[Discussion] can you recommend a laptop?

[Carl Gehr]

On Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:35:40 -0700, Arthur Menu wrote:

>I will be buying a new laptop computer this week and I wondered if list 
>members might give me some advice about which brand and model of laptop 
>to buy. I want a computer that (a) is among the best, if not the best, 
>in quality, and (b) will allow eCS to be installed.
>
>I would use it for business applications, not game playing. It used to 
>be that Thinkpads were the laptop of choice for os/2 users, but I don't 
>know if that is still the case.

On the assumption that you want a laptop [as I do] because of its
portability, rather than just as a smaller 'stationary' PC, I am a
strong believer in ThinkPads.  My T60 is my fifth personal system and
about the tenth if you include family and business associate users.

There are three primary reasons for my choice:

1)  Durability - Over the last 15 years, I've only had a
    couple of cases where I needed service/repair.  In one
    particular case, the service person [CE] began taking the
    system apart.  I've never seen so many screws!  When I
    commented about the large number, the CE said, "That's the
    key to the durability of a TPad versus other laptops.  Most
    other systems use about a half-dozen screws where the TPad
    uses five times that number."
2)  Service - When I have had problems, the IBM/Lenovo support
    has been excellent.  Lenovo uses IBM service in the USA;
    I'm not sure how it's done elsewhere.  And, I've had almost
    no push-back because I am using eCS instead of Windoze.
3)  The Keyboard - I am totally sold on the TPad KB!
    1)  It is so close to a standard KB that, when I have
        to switch between the TPad and a desktop KB, the
        layout and key size is almost identical.
    2)  The feel of the KB [tactile feedback] is like a standard
        KB.
    3)  I cannot stand the latest fad, the touch pad mouse,
        found on most laptops.  For me, the TracPoint is the
        only way to go.  Yes, a couple of other brands have
        a similar pointer.  But taken in conjunction with the
        other features, I'm sticking with the TPad.  I have
        also purchased full size KBs with a TracPoint for my
        desktop systems. It makes it far easier to move back
        and forth and not have to remember if I have a mouse
        or the TracPoint.
    4)  Again, durability.

I personally cannot speak for the compatibility with eCS on the newer
models.  On my T60 1953-ELU, both CPUs work, the WiFi works, sound
works, the display does just fine with the SNAP Graphics driver.

Only two issues that I've found with hardware support:
1)  ACPI - eCS seems to have problems with almost all hardware,
    though.  I cannot use the 'Power off' at shutdown and the
    sleep/resume does not fully function.  I can close the lid
    and move the system, but it does not actually go into the
    sleep mode.  This has never been a major issue the way I
    work, but it also appears that ACPI is an issue on eCS with
    virtually all hardware.
2)  Display switching - I've been told this is also an ACPI
    issue, but that's beyond my pay-grade.  When I hook the
    system to an external projector, I can only get either
    the builtin LCD or the projector; not both.  And, sometimes
    [most of the time] using Fn-F7 does not function.  I can
    only get the external display if it is physically connected
    at boot time.  I've reported it with a ticket, but either
    my complaint was ignored or acknowledged but no fix.  I've
    given up complaining; hoping that one day, the developers
    with get it right.
Neither of these would cause me to make a different decision in my
choice of a TPad.

I hope this helps...
-- 
Carl