On 9/19/06, [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi All,
> I'm a newbie but hope this is in the correct place.
>
> I am considering the HP laptop:
>    HP Pavilion Intel Centrino Duo T2400 1.83GHz Laptop (DV5250CA)
>      * RAM: 2Gb, HD: 120Gb,
>      * Screen: 15.4" WXGA High-Definition BrightView Display,
>      * Graphics card: Intel GMA 950
>      * DVD: LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD±R/RW drive
>      * Network Card: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection &
> Bluetooth
>

As mentioned by others.. the 3945 Card needs some extra work to get
going. I found that getting a refurbished system or getting the older
Intel minipci card and putting it into a laptop worked well with
SciLin (except on WPA networks but that is an OS level problem with
WPA causing all kinds of restarts).

> on which to run Scientific Linux -- mostly for work (research) but also
> the entertainment (sound, music & burner).
>
> My questions are:
>
> 1) Can I install Scientific Linux on the above machine and get the basic
> functionalities working -- screen, keyboard/mouse, network and multimedia
> (music, sound, DVD burner), battery power save -- without being an expert?
>

I have found that for most laptops that getting the latest laptop
unless the company ships it with a working Linux on it... is always an
exercise for an expert. This has to do with the fact that laptops are
still pretty much "cram whatever is the cheapest this week into the
box".


> 2) More generally, how does Scientific Linux fare on laptops, and HP
> laptops in particular? Which are the brands & models mostly used?
>

No idea about HP laptops. All the sites I have worked at were quite
happy with HP as alpha servers, but had always standardized on Dell
for laptops for various cost, performance, "it worked better when we
evaluated it 5 years ago".

SciLin 4.x should work well on the Dell Precision laptops without a
problem. The Inspirons worked pretty well as long as you made sure the
parts you got were linux ready. I have found my best luck for getting
a non-expert working with Linux has been to spend a week researching
on Google and hardware specific mailling lists and then getting a
refurb model . It isnt the fastest latest.. but the various distros
usually have all the fixes needed built into them.

> 3) Are there archives/sites where one can find out about these -- under
> scientific linux or elsewhere?
>

I really don't know about the HP hardware.. the one thing I will say
that I have liked about the Dell people is that they have had a public
website and mailling lists that their sales people knew about when
meeting with them. IBM and HP have some really good people working on
Linux but they seem to be covered in layers of red tape at times about
talking on a list or anything. [If HP and IBM have similar public
websites and mailling lists like those on linux.dell.com.. I would
love to know about them.. it would make my life easier]


> Thanks,
>
> William.
>


-- 
Stephen J Smoogen. -- CSIRT/Linux System Administrator
How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed
in a naughty world. = Shakespeare. "The Merchant of Venice"