mlinksva's Journal: Linux On Laptop (LOL)

Vendor support for Linux on laptops (preinstalled or just drivers for components) is still nearly nonexistent. When shopping for a Linux laptop, it seems there are three options, all ugly:

1. Pay someone like Qlitech, EmperorLinux or ASA a steep premium to deliver a laptop with Linux installed.
2. Buy a OEM laptop with no OS from someplace like this and investigate the hardware, track down drivers, hope after much pain everything works.
3. Buy a name-brand with Windoze preinstalled and paid for, investiage the hardware, track down drivers, hope after much pain everything works.

Linux-On-Laptops is a good resource, problem is very few of the models currently being sold have entries at LOL (heh).

A fourth option is to watch for a used model that is known to be well supported by existing drivers. This is also the most frugal route, which has a strong appeal.

Will this situation ever change? It could get worse -- the laptop market is growing faster than the desktop market, and the fastest growing portion of the desktop market (I'd bet), "slim" PCs, I suspect has more components in common with laptops than full scale desktops (meaning much worse Linux support).

Arrgh. What a PITA.