[ubuntu-uk] buying a laptop?

[Matt Sturdy]

>
> I've had very few problems with the entire Dell laptop line. My company
> has bought ~30ish laptops from them in the last 5 years. Lessons
> learned:
>

My Dell M1330 came with ubuntu preinstalled, and worked fine for a while.
 Although after 6 months it suffered from real problems due to the graphics
chip overheating, and caused damage to the screen.

I was in guarantee still, and Dell were excellent about it.  I had a new
motherboard and new screen within 24 hours.

That said, I think there have been many problems with the M1330s, and it may
not be representative of the all Dells.



>
> 3. If you aren't planning to run super-serious video apps, get Intel
> video. For compatibility, especially since the change to Kernel Mode
> Setting, it is:
>
> Intel > AMD > nVidia
>


Yes, this.  For a while, with each successive 6 monthly upgrade, the
graphics were totally trashed due to problems with the nvidia drivers (they
are  proprietary drivers I believe)



>
> 4. It's hard to find no OS or Ubuntu pre-loaded. Yes, you may have to
> take the copy of Windows that comes with it, but I doubt you'll find a
> _laptop_ that's cheaper without Windows, whatever you think of the
> retail price of the OS. You can always get the install disc and load it
> as a VM in Virtualbox.
>


I think I read somewhere that you can claim the cost of the windows license
back from microsoft if you don't use it... I don't know if anyone more
informed can confirm or deny this?
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