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Unix Laptop

Whyatt

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Hey all,

I've just started a Phd in Astrophysics and I'm thinking I will need a Laptop. All my code and programs can be used on any Unix System, So do you think I should but a iBook/Power book or an PC laptop and install a linux distro.

At Uni I use Redhat 9 and I've got about £800 to spend (maybe up to a grand but not untill Xmas at earliest but more likely march).

I know OSX is pretty - but how's it to use? I don't like the idea of not having a "desktop switcher" of even a task bar. How does that work?

I use a lot of open source stuff. The Gimp, Firefox, Pine, etc and don't want to have to but a load of stuff.

Any ideas?

Whyatt
 
Thats great, thanks.

I think there's quite a linux crowd here. Kind off. What do you lot use when your on the move? Anyone use Macs? Or know what they are like?

And what kind of vital statisitcs do you think are needed these days? I seen windows laptops with pretty much the same stats which seemed to run with incredibly diffenerent speeds.

Whyatt
 
Whyatt said:
Thats great, thanks.

I think there's quite a linux crowd here. Kind off. What do you lot use when your on the move? Anyone use Macs? Or know what they are like?

And what kind of vital statisitcs do you think are needed these days? I seen windows laptops with pretty much the same stats which seemed to run with incredibly diffenerent speeds.

Whyatt
Click to expand...

A friend of mine uses an Apple laptop and swears by it. You don't have the contol over it that you have over your own Linux setup, but it's 100% Unix, it works reliably and it is quick. He also runs windows on it as a VM, IIRC.

If you want to get into the Unix itself, I would go for the PC Laptop with a Unix distro (make a pest of yourself and ask for a refund on Windows). If you want Unix that works when you open the box, Apple is fine, and you can add windows later if you find you have to.

I would think that worst aspect of the Apples is that they can't run all the good games in native mode, but then, you may be planning to do some assignments.
 
Thats cool, but I need British sites to buy from I recon - because of import tax.

Not so worried about games. It's not like a linux set up is gaming heaven. The Mac does have a game called "Escape velocity Nova" {which know has a windows version that I've been playing recently} And thats brilliant. Imagine Asteriods crossed with Elite. But pretty. It has a shareware demo - so I'ld recommend downloading it.)

Because I wouldn't be getting one till Xmas at the earliest - so does anyone know if apple are planning to drop prices or upgrade the models soon?

Whyatt
 
I've been using Mandrake Linux on my £750 Acer laptop for the last year and it works well for me.

OS X is lovely and the Mac OS laptops are really nice - they work just fine; but a bit pricey if your budget is £800.

If you let me know where you are, I can probably find someone local who'd be happy to help install and set up Linux for you. Alternatively, I can point you towards your local LUG (Linux User Group) where you could take your laptop along and have a gang of geeks gather round and install everything you want.
 
I would like to make it clear at this point that if anyone wants to give me a Laptop - then thats fine by me! :D

How troublesome was it to install Mandrake on a laptop? I've installed 9.2 and 10 on a desktop but is it the same process? Do you have to do a lot of manual things to get it working? Like Battery control?

I had a friend who said that when installing on a laptop if you get the screen resolution wrong then you can fry the screen. I wouldn't want to do that!

Whyatt
 
Linux can be a breeze on a laptop, or VERY,VERY troublesome. Do your homework.

I recommend getting a notebook that has Linux pre-installed. You can get one with 'Linspire' on it for around $1000. If you later decide you want something other than 'Linspire', a similar kernel and driver collection should still run it. It will shutdown/sleep/hibernate correctly, which are all very important.

http://www.linspire.com/lindowsos_laptop.php

(Note: several of the computers linked through this come with OTHER Linux distributions as well.)

There is fairly good support for most notebooks that have been out for a while. If it's been out a year or two (or six months older than a recent Linux distribution), it's still plenty good, and can be had from a lease return fairly cheaply. Just buy a used (after VERIFYING that your version of Linux runs on it trivially without problems) one in good condition and get a fresh new battery for it, and you will have something very like new.

Do a google search for: 'used notebook warranty' for these.
http://www.google.com/search?q=used+notebook+warranty

Dell & HP also sell computers with Linux on 'em. Whether you can get a new notebook with Linux on it from them, no promises.
 
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