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June 20th, 2003, 08:23 PM
#1
Registered User
Cheap Laptop...
I'm looking for an all right Laptop, refurbished or otherwise, that I can install Linux (Most likely Slackware) on. Take heed, I am thinking in Canadian dollars here. It doesn't need to be able to do anything amazing, just run Linux well, with a decent resolution. Any ideas?
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June 21st, 2003, 06:53 AM
#2
Registered User
I suppose eBay is your best bet. Just do your research before you bid. check out linux.org for the hardware compatability... Also do a Google search on the name of the laptop. The reason I say this is that every time I look up a laptop it always returns a page on installing linux. I think there is an active comunity of linux users trying to install and use linux on old laptops. One other thing to remember is that batterys are considerd to be consumibles... They are expencive and some times hard to find. If your not carfull you could end up with a portable, not a laptop...
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June 25th, 2003, 07:36 AM
#3
Registered User
Hi,
Well I know that in general, most Compaq laptops are frowned upon by those in the know, but the old LTE 5000 series seem to be one of the best older generation ones. They offer processors of 75 MHz to as much as 150/166, and depending on version, have great TFT screens of 10.4 to 11.5" I think there might be some 12.1" versions too.
The bonus of these wee machines is that the HD is removable, and is held within a cartridge.
Compaq provided up to a 2 gig drive for them, but you can simply swap them out and fit up to a 6.4 or 8 Gig unit with no worries.
This means that you can buy additional drives and cartridges/cradles (lots in ebay, and cheap), and run a different OS from each drive.
Flexibility and robustness all in one.
Be sure to get one with at least 64MB or 72 MB though!
My LTE 5000 with 10.4" TFT and a mere 75MHz Pentium runs SUSE quite swiftly with 72MB RAM and a 4.8 Gig drive. Then again, I have Win95, 98, NT, and BEOS running on other drives from the same machine after a quick swap around!
One other thing, there are plenty of them in ebay, and the spare parts are also easy to fit should you need any (unlikely...very reliable).
Just my tuppence worth.
Rudders
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June 25th, 2003, 07:58 AM
#4
Tech-To-Tech Mod
too bad about the canada thing. www.compgeeks.com always has a nice selection of used/refurbed laptops that would be just what you are looking for. . . . . . but you might get killed on shipping.
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June 26th, 2003, 06:15 AM
#5
Geezer
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June 26th, 2003, 02:55 PM
#6
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Im not sure if they ship to Canada, but Tigerdirect.com usually has some good deals on refurbs. btw, how much are you wanting to spend?
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... then you could run something current as well, but if you just want to run linux then pre-owned is the way ... but you pays your money & takes the chance ! 
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