[ubuntu-uk] WTB: Ubuntu Laptop

[Jai Harrison]

I cannot buy a laptop without a warranty. That would be careless
because in my experience laptops do break in the 2nd and 3rd years of
owning them. The Dell extended warranty is quite expensive but I
intend to have the laptop for the duration of University and so not
having the lifeline is most likely a bad idea. £83.40 does sound like
a lot for 4 years warranty on a product that Dell is meant to believe
won't break but I don't really have a choice when it comes down to it.

Liz, the machines that don't ship with Ubuntu usually have some
non-working hardware (e.g. a SD reader, etc.). If I buy a machine that
comes with it then I know I won't have any of those problems that I've
encountered with running Ubuntu since the start. The ultraportables
are quite expensive for what they are. I have looked into them but
don't think they would serve well as a general purpose machine (only
as a supplemental one - and I can't afford multiple machines).
Furthermore the Asus Eee PC 1000H is not available with GNU/Linux in
the UK as of yet and the demand for the higher priced Windows Asus Eee
PC 1000Hs is making everyone overcharge for those too.

What I really want to know is what specs seem suitable for the next 3
years of Uni. I'm expecting to have to pick some of the higher end
hardware on the Inspiron 1525 and want some assistance in doing so. Is
there a substantial difference between the Intel Core™ 2 Duo Processor
T5550 (1.83 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2 cache) and the Intel(R) Core™ 2
Duo Processor T8100 (2.10 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 3 MB L2 cache) to make it
worth the extra £70?