[plug] Buying a laptop

[Benjamin Woods]

Hey guys,

I am buying a new laptop for my 21st birthday (yesterday).

2 Options: Dell or IBM.
Summary: Dell gives better features for cheaper (and can customize!)
         IBM has a record for higher quality but at expense of $$$!

Dell Laptop: 
http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/notebooks_Q2_W11_2005-
07-09_inspn_9300_M510729?c=au&l=en&s=dhs

Price: $3,073 ( minus $150 discount i get for working at Tyco)
CPU: Intel Centrino Mobile 2.0 GHz, 2Mb Cache, 533 FSB
RAM: 1 GHz
VIDEO: 256 Mb nVidia GeForce 6800
CD/DVD: 8X Max DVD+/-RW Combo Drive with Dual Layer Write Capabilities
SCREEN: 17" Wide Screen UXGA TFT Display (1920x1200 res)
NETWORK: 10/100 and 802.11g wireless
HDD: 100Gb

I know a guy that works for a IBM distributing company.
He is gonna come back with a price for us on an IBM laptop.
Dont know the specs on it yet.
He said we can get it for cost price... so i imagine it will be a similar 
price as this Dell one.

What do you guys reckon of dell laptops in general?
Ibm?

Is the graphics card linux compatible?
Will need to recompile the kernel for nvidia?

cheers




From: Benjamin Woods
woodsb02 at iinet.net.au
Registered Linux User #372573