Ubuntu Laptop Suggestion

[Shannon McMackin]

On 06/05/2009 01:31 PM, Bill Moseley wrote:
> This is a bit off topic, but a sixth grader from my kid's school asked
> for recommendations for a laptop.  He says he's saved up about $400[2]
> (we are in the US) and wants to learn Linux and programming.
>
> My Linux laptops have always been Thinkpads, but that's out of his
> price range.
>
> True, it's easy to find Linux laptops on-line, but at his price range
> I'm concerned with hardware compatibility.  I can research, but I
> thought it worth a try asking here just in case anyone has been
> through this lately or seen any great deals in that price range.
>
> Also, my Thinkpads have always had plenty of power -- so I don't have
> experience with low-end laptops.  For example, most the low price
> units are Celeron 2.16GHz machines[1] so I wonder if things like
> compiz will even run.
>
> Sorry, I'm not that up on hardware.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> [1] Some examples:
> http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
> http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AS5335-2238-R&cat=NBB&cpc=NBBbsc
>
> [2] He seems to have saved more than most Americans. ;)
>
>
The Acer Aspire One works very well with the latest Jaunty remix.  Asus 
has a few as well that come pre-loaded.  IdeaPad S10 should work well or 
the newer S20 if he saves some more.

The other thought of a refurbished Thinkpad is also good.  T41 was a 
very sturdy linux laptop...