I am thinking of buying a basic laptop. I do not need anything high-end-- no need for graphic editing, games, etc. I am looking for a new, reliable machine.
As I shop around, I see many low-end, cheap laptops in the $600-1000 range-- for a 1.4Ghz/256MB/40GB. Many of these are well rated by various magazines & websites.
However, all of these laptops come with Windows pre-installed. From what I understand, a license for Windows XP typically adds $200 to the cost of a computer.
I am familiar with many of the Linux Laptop vendors-- but ironically many of those laptops are too expensive for me. The prices for www.linuxcertified.com & www.emperorlinux.com/systemmatrix/ start at $1200 or so. Many other vendors only ship refurbished laptops, and I prefer to buy something new.
Does anyone have any resources for buying a laptop without an OS pre-installed?
(I realize that installing Linux on a laptop is not always easy, but I have done it before, and I can do it again.)
As I shop around, I see many low-end, cheap laptops in the $600-1000 range-- for a 1.4Ghz/256MB/40GB. Many of these are well rated by various magazines & websites.
However, all of these laptops come with Windows pre-installed. From what I understand, a license for Windows XP typically adds $200 to the cost of a computer.
I am familiar with many of the Linux Laptop vendors-- but ironically many of those laptops are too expensive for me. The prices for www.linuxcertified.com & www.emperorlinux.com/systemmatrix/ start at $1200 or so. Many other vendors only ship refurbished laptops, and I prefer to buy something new.
Does anyone have any resources for buying a laptop without an OS pre-installed?
(I realize that installing Linux on a laptop is not always easy, but I have done it before, and I can do it again.)
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SF Bay Area
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Sounds like your best bet is to buy a Dell laptop on sale. You can get a new one for under $600.00 on sale, at least in the US. It will have windoze preinstalled, but who cares? You can try Knoppix on it to see how the hardware performs with Linux and then install Mepis, Knoppix or Kubuntu. (I mention these because they are my favorites.) Since you don't seem to need a hugh end machine, that should meet your requirements. You can get a second HDD new for $60-90.00 if you want to preserve the windows drive and use the new one for a Linux only system.
HTH -
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I've been told the lowend/budget Dell laptops are total crap. I believe they only have a 90 day warrantly.
Plus one is still paying Microsoft the same amount.
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That might be what I end up doing.
It's just frustrating to know that somewhere in that $600, there's a ~$200 license fee for Windows in there. They could sell it for even cheaper!
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I've heard getting a cheapo Dell on sale isn't always the best option if you're planning on installing Linux. Dell tends to make a lot of revisions to their consumer models as the prices of various potential components change, so there's really no way of being sure that you will have drivers for all the hardware.
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Hrm, so he eventually went through an OEM to purchase the laptop.
When talking to HP, he referenced this article: news.zdnet.co.uk/software/...425,00.htm , which discusses the nx5000 pre-installed with Linux for $1200. Looks like the nx5000 has been discontinued, and was replaced with the 6100 model, and HP no longer offers Linux support. -
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I've ask this question on various forums as well. Their are small distributors of laptops that do sell there laptops with Linux preinstalled.
But it's a fucking racket with the big name laptop makers. I do not see how this is not anti-trust violation.
Basically Microsoft has manevured itself in position to get their money for every new PC laptop computer sold in the US. And let's not forget that laptops now outsell desktops. So no matter how many people switch to Linux, Microsoft gets paid. It's a sham. -
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The nice thing about using Dell is their warranties are pretty distinct hardware or software only. The Dells come with (and you can download) diagnostic programs for hardware problems. So its really easy to call in and say "hey this part is broken and here is the code your program gave me" and then Dell replaces the part without even asking you what OS you are running blah blah blah. Also, Dell's linux support pages are growing - so its not that they are totally against you putting it on.
The way that I look at it is pretty much all the hardware is the same no matter what x86 laptop you get. I personally like the warranties that come with Dell (also I buy the Latitudes which have slightly better hardware).
Ayways, I have a Latitude 800 or 810 or whatever and I immediately put Debian on it as soon as I got it and YES the Dells have a broken BIOS but I'm generally pleased with my purcahse.
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As I type this I am on a Dell Insprion 8000 and it is total crap. The hardware (mainly keyboard, touchpad and tracpoint) is cheap and prone to malfunction (cursor takes off like a bad on acid, keystrokes don't register all the time). Most new Dells I have been around are at best so-so and those are the high end ones clients buy.
IMHO Avoid Dell.
I know you want something new but you might give a look at a refurb IBM. Linux runs well on most that I have either owned or have come in contact with. New IBM's however, are now, or will soon be manufactured by some Chinese company and while that in it's self is not bad the hardware might not be the same linux friendly gear thats been coming from Big Blue.
Thats a wait and see.
Good luck! -
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I'm an IBM laptop fan myself. SUSE Linux set one on fire though. SUSE has a problem with the CPU fan or something. Other distros seem fine. I bought my daughter a Dell and it runs fine, no malfunctions of any kind. I service Dells and for the number of Dells sold, there are suprisingly few that need me. E-Machines are another story. :)
The Chinesee are really behind Linux, so there might be a pleasant surprise there. -
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"SUSE has a problem with the CPU fan or something"
Thats always good to know!
"The Chinesee are really behind Linux, so there might be a pleasant surprise there."
I was thinking that too.
For the Dell thing. Could be the age of my machine, which is 4 years. Thing is it saw most of it's life in a dock when someone else owned it. I know of an identical machine with the same keyboard issue. Weird issue for me and none for you and others is what makes hardware so interesting. :)
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I guess we're getting closer now.
Dell will start shipping a laptop running Mandriva linux:
news.zdnet.com/2110-1040_22-5869094.html
They tried this years ago, but let's see how it goes this time. -
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I'll get excited if it also costs less. I'm even less keen on paying the Microsoft Tax if I don't even get any Microsoft software to show for it.
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Here's the Mandriva press release, where they say the Latitude 110L laptop will start at $940 : www.mandriva.com/company/press/pr
According to dell.com, the cheapest version of a Latitude 110L with Windows XP Professional starts at $944.
That's dissapointing-- you would think that Mandriva would offer some cost savings over WinXP Pro.
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try madtux....seems to start off reletively cheap
store.madtux.org/index.php
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Unsu...
buy a cheap $500 laptop w/ or without M$
and load ZenWalk on it. Good light distro.
comes w/ Xfce - a nice lightweight desktop.
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The OEM's buy their Windows XP licenses in bulk. Several of the tech websites actually did reviews of the systems and pricing and it turns out while you pay $200 for XP retail, the OEM's pay much less. In fact Windows XP Home only adds about $49 to the price of a computer where Windows XP Pro adds $94.
You can also get credit back from an OEM for declining the EULA and not accepting Windows. Usually they make you return the media or scrape the sticker and send it back to them, and it takes a couple of hours on the phone with some OEM's... But if you read the EULA they HAVE to offer you a refund for the price if you return it unused. (IE, you dont accept the EULA.)
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I have sought the same, and I think supplying a very good quality laptop somewhere with utterly friendly hardware to UNIX, and Linux systems would be a very good idea. If I were younger, smarter, had more energy, and some business skills, I would look into that as a viable venture. I wonder why none of the major Linux distributions have not formed a pact with specific hardware companies (including laptop manufacturers) in a mutual promotional alliance. Perhaps it is the fear of Microsoft on the part of hardware makers, even though I know there is a growing market for Linux ware.
Here is another question. How come we are not able to build our own laptop like we can a desktop from out of the hardware parts we choose? I would love to be able to build a military quality 17" laptop on the cheap. Perhaps I am just just dreaming. I suppose there is a reason why there is not a big snap together market for building laptops like there is for building desktops. -
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Many distros dont offer the option of linux because their deals with Microsoft are exclusive and doing so they risk Microsoft canceling their discounts. Which would raise the price of their Windows computers to levels higher than competitors.
Dell does a lot more volume and is willing to risk Microsofts wrath. They were the first to go against Microsoft and start offering XP Pro again after Business accounts refused to install Vista. On the Vista Launch date Microsoft decreed only Vista computers were to be sold. Now MS will let them sell XP stock, but has stated they will stop shipping XP media and licenses to Vendors by late Fall of this year. Once again trying to force Vista.
As for build your own laptop, there use to be companys that made laptops that used the same parts, cpu and memory, as desktops. They got better performance, but had higher power requirements and shorter battery life. They were ment for you to assemble and configure your computer the way YOU wanted it. Havent see those advertised in some time though and think its possible they floundered due to lack of interest. -
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www.laptopswithlinux.com
I only have a few models right now; I'm looking for a way to compete with Dell's prices without the 20-30 percent failure rate that they get, but so far my cheapest is $965.
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