Buying a new laptop for Ubuntu

[Kenneth Marcy]

On 12/9/2015 7:47 AM, Douglas Pollard wrote:
> I am presntly using a 2005 Dell 6000 with Navagatrix installed in Lubuntu for Navagtion and Ham radio control. It's a great set up for that purpose. I want to dual boot using what I now have plus Ubuntu 15.10 Mate for doing Video and enternet use. I don't feel I can spend over $400. I likley will buy one with windows 10 installed then remove Windows and install my dual boot Ubuntu and am wanting a machine that has hardwre compatable with Linux drivers. I would say a couple megabites of memory and at least 250 megs maybe 500 of hard drive space. I don't need a touch screen and  14 inch one would be a handy size for use on a boat. I am 81 years old so this will likely be my last laptop.  Anybody have any sugestions?   Thanks, Doug
Yes.  My suggestion is not to overlook refurbished equipment that may be 
one generation older, but stronger than comparably priced newer gear.  
For example, today I see Walmart is offering a "Refurbished Dell Black 
14" Latitude E6420 Laptop PC with Core i5-2520M Processor, 8GB Memory, 
750GB Hard Drive and Windows 7 Professional" (that's their advertising 
headline).  As you may see from the specifications at the URL below, the 
Dell E6420 has a WiFi radio and a nice selection of ports, including a 
drive bay that can interchange a DVD drive, a floppy drive, or an extra 
battery.  Concerning batteries, my guess is that the existing one is not 
so new, and another backup battery is likely a good idea. The screen on 
this one is only WXGA (1280 x 800), which is fine for most computing, 
but if you're looking for movie-quality graphics such as 1920 x 1080, 
you'll have to search further. Walmart is asking $283.21 for the unit.

Here's a URL to the advertisement I am mentioning: 
*http://tinyurl.com/zlcqsj9 *

I would not hesitate to add the 2-year care package onto the Walmart 
warranty, and a carrying case will come in handy right away.  The Case 
Logic brand has a pretty good selection, and amazon.com seems to carry 
quite a few of them.  I don't know if a battery backup unit makes any 
sense on a boat, but it does on land, so here's a reminder for that 
safety device, too, if you don't already have one ready at hand.

Well, that's all I have to write at the moment, except to kid you just a 
little about mentioning megabytes a couple of times.  That is so 1990s!  
Multiply by a thousand for modern memory levels, and even more for 
storage levels.  This machine could have its hard drive replaced with a 
one or two terabyte solid state drive, though that's beyond the budget 
limit you set.  Whether you choose a refurbished or a new unit, best 
regards.


Ken

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