Here is the skinny...
I have a Sager 8887(P4 3.06Ghz -yes a desktop cpu- , 2g Ram, ATI-M9000 POS card,1600x1200 LCD) running Suse 10.1. And it works pretty good.
BUT :reallymad
It clocks in around 15lbs
Runs so hot you cant drop it in your lap
Battrey lasts for about 6 mins off the AC
The cooling fan sounds like a shop-vac, and it runs ALL THE TIME
Now Ive been looking at getting some version of a Core Duo T2400ish with a 1900x1200 LCD (I likes my screen when Im codeing)... maybe a Sony or a Alienware/Dell
I guess what Im asking is it possable to get -any- flavor of linux to play nice on a new Core Duo laptop from alienware or sony?
And what kinda fan nosie and heat can I expect from one.
Oh I guess UI should mention that Im a Java developer and I couldnt care if the 3d sucks. I got a x-box to play games on, computers is for work'in :nono:
anyhow thanks for any input ....
-Your Pusherman
seablade
07-14-2006, 10:05 PM
Xbox... heh. Best use for XBox is for linux... Kinda funny;)
Ok yes I am being a bit exaggerating. At any rate on to your question, I cant think of a reason right off Linux wouldnt play nice with the Core Duo, in fact short of having a definite answer, I will look at other Intel Chipsets that are all pretty well supported in general and lean towards yes it will.
Seablade
seablade
07-14-2006, 10:06 PM
By the way, if you are doing coding, I would say,. put more emphasis on durability and portability than on power in general, well for laptops anyways. Then again I tend to reccomend this for any laptop;)
Seablade
abf
07-14-2006, 10:58 PM
stay away from sony, over priced, terrible tech support (although nice screen). Dell is ok with a good coupon, if anything take a look at the ASUS z96j or something a bit lighter/smaller if you want more mobility.
and yeah, as long as you got an SMP kernel loaded you should be ok.
jasn
07-14-2006, 10:59 PM
Most linux distros support Core Duos. Getting support for the other HW components can be an adventure. For example support for WiFi, bluetooth, video cards, etc. will likely be more of an issue, depending on the linux distro. I've always had luck with latest hardware support through Gentoo, but it's also a little more complicated to setup than other distros.
I just went through a similar laptop buying exercise. I researched laptops with nVidia GPUs only, so this doesn't cover all options. I found most WUXGA (1900x1200) laptops were gaming laptops, with big GPUs, which run hotter and drain batteries faster, so I changed my goal to WSXGA+ (1680x1050). I first looked at 15.4" laptops for the lighter weight but the only Core Duo, nVidia GPU, WSXGA+, 15.4" laptops I could find were the Compal HEL80 and the Toshiba Tecra A7. There's also supposed to be versions of the LG M1 Dual Express and Samsung R65 with those specs, but I couldn't find them for sale into the US.
I then started to look at 17" laptops and stopped with the Toshiba Satellite P100. The specs seemed right, Core Duo, nVidia GPU, and 17" WSXGA+ with their Build To Order (BTO) options, coming in right at 7lbs. Plus early users are saying that they run quiet and cool. Toshiba put out a 25% promo for two days (7/10 and 7/11 only), and I ordered a P100, nVidia 7600 w/256mb, WSXGA+ w/Trubrite, 2.16ghz Dual Core, WiFi/BT, DVD Multi drive, with the stock RAM and HDD, and it priced around 1800. Right now the 25% off promo is over, but they are offering a 20% off on BTO P100s.
Lastly I've always liked the features to weight ratio (and looks) of Asus laptops. If you look at the following thread at NBR forums, you will see that their 17" W2J laptop with an ATI GPU will be coming in an WSXGA+ version and Asus provides a 200.00 rebate for it. Here's the thread;