[NCLUG] linux on recent HP laptops

[Ben West]

networking wtf?  there is a semi-open-source drive for broadcom as of about
18 months ago -- ubuntu will install  automatically if it can fins the
firmware on your hard drive.  research the machines you're interested in and
find a copy fo the appropriate firmware online, take them with you on a
jump-drive and you'll be able to test wireless.  also a lot of OEMs are
useing the atheros cards which are great

On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 10:30 AM, Bob Proulx <bob at proulx.com> wrote:

> S. Luke Jones wrote:
> > 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.
>
> "Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me."  :-)
>
> > I figure on a laptop that might include: (1) networking,
>
> AFAIK the biggest problem with laptop network is Broadcom wifi.  This
> is very often found on latops and it is a problem for Linux.  Broadcom
> doesn't release specs and so there isn't a native driver available.
>
> > (2) sound,
>
> I haven't seen too many sound problems for a long time.
>
> > (3) optical drive (esp. burning),
>
> Optical drives should all be ATAPI these days and therefore should
> function okay.
>
> > (4) everything else.
>
> Don't forget the graphics.  Intel has been heralded as the best of the
> free software options today.  But they are not targeting high
> performance applications such as high end gaming.  The *old* ATI chips
> such as the radeon 9600 were pretty good and have solid drivers.  The
> *new* ATI I have heard mixed results.  (I would be interested in
> hearding people's experiences with the new and free ATI.  How are they
> doing these days?)  Nvidia is of course closed but good proprietary
> drivers from them exist.
>
> > (I take it for granted that power management doesn't work on any
> > laptop anywhere except macs.;-)
>
> Power management works perfectly on my IBM T42 ThinkPad.  :-)
>
> > 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.)
>
> Exactly.  It is a problem.  I would be very nervous buying a laptop
> sight unseen based entirely upon specs.
>
> > 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
>
> Find a physical unit in a store or by someone else who has already
> bought one that you can try and then boot KNOPPIX or another live cd
> distribution on it and test out the major components.  Then buy that
> unit.  It is the only way to be sure.
>
> Bob
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Benjamin West