Hope this is not too far off topic. Am going to buy a used laptop/notebook specifically for use in running and developing software for kde. Just wondering what brand or equipment I ought to buy for the least amount of hassle?

Here's what I think so far. Please offer advise where possible.


Will buy a used laptop/netbook no more that three years old.
- This should make it so that the hardware on board
is basically usable with as little tweaking
as possible.

Will buy one with camera on board as well as wifi built in.
- DVDRW, Dual Core?, Nvidia graphics card?
How much memory is 'enough?'

My personal preference is to go with ASUS; they do build solid, sturdy machines.

the ASUS line of mine X5(X) is a bit outmoded now, and it does require the NVIDA closed driver...but it's damn good enough to run KDE with all the bling It's a year and half old, I beleive.

Processor has NEVER gone beyond 50%, and mostly idles around 8%

My own, an X50GL, has an inbuilt camera, wireless N, DVD writer and a Pentium dual core...and it cost me something a little shy of £400.

Buy a laptop? Get an IBM/Lenovo. Built like tanks, dead easy to get parts 'cos of the large business community, excellently engineered so that you can upgrade easily, fantastic linux compatibility, run ever so quietly, excellent wiki and thinkpad forums - I could go on. Okay, not the cheapest around, but if you want a machine that lasts it is a no brainer afaic.

Hang on, if the machine just sits in a clean office on a clean desk and doesn't get knocked about you can get whatever you like

Lenovo's machines ARE built like tanks..they also weigh about the same

Dante Ashton wrote:Lenovo's machines ARE built like tanks..they also weigh about the same

Not at all, have a look at the X series

And my T41 is a complete lightweight - in pounds only... Agree with the R series though, chunky as !#~$

I'm running Linux (Kubuntu, 9.04, 9.10, and 10.04) on a Toshiba Satellite P105-S6147. With the exception of the built-in multi-media key pad (above the keyboard), everything (that I've tried, and need) works. If I could find another *new* P105-S6147, I'd by it.