Linux Ubuntu

[holyhelianthus]

I work from home transcribing and therefore need a reliable computer. I am a Mac girl but my husband royally messed up the PowerBook we share so I need to find a laptop for myself that he will never be allowed to touch. Ever. :

I so do not have enough money for a Mac () and I loath Windows so I'd like to get a Dell with Linux Ubuntu.

Thoughts? Experiences?

TIA!

[jighead]

Linux on laptops can be a pain, but Ubuntu has gone a long way to make it easier to install and use. The newer the laptop, the more likely Linux will have driver issues, most likely with the wireless chipset.

I use Ubuntu at work and use occasionally on my MacBook through VMware Fusion and like it a lot.

Here's a link on Ubuntu's wiki that has tons of info to see which laptops are easiest to setup. If money's an issue, you might want to look into a used or closeout on last gen models.

The Dell laptops will work out of the box, but they have a Dell "massaged" version of Ubuntu, which will work out of the box, but I'm not sure how well it will be supported in the Ubuntu forums or by Dell.

FWIW, I got my MacBook when Apple released a processor upgrade and our University bookstore needed to unload the old models, and saved about $250, so you can find deals on the Macs.

[skai]

I've been using only Linux on my laptops for 5 years (except for my Mac, that is). I just installed a new Ubuntu on my DH's Thinkpad yesterday - went without a hitch and everything is working OK.

[holyhelianthus]

Thanks for your replies!

Next question- do you think it is better to get a Windows computer and just install Linux or to buy a comp with Linux all ready to go?

This is the Dell I am eyeing, BTW.

[KittyKat]

I'm FAR from a computer expert, but DH recently bought a laptop with *nothing* on it. Clean slate, turn it on all you get is a black screen. The model is HP Compaq mobile workstation nw9440

I downloaded Linux Ubuntu and burned it to a CDROM, which we used to boot up the machine and verify it was working. Then we installed, and I began the process of making it do what DH wanted to do. Play World of Warcraft, watch movies, email/internet, basic stuff.

The hardest things were the game (WINE windows environment required) and setting up the Linux movie player with the proper codecs. I think that's the right term!

If a mid-lower level computer proficient like me can get the thing working with the help of my old pal google, well probably all but the most technology impaired could too.

If the computer is already set up with Linux, that's great!
Based on my reading up on ubuntu and how it works, it's supposed to be similar to how MAC programs work.

I hope you get a computer that works well for you!