luxury so I can squeeze out a few more years on these aging eyes ;-)

[dit_xi]

Screen resolution? WSXGA vs. WUXGA.

[Randy Larsen]

It probably has been upgraded to a 17something...

[Michael Barnes]

Differences, pro’s? cons?

[grwcfl537]

I have a dual core (32 bit) Gateway running Mandriva with no problems. Desktop is dual-core 64 bit intel running Mandriva (64 bit) with no problems. Laptop hasw 2G RAM, desktop 4G. Only drawback to laptop was I could not get it without M$ Vista. Built desktop so no M$ products used. If there is a RH live disk, would recommend trying it out on virtually any name brand machine.

Now have 3 machines with no M$ products.

Mel