Good distro for Laptop

[stryder144]

Okay, folks, I got my friend hooked on Linux (Mandrake 8.0). He is thinking about dumping his box for a laptop computer. He (Jon) is going to buy a computer sans evil empire related software (M$ Windows XX). Jon wants a good distro that will easily detect everything on a generic laptop (can't seem to convince him that Slack is where it's at ). I told him Mandrake, but now I want to know what everyone else thinks. Should Jon just stick with Mandy or is there a better distro that is more suitable for laptops? Since I don't have a laptop, I don't feel that I am an authority on which is the most trouble free distro to use. Thanks.

Cheers

[edit]While we're at it, he hasn't decided on a laptop to buy. He has checked out the linux-laptop faq's. He wants me to help him decide what to buy. I have no experience. Has anyone got a good, relatively inexpensive laptop recommendation? Has anyone used the desktop/laptop hybrids (such as one of these http://www.softwareandstuff.com/d_ds...ea900gray.html? Pros/cons? Thanks again.[/edit]

[pbharris]

hi stryder!!
my only recommendation is an IBM, but don't use lm sensors
with it.

Well here in Denmark we have a nice brand called Amitech, I don't know if they are international but my gf brought one and I was amazed at the amount of band she got for her buck. I don't know how well it handles Linux, but the components seems fair standard, as she has not allowed me to install Linux on it..... yet.......

[Compunuts]

I agree with pbharris .. IBM is very good at laptops ... For distro, I would say Red Hat but Mandy is not very far anyway .. But Debian has laptop dedicated mailing lists and stuff so you may have easier time getting help.

[KumaSan]

I just recently bought a Dell, and Mandrake went on it without a hitch. Yahoo has a group dedicated to linux on dell laptops (http://groups.yahoo.com/linux-dell-laptops) that is really helpful.

Overall, the I really like this laptop. I ended up getting an Inspiron 8200, the desktop replacement model. Dell is a little bit pricey, but not too bad really. I settled on the Inspiron because here at work we use the older Inspiron 8000's and they have had very few problems running both Win2k and various versions of Linux. I have also heard good things about IBM Thinkpads, and I believe our admin people are looking at buying some of those next time.

[edit]fixed url[/edit]

Plus Dell PCs comes with the technically superior OS, FreeDOS now... :P

[FLY_FISHER]

I would love to have a laptop, but they are too expensive for me right now.
I have been looking at used ones on Ebay.
Who knows, maybe someday.

[SpookyEddy]

I have an acer laptop & run Slackware 8.1 on it, works great.

Nearly everything worked with no hassle including sound & 3com pcmica nic, only problem was the software modem (never bothered to try as I use the nic for internet).

Regards

ed

[Compunuts]

[quote author=SpookyEddy link=board=3;threadid=4538;start=0#45718 date=1029375429]
I have an acer laptop & run Slackware 8.1 on it, works great.
[/quote]
Acer used to ( or still ) make ThinkPads for IBM.