[TriLUG] Suggestions wanted for Linux laptop

[Paul Boyle]

Hi,

The hard drive in my Dell Inspiron 1501 is dying.  I've called Dell
about getting a replacement drive, but they have none, not even
refurbished ones are available.  So, barring some source of a
compatible drive (Best Buy, maybe?), I think I will be needing to buy
a new laptop, and soon.

I would like to know which models local Linux users prefer.  The
laptop's function will be mostly word processing, web surfacing, a
little scientific computation and some programming.  I've be running
opensuse lately, but I am feeling less enthusiasm toward opensuse
lately.

The biggest PITA with my old Dell has been the wireless (Broadcom
4312).  Sometimes the kernel upgrades were vexing. Broadcom didn't (or
doesn't) release Linux versions of its drivers (or at least the
firmware), so it would be nice to get a laptop which had uses a
wireless card with good open source Linux wireless support.

Thanks,

Paul

-- 
Paul D. Boyle
Director, X-ray Structural Facility
Department of Chemistry - Box 8204
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-8204