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"