[ubuntu-uk] buying a laptop?

[George Tripp]

Up to now I've put Ubuntu on ancient PCs I already had. Currently I'm thinking 
about getting a laptop but don't want to spend my hard earned cash find I've 
bought something that can't run the operating system I wish to.

Looked at a couple of companies which will sell machines without any op system. 
Pcspecialists: apparently there's a problem that the touchhpad doesn't work with 
ubuntu
Novatech: don't know if their hardware is compatible with ubuntu or not

Looked round PC World a few machines there look reasonable spec/price but don't 
appear on the Ubuntu-certified hardware list.

What do other people do? Any advice?