Linux on a Laptop / Notebook ???

[Gog]

I have been considering getting a laptop lately for school, mostly for typing notes up, occasional wireless internet browsing, etc. Nothing that can be considered very demanding on hardware.

So instead of shelling out a thousand dollars or so I've been considering buying a used laptop and installing Linux. I'd rather have Linux than Win98 because Linux is said to be a more stable OS. WinXP isn't an option because the laptop I'll probably be getting will be a PII ~400 with about 128mb of RAM. I also like that Linux isn't bloated with tons of bloatware/features and that its completely customizable.

I have some questions:
How difficult is the process of installing Linux on a Notebook as opposed to a desktop (nowadays installation on a desktop is relatively painless, or so I've heard).
Are drivers suppported for wireless cards and pcmia slots?
Any quirks in the process?
Which GUI is recommended? KDE or Gnome?

If anyone has been through this process, I'd appreciate anecdotes/advice?
Thanks in advance .

 

[Heisenberg]

Installing is no different really from a desktop.

PCMCIA is fully supported. Wireless is there, but I don't use it so I can't say how extensive it is.

Not really any quirks.

KDE or Gnome will probably be okay on that machine if you turn off all the eyecandy. If it's still too sluggish, use something like blackbox or another lightweight WM.

You will probably see some performance gain if you compile a custom kernel.

 

[Gog]

Thanks for the tips.

If I was to use Gnome and wanted decent performance (windows/menus pop up instantly, no slugishness) what would be the minimium recommended specs in terms of Hardware?

What do you refer to as eyecandy?

What exactly does it take to create a kernal? programming know-how?

Btw, I assume that I would be able to run Divx movies on linux given that I have a video player... are the hardware specs by any chance less for than what they are for windows (which I believe requires a recommended minimium of a 700 mhz processor)?

Thanks again

 

[mikecel79]

Have you considered Win2k? Win2k will run great on a PII 400 with 128MB. 256 would be better but 128 will do from what your describing.

As for Linux I don't have much experience but installing it is the same as putting it on a desktop. There is some support for wireless cards. You should check on support for it before you get one. You should try out both GUIs and see which one you like better. But with only 128MB both will be kinda sluggis unless you go with 256MB.

 

[ojai00]

Eyecandy is all the nice features that is added to the buttons and stuff, like rounded edges, 3D, etc.

I was able to install Mandrake 9.0 on a PII 266MHz with 128MB RAM and it ran fine. Just make sure you have good CDs...I didn't check the MD5SUM on my Mandrake downloads and some packages wouldn't install

I'm a Linux noob so I don't know which one is KDE or Gnome. I think I was using Gnome. Hope this helps.

 

[dlaw]

Hi Gog, it sounds like you are new to Linux...(well, me too). I don't wanna discourage you, but if the notebook computer is the only computer you will have, thus a production machine, then make sure you have some people know Linux around you. Even updating a driver or getting your palm to sync may spend you a few hours figuring out how to do. Of course, if you are experience, then please ignore me.

If you are unsure about Linux, Win2K could be a good choice too.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[oniq]

I've ran Linux on my Pentium 120mhz laptop, it worked fine for web browsing and some simple games. Right now I run Gentoo on my Athlon 1.2ghz laptop and its great. I'd recommend Fluxbox as a WM, its nice and clean, fast and lean. I used Gnome, have Gnome 2.2 installed. It was fine until I fell in love with Fluxbox. I don't need no purdy icons!

Wireless networking works fine as long as you stay away from 22Mbps cards . I've got a D-Link DWL-650 (the original, Prism2 based) working , in fact I'm sitting on my bed right now on my laptop I have also gotten a 3Com card working in Linux.

 

[wjsulliv]

Before you buy, see if anyone has gotten that model to work with linux and/or get a preview of problems...

HERE - Linux on Laptops

I've tried a couple of flavors of linux on various laptops and found its not that bad... presuming linux laptops doesn't say don't bother...

 

[pac1085]

Originally posted by: Gog
Thanks for the tips.

If I was to use Gnome and wanted decent performance (windows/menus pop up instantly, no slugishness) what would be the minimium recommended specs in terms of Hardware?

What do you refer to as eyecandy?

What exactly does it take to create a kernal? programming know-how?

Btw, I assume that I would be able to run Divx movies on linux given that I have a video player... are the hardware specs by any chance less for than what they are for windows (which I believe requires a recommended minimium of a 700 mhz processor)?

Thanks again

I would use a window manager like fluxbox, blackbox, openbox or windowmaker on a machine like that. I'm not sure how gnome 2.0 and 2.2 would run on that machine, but gnome 1.4 should run fine. KDE might be a bit sluggish.

You dont really need to know alot to compile a kernel, other than exactly what hardware you have in your system.

You can play divx with mplayer and xine, I dont know what the hardware requirements would be, though.

 

[hans007]

a p2-400 laptop with kde on it, is not going to be any faster than win2k on the laptop. it'll probably feel slower .