LinuxSA Mailing list archives

  From: Alan Kennington <akenning@dog.topology.org>
  To  : LinuxSA <linuxsa@linuxsa.org.au>
  Date: Sun, 21 Nov 1999 20:38:07 +1030

linux laptops - request for advice

Linux laptop experts:

Can anyone give me any advice on the purchase of a laptop
for linux use?

I'm considering buying a Toshiba Satellite Pro 480 CDT
in the very near future, second hand with carry-bag for A$2200.

I've seen a highly relevant review at:

http://cam.cornell.edu/hiebeler/480cdt.html

This is very encouraging, but I'd like further info.
Given that I'll have to add a bunch of stuff to this
second-hand laptop (RAM, disk, ethernet, modem), It will
get to about A$3400 total. So that's my budget, more or less.

My applications for a lap-top are largely business ones:

-	create/read/exchange documents, e.g. in MS format
-	create/read/exchange/display presentation slides, e.g. in MS format
-	connect to net via GSM phone, e.g. Nokia 2110
-	write simulation software and execute it
-	exchange files with Palm organizer, e.g. Palm IIIx
-	exchange files with handheld PC, e.g. Sharp HC-4500A

I also want to stick linux (e.g. SuSE 6.2 or 6.3) on this machine.

I had been toying with the idea of having dual-boot MS and linux
on this machine. But then I saw the latest edition of Time magazine,
which has a long article about the DoJ vs. MS case in it.
They outline the history of MS wrong-doing. The list is so awesome
and so evil, I've decided that even if I have inconvenience
from having a linux-only PC, then so be it.
I need the linux for software development, and I need lots of
disk for this and everything else. Since laptops have only
about 4 to 6 GB (ignoring external disks), and SuSE 6.2 is 6.4 GB
for just the distribution, I can't really spare the space anyway.

So that's another question really, as to whether a linux PC really
can lead to embarrassment in a business context.
E.g. someone at a meeting says "here's the slide-set/MS-document
over the IrDA interface" -- will I have to say "sorry, I've got linux"?

Regards,
Alan Kennington.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
   name: Dr. Alan Kennington
 e-mail: akenning@dog.topology.org
website: http://topology.org/
   city: Adelaide, South Australia
 coords: 34.89744 S, 138.58970 E
pgp-key: http://topology.org/key_ak1.asc
company: Topology Technology Australia Pty. Ltd.
    ACN: 090 599 152
saying1: `The Internet is the parliament of the people.' ak 28/5/1999.
saying2: `Seek truth from facts.' mao or deng, 1970s?
saying3: `Let a 1000 flowers bloom, let a 1000 schools contend.' mao, 1970s?
saying4: `Cut down the tall poppies.' mao, a few months later.

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