Hi,
I'd like to get some recommendations on what kind of laptop to buy.

I am an engineering student who will move to Japan for one year, and
I'm planning to buy a laptop there. As I don't speak much Japanese
(yet), I'd like to prepare for this now so I know what to look for
there.

My most important requirement is that linux and free software runs
nicely on it with as many open drivers as possible. I don't want to
install closed source binaries to graphics, wireless nic and things
like that up and running. I also want the laptop to be pretty cheap, I
don't need an expensive multimedia or gaming computer, but I will
probably do calculations and compile stuff, so some memory would be
good.

As I will install Linux I don't care if I get Windows shipped with it,
I'll just remove it.

I've been told Dell's computers are pretty cheap, what do you think? I
have two old CPx H500GT Dell computers in which both keyboards have
broke, including one or two replacements. No matter how careful I
was, keys just stopped working after a while. That is absolutely not
acceptable. Have Dell fixed their keyboards? Otherwise I will choose
some other brand.

If it doesn't matter which brand, could you please tell me what kind
of hardware that will work best in Linux? What type of graphics
hardware, sound, network, and so on.

And last question, probably dumb, but I'll ask anyway. Any opinion on
where to buy a laptop. From the vendor directly, or from some
supermarket?

Thanks!

evanevankan2@hushmail.com wrote:
> Hi,
> I'd like to get some recommendations on what kind of laptop to buy.
>
> I am an engineering student who will move to Japan for one year, and
> I'm planning to buy a laptop there. As I don't speak much Japanese
> (yet), I'd like to prepare for this now so I know what to look for
> there.
>
> My most important requirement is that linux and free software runs
> nicely on it with as many open drivers as possible. I don't want to
> install closed source binaries to graphics, wireless nic and things
> like that up and running. I also want the laptop to be pretty cheap, I
> don't need an expensive multimedia or gaming computer, but I will
> probably do calculations and compile stuff, so some memory would be
> good.
>
> As I will install Linux I don't care if I get Windows shipped with it,
> I'll just remove it.
>
> I've been told Dell's computers are pretty cheap, what do you think? I
> have two old CPx H500GT Dell computers in which both keyboards have
> broke, including one or two replacements. No matter how careful I
> was, keys just stopped working after a while. That is absolutely not
> acceptable. Have Dell fixed their keyboards? Otherwise I will choose
> some other brand.
>
> If it doesn't matter which brand, could you please tell me what kind
> of hardware that will work best in Linux? What type of graphics
> hardware, sound, network, and so on.
>
> And last question, probably dumb, but I'll ask anyway. Any opinion on
> where to buy a laptop. From the vendor directly, or from some
> supermarket?
>
> Thanks!
Two brands to consider would be Toshiba (Japaneese) and Lenovo
(Chinese - bought out IBM's PC division). I bought a Toshiba A215-S5825
back in Feb. for $480 and have been very happy with it. Memory is dirt
cheap these days, but bear in mind most laptops only have 2 DIMM slots
(versus usually 4 on desktops). Be sure you can get Linux drivers for
whatever you buy because most components in laptops are proprietary,
unlike desktops. I'm running Windows Vista, so I have no experience
with Linux drivers.
As to where to buy, the local papers in my area have multi-page color
ads for computer dealers like Frys, Staples, Best Buy, Circuit City, and
others on weekends. That's where I found the laptop I'm using now.
Consider buying an extended warranty because laptops have more hardware
problems than desktops in general. I spent $200 extra to get a 4 year
warranty.

On Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:22:50 -0400, Hula Baloo quoth:

> Be sure you can get Linux drivers for whatever you buy because most
> components in laptops are proprietary, unlike desktops. I'm running
> Windows Vista, so I have no experience with Linux drivers.

the advice I hear most often and it makes good sense is to go to the store
and boot up the laptop with a 'livecd' or two. if the livecd recognizes
everything, then you can be confident. Linux may still work even if it
doesn't but then you know you have a bit more work to do. I mainly have
had trouble with networking in the past.

(don't know if the livecd route can test for acpi.)

I haven't done this myself often. I remember once going to BestBuy and
asking the fellow about running Linux. to answer my questions, he ran off
to find his own livecd!

perhaps other spots to look for are whether the webcam works, if it has
one. most of my experience is with HP and they have been good for me.

one is usually advised in any case to stay away from the _most_ recent
models of any brand.

Felmon

In message
<f23c3345-bb06-4128-8b8b-07a5c157ae26@k37g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
evanevankan2@hushmail.com writes
>I am an engineering student who will move to Japan for one year, and
>I'm planning to buy a laptop there. As I don't speak much Japanese
>(yet), I'd like to prepare for this now so I know what to look for
>there.

My suggestion would be to find a few models that you like locally in a
store, go home, look up the manufacturer's website and see whether the
same model appears on the Japanese site. Take a list with you when you
set sail.

On another list I was trying to help someone who had bought a Japanese
laptop from NEC, only to find that he couldn't find any drivers on their
Europe/US sites.
I think that to change the language, it may be necessary to replace most
of the software, even the bios.
I've had the same thing with a Japanese NEC scanner. NEC seem to
specialise in hardware that is specific to Japan.

Come to think of it, someone like you could perhaps help me. I'm totally
lost looking for scanner drivers amongst the Japanese writing on their
site. :-)
--
Bill

<evanevankan2@hushmail.com> wrote in message
news:f23c3345-bb06-4128-8b8b-07a5c157ae26@k37g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...

> My most important requirement is that linux and free software runs
> nicely on it with as many open drivers as possible. I don't want to
> install closed source binaries to graphics, wireless nic and things
> like that up and running. I also want the laptop to be pretty cheap,

Look into the Asus Eee, which comes with Linux &
utilities preinstalled, 4 Gb solid-state storage (not HDD)
for $399 in the USA (more expensive in Asia, where
it is built.) The screen is barely postcard size but
clear and functional: runs on AA batteries, I believe, and in
general very cute.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

In news:g5j7mh$f8n$2@theodyn.ncf.ca,
Don Phillipson typed: on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:14:24 -0400
> <evanevankan2@hushmail.com> wrote in message
> news:f23c3345-bb06-4128-8b8b-07a5c157ae26@k37g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>
>> My most important requirement is that linux and free software runs
>> nicely on it with as many open drivers as possible. I don't want to
>> install closed source binaries to graphics, wireless nic and things
>> like that up and running. I also want the laptop to be pretty cheap,
>
> Look into the Asus Eee, which comes with Linux &
> utilities preinstalled, 4 Gb solid-state storage (not HDD)
> for $399 in the USA (more expensive in Asia, where
> it is built.) The screen is barely postcard size but
> clear and functional: runs on AA batteries, I believe, and in
> general very cute.

Hi Don! I have an Asus EEE PC 4GB. And they sell many different versions.
Like 7 inch screens, 9 inch and 10 inch screens. And different SSD sizes as
well. The cheap ones have 2GB of SSD storage. And they go up from there like
4, 8, 12, and 16 GB.

None of them uses regular batteries. They all use Li-Ion batteries like
regular latops. Like for example, the 701, 702, 900, and 901 and I think the
1000 series all use the same Li-Ion battery. Although Asus has like two or
three sizes, third party has a lot more sizes.

Yes they come with either Linux or Windows XP versions. Which is a bit
unusual for a model to offer either or. Depending on the model, Windows XP
Home versions either cost about 50 bucks more or the same with less SSD.

The cons are mostly that the screen is small. Those that like small screens
this should be okay. Others complain that the keyboard is very small.
Personally for me, both are about as small as you can get and I'm still okay
with it. And it appears that hundreds of thousands are too. Soon maybe
millions. ;-)

--
Bill
Gateway Celeron M 370 (1.5GHZ)
MX6124 (laptop) w/2GB
Windows XP Home SP2 (120GB HD)
Intel(r) 910GML (64MB shared)

"Don Phillipson" <e925@SPAMBLOCK.ncf.ca> wrote in message
news:g5j7mh$f8n$2@theodyn.ncf.ca...
> Look into the Asus Eee, which comes with Linux &
> utilities preinstalled...

....and is a serious step down in functionality from a "standard" laptop:
Tinier keyboard is noticeably less productive for most people to use, has no
CD/DVD ROM storage, mass storage is limited to memory cards (typically much
smaller than hard drives), etc.

Eee's are great devices, but if you're only getting one laptop, for most
people it would be a poor choice.