<div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Jun 5, 2009 at 12:31, Bill Moseley <<a href="mailto:moseley@hank.org">moseley@hank.org</a>> wrote: <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> 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. <snip> 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: <a href="http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs" target="_blank">http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs</a> <a href="http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AS5335-2238-R&cat=NBB&cpc=NBBbsc" target="_blank">http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AS5335-2238-R&cat=NBB&cpc=NBBbsc</a> [2] He seems to have saved more than most Americans. ;) -- Bill Moseley <a href="mailto:moseley@hank.org">moseley@hank.org</a> Sent from my iMutt </blockquote><div> Perhaps you can use your Thinkpad knowledge and select a IBM factory refurb w/war. Looks like they have some with plenty of power (some cases you will need to increase the RAM) and in your price range. I have had very good luck buying from them. Just watch for the ones that are clearly marked "blemish". </div></div> <a href="http://www-304.ibm.com/shop/americas/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/default/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=2576396&storeId=1&catalogId=-840&langId=-1">http://www-304.ibm.com/shop/americas/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/default/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=2576396&storeId=1&catalogId=-840&langId=-1</a> -rich