12" widescreen notebook for Linux?
Hello Lazyweb,
I am looking for a robust 12" widescreen notebook with proper Linux support (working suspend mode, robust USB support, and so on). Most of the time I'd use it within some docking-station as desktop replacement, so it should have some proper CPU. Still I'd like to use it for traveling, so heavy 14" notebooks are out of choice.
Obvious choice would have been some X series Thinkpad, but surprisingly all expect for the X300 have traditional 4:3 screens. The X300 looks good, expect for its slow low-voltage CPU.
So here I ask you Lazyweb: Are there any Linux-friendly, well powered 12" widescreen notebooks out there?
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ThinkPad X200?
Just a suggestion since it's not 12" - however it is 13.3" and weight around 2Kg - the Dell XPS1330 - it does work with linux very well (you can get it with Ubuntu pre-installed after all). You can get them very well specc'ed along with nvidia graphics if desired.
I have a Dell Vostro 1500 with Ubuntu Hardy and have zero issues with it - every hardware on it work out of the box, including working suspend, robust USB and so on so I imagine the XPS1330 should be no different.
Otherwise if it's too big, no worries, just a suggestion :)
The Thinkpad X200 is pretty much exactly what you're describing:
* 12" Widescreen
* Very compatible with Linux out of the box
* Very good performance, better than X300
The new ThinkPad X200 series has a 12.1" wide-screen display. Actually, with the introduction of the new lines (identifiable by the three digit codenames), all new ThinkPads are wide-screen.
No idea how good Linux runs on the X200, though.
Oh, seems the X200 is too new for the online shops I visited. Guess I'll visit some traditional shop tomorrow to check out the X200. Thanks for the hint.
X300 works wonderfully in Linux. Suspend works every time for me. Super lightweight, and the low-voltage cpu performs as well as my older t60p does. That might be a side effect due to the solid state disk.
No docking station hookup however.
May I present to you this wonder of the new world:
The System76 Darter Ultra
http://system76.com/product_info.php?...
System76's business is to provide laptops that work with Linux. It also looks good.
While it may not be for you, I'd be interested in your opinion on it. As I just ordered one ^_^
I'd be
I have a Dell D420 + dock. It's awesome. The dock has a DVI socket, which was crucial for me (to plug in to my 24" screen). I suppose the best way to describe it is... 100% Intel, beautiful FLOSS platform support, no-nonsense, travel-friendly notebook.
A friend has the newer version of it (D430), and it's even more awesome.
I'll note that while the Darter Ultra weights almost half a pound more, it does come with a built-in optical drive. Otherwise, I suppose it's pretty similar to the X200. However, shipping might prove expensive :$
The golden rule of ThinkPad shopping is to ignore stores and look at the Lenovo site. When you have a product number you want, ask your favourite store to get it for you.
Nice review of the X200 here:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default...
Quote:
" Lenovo gives a quoted battery life of 9.2 hours with the 9-cell battery, and for what may be the first time ever our system outperformed the manufacturers quoted time. With the screen set to the 4th level of brightness, wireless on and the system idling for about 8 hours and being used to surf the web for about an hour the battery finally gave up at 9 hours and 53 minutes. "
By the way, the X300 has a 13.3" screen, not 12"
I own a MSI 12.1", except for some wireless tinkering, everything's ok.
I have a Dell D430 with the MediaBay at the bottom .. it's awesome ... Be sure to get the biggest Hardrive with 7200min .. the standard has 4200 I think .. it is a bit slow. Dell currently has a release cycle to the E Series. You should have a look at the website. They are looking really cool.
I have a Dell M1330, and I can confirm that it's linux support is fantastic. Although it is a 13.3inch notebook, it is light, portable and powerful.
The new Dell 13's (as the name implies, it's a 13" laptop). Intel graphics, 3GB of RAM. About $800-900
Not sure about the docking station however.
Dell XPS M1330 works well for me with Ubuntu Hardy - I do get the occasional hang on suspend though, or rarely the wifi wont come back up after resuming. Hibernate seems to work fine every time.
Lenovo ThinkPad V100/V200. 12.1" Widescreen. Performance is perfect, looks nice. I was loving mine V200 untill it was stolen.
But now i got X61 coz widescreen is not very important for me.
I have a Toshiba Portege R500 and it works great with Ubuntu Wi-FI, hibernate, suspend. 12" screen DVD R/W all at just under 1Kg.
I would recommend HP TX2xxx series. 12 inch, mine is dual 2.6 GHz w 2 gig ram and its a touch screen =)
I've got the Thinkpad X61 with a low voltage CPU, and it still feels fast as the dickens. Don't rule it out. It's very well supported by free software.
I have a Samsung Q35, which has perfect Linux support. With 12inch widescreen LCD panel, 1,9kg.
Wrote about it last year http://www.shiyan.fr/blog/index.php/p...
Now I don't think it is still available, but the Q45 is the equivalent from this year.