There is always the Lenovo ThinkPad T60, which comes with SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED) on it. I've had my best luck with Dell and HP/Compaq machines. Forget the modem, though, as most have software modems (often called Winmodems) for which no open source driver exists. Some can be made to work, but not many. I just use a USB external or a PCMCIA/Cardbus modem if I must.

I have had good experience with Acer machines, again with the modem caveat.

My favorite Linux laptops are Macs; either PPC or the more modern Intel powered ones. I like the hardware and while I have had problems getting reliable sound on some of the older PPC ones, eventually I get it. The Intel powered ones have so far worked like champs using Ubuntu. I have not had problems with the modems on Macs, yet.

Avoid Gateway and eMachines. Somehow, they never seem to work well with Linux, though there are some who will argue that with me.

I avoid dual booting like the pest, but when my wife transitioned from Windows to Linux, she dual booted her lappie for a while. We're all Linux here now, though we do have Windows machines - XP Home and Vista Ultimate - because I have to support them for others.

Hope that helps.
Jack

The aim of this forum is not to answer the questions but to direct people to the right place to find the answers. For example...

"I would like to know what is the best laptop to use with GNU/Linux"

could have the response:

Try these sites:

* http://www.linux-laptop.net/
* http://www.linuxcertified.com/linux_laptops.html

But I'd like to think that there should be room for personal experiences, right?

Daniel O. Escasa
IT consultant and writer for hire
contributor, Free Software Magazine (http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com)
personal blog at http://descasa.i.ph

Hello,

You see, we are still trying to figure out which forums we need, without having too many of them.

I think a "General questions" forum would work here.

Bye!

Merc.

Hi,

The best spot for Linux laptops is Dell:

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

The laptops come with Ubuntu preinstalled. They are fantastic, and they "just work".

Bye,

Merc.