ARTICLE

Laptop Advice Needed

by | Tue 15 Jan 2008

I am looking to buy a laptop, and need some advice. Right now I am running a Sony Vaio VGN-TX1XP – a small form-factor laptop, that has served me pretty well. That was, until a few months back. An hour before I left for the airport to the UDS, the keyboard stopped working. This resulted in me buying a stupid external keyboard and carrying it round with me. You can see the size of the laptop and its ridiculous external keyboard here:

I quite like this smaller size of laptop, I can put it in my little Ubuntu over-the-shoulder bag. But, this keyboard is doing my head in, so I am thinking of alternatives.

So, this is what I absolutely want in a laptop:

* Small form-factor, sturdy.
* Dual core, good amount of RAM so I can run virtual machines fine.
* Very good battery life – I am happy to buy a fat 5-hour battery pack.
* Decent 3D performance – a decent Intel card would be preferred so I can run the free drivers, otherwise no preference.
* Large hard drive – at least 100GB.
* Two USB ports, Firewire, external VGA that works with a projector. 🙂

And a few nice things, not essential, but nice:

* Hardware buttons for volume up/down.
* Built-in webcam.
* Built-in mic.
* Built-in keyboard light.
* Built-in SD card slot.

Naturally I would want all of the hardware to be supported in Linux, specifically Ubuntu – and this includes things like the Firewire port. 🙂

I would like to get this for no more than £800 if possible.

Some of you may suggest the EEEPC, but having used it, it is not quite as powerful as I want, and the projector support will be a problem due to its strange resolution. If I could get a more powerful EEPC with a normal screen resolution, and a little bit bigger, that would be perfect. Then again, that would be my current Vaio. 🙂

Of course, if someone from a laptop vendor wants to donate me a laptop, I am not going to hold you back. 🙂

An invitation-only accelerator that develops industry-leading community engagement and growth via personalized training, coaching, and accountability...all tailored to your company's needs.

Want to read some more?

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays

Just a quick note to wish all of you a happy, restful, and peaceful holidays, however and whoever you spend it with. Take care, folks, and I look forward to seeing you in 2015!

The Impact of One Person

The Impact of One Person

I am 35 years old and *people* never cease to surprise me. My trip home from Los Angeles today was a good example of this. It was a tortuous affair that should have been a quick hop from LA to Oakland, popping on BArt, and then getting home for a cup of tea and an...

Feedback Requested: Great Examples of Community

Feedback Requested: Great Examples of Community

Folks, I need to ask for some help. Like many, I have some go-to examples of great communities. This includes Wikipedia, OpenStreetmap, Ubuntu, Debian, Linux, and others. Many of these are software related, many of them are Open Source. I would like to ask your...

Ubuntu Governance Reboot: Five Proposals

Ubuntu Governance Reboot: Five Proposals

Sorry, this is *long*, but hang in there. A little while back I wrote [a blog post](https://archivedblog.jonobacon.com/2014/11/14/ubuntu-governance-reboot/) that seemed to inspire some people and ruffle the feathers of some others. It was designed as a...

Ubuntu Governance: Reboot?

Ubuntu Governance: Reboot?

For many years Ubuntu has had a comprehensive governance structure. At the top of the tree are the Community Council (community policy) and the Technical Board (technical policy). Below those boards are sub-councils such as the IRC, Forum, and LoCo councils, and...

Dealing With Disrespect: The Video

Dealing With Disrespect: The Video

A while back I wrote and released a free e-book called [Dealing With Disrespect](https://www.dealingwithdisrespect.com/). It is a book that provides a short, simple to read, free guide for handling personalized, mean-spirited, disrespectful, and in some cases,...