New to laptops

[Matthew Flaschen]

Gerald I. Evenden wrote:
> I have had a few years of experience installing various flavors of Linux on 
> desktops (currentlly kubuntu dapper) but wanted to do a laptop installation 
> on a Dell 6400 Inspiron DualCore.  I seem to recall reading of a lot of 
> problems with laptops but do not know the current difficulty level, 
> espectially with 'feisty fawn.'
> 
> I would appreciate comments on
> A. is the Inspiron is a reasonable choice,

If you don't have the system yet, I would buy the Inspiron E1505n
instead
(http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs).
 It's basically the same system, but with Ubuntu Feisty pre-installed.
I'm actually writing this on a Dell E1505, on Dapper.  Suspend works
well, and hibernate works too, but with some software quirks.  Wireless
(3945ABG) requires proprietary firmware.  I have an ATI video card, and
use vesa (a proprietary driver is available).  All the other hardware
(including the media keys in the front) works.

> B. is feisty fawn too leading edge and better to step back a level?

In /general/, hardware support will improve each release.

Matthew Flaschen