[NCLUG] linux on recent HP laptops

[S. Luke Jones]

I'm considering getting a new HP laptop (Pavilion dv4-1123us) but I go  
far enough back with Linux that I'm nervous about nothing working. I  
figure on a laptop that might include: (1) networking, (2) sound, (3)  
optical drive (esp. burning), (4) everything else. (I take it for  
granted that power management doesn't work on any laptop anywhere  
except macs.;-)

I've consulted "linux-laptop.net" and the ubuntu forums, but this  
particular model isn't mentioned anywhere. (I think this is a function  
of all computer models these days having a shelf-life of about 3  
months. They have dv4's and dv5's and dv7's, but the particular model  
number is all that's relevant. And probably not even that: it's not  
like they guarantee an -1123us will have the same parts this week that  
it did last week.)

So, my question is this: what's the best way to know if a laptop  
you're thinking about buying will run Linux (a) before you buy it (b)  
without wasting your time explaining to the tech support person what  
linux is and (c) all this before the laptop is supplanted by next  
month's model?

S. Luke Jones - slukejones at gmail.com