buying another laptop

[gusl]

It's time for me to buy a new laptop, and the university will put $1300 towards it. Since I'm a Linux user, I'd like to avoid the Microsoft tax. How can I do that?

I think I'm done with tablet PCs, at least until the driver problems are solved. In particular, when my laptop is closed, I get crazy clicks (regardless of OS), which occasionally cause very annoying damage to my taskbars and such. So the current computer might become a tablet and nothing else.

Comments

[lo5an.livejournal.com]

I'm still a ways from needing a new laptop, but I've decided to try to go with one of the Linux laptop vendors like System 76, Emperor Linux, or ZaReason. I'm leaning towards System 76, but no purchases are on my horizon.

In some cases, it's a little unclear if this actually avoids the Microsoft tax. For example, Emperor Linux sells Lenovo machines with Linux installed and I don't know anything about whether or not their deal with Lenovo lets them avoid paying for Windows. My thinking, though, is that I care more about giving money to a Linux-supporting company than I do about refraining from giving money to Microsoft.

Laptop

[(Anonymous)]

I have been pretty happy with Mac, as their Unix is not too twisted, and I can do most everything in command line, as I like it, and it comes with some decent software.

Re: Laptop

[(Anonymous)]

I did not intend to be anonymous. This is Luis Goddyn.

Re: Laptop

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

Thanks Luis, but I don't like Macs at all... their GUI always makes me dizzy, and the lack of openness bothers me a lot.

[raflacerda.livejournal.com]

I believe laptops preinstalled with Linux are becoming rare, and I don't know of any manufacturers who sell OS-less laptops.

However, like Luis suggested, you could go for a Mac:
$1199 for a 13" Macbook Pro
$999 for a Macbook Air (it's incredibly thin & light)
$999 for a regular Macbook.
http://store.apple.com/us/compare/mac?mco=MTg4Mjg4NjI&page=macbook

Macs have quite good battery life and performance and I believe you can always install Win or Linux without much difficulty.

$1300 is more than enough for a good laptop.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

you can install other OSs on a Mac?? why have I never seen this?

[raflacerda.livejournal.com]

Apple started working with Intel a few years back. Since then, other OSs are officially supported.
http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/

[lo5an.livejournal.com]

Apple has pretty much lost me as a customer, but my current work laptop is an older Macbook with Os X and Ubuntu on it. It's working pretty well.

The only things that are at all strange are the EFI boot stuff (which isn't a big deal. I just found it to be hinky when I was doing the install) and the single-button mouse.

[leigh-a.livejournal.com]

My last laptop was a second generation Macbook and never again oh my goodness.

Buy it in Brazil

[dmitry rocha (from livejournal.com)]

Many manufacturers here choose to sell laptops with Linux because of tax incentives. There are many options but I would find it easier to buy one with Windows in its cheapest version and install Linux on top.

Re: Buy it in Brazil

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

Dmitry! You're my first commenter using Facebook Connect. Awesome!

The thing is that the department has to order the computer, not me... I might ask if they can order from Brazil (and deliver to Brazil), but it seems unlikely.

Re: Buy it in Brazil

[random-walker.livejournal.com]

Back in my day you could get the $1300 as a check if you gave them a receipt. Then again the same Brazil issues exist there; it really would smell like a scam. BTW, you can thank me for near single-handedly opposing the department's idiotic plan to go with a single-vendor (which would inevitably have been Dell) instead of a stipend. Then again, you would be the first.

In any case, I'd go with either system76 or a thinkpad (a real thinkpad, not an ideapad or whatever lenovo is calling their consumer line).

A Mac's also an option (I think linux runs well on them), if it isn't precluded for other reasons.

Re: Buy it in Brazil

[random-walker.livejournal.com]

if you do end up paying enough microsoft tax that they grant you serfdom on Windows Professional (or higher), you are then licensed to run it in a VM under linux. :-/

Having a windows VM can come in handy for certain things (then again you could just pirate it).

Re: Buy it in Brazil

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

I can't see how it could look like a scam.

RE: System76, I was just checking out the Pangolin, and the keyboard looks uncomfortable, with a lot of space between the keys.

RE: Thinkpad, a review said that the keyboard is super loud, to the point of annoying co-workers; and not having the CTRL key on the corner would be annoying (though apparently there's a BIOS option to swap FN and CTRL, but not the physical label ;-) ).

Re: Buy it in Brazil

[random-walker.livejournal.com]

it must seem a little bit like you're just giving the money to a friend? in retrospect, maybe not.

keyboard: the noise is about on par with a decent desktop keyboard. Admittedly it's a little bit loud to use during a lecture or something, but i can't say it bothers ME ;-). Anyway it's loud because the tactile response is oh so nice; other keyboards feel like gelatin. IBM used to sell the thinkpad keyboard assembly as a desktop keyboard because there was so much demand for it. Lenovo still does but apparently they've bolloxed it up.

The CTRL hasn't bothered me; didn't even know there was a setting. If you do accidentally mash the FN, it won't do anything since it's only active with a function key.

Re: Buy it in Brazil

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

Yes, restricting everyone to Dell sounds insane. What would the Mac users do?

Thanks for speaking up.

Re: Buy it in Brazil

[random-walker.livejournal.com]

oh yes, one more perk of thinkpad is that it's considered a "business" computer which means that as long as it's under warranty you get pretty good treatment. If it's a simple part, they may just send it to you. If it needs servicing, they pay for UPS next-day to and from. Warranty service is something to consider in your decision.

I think I'll shut up now finally.

[combinator.livejournal.com]

Get this thing: http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptop/sony-vaio-z-vpcz133gm.aspx Then, take them to small claims court over the Windows license: http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7040 (note, may not actually work)