Powerful Laptop Recommendations?
I'm looking for a replacement for my aging, circa-2000 IBM Thinkpad a20p, pictured at right. I was wondering if you might have any recommendations? I plan to dual-boot Windows XP and FreeBSD 6.0 on this system. It needs to be powerful as I would like to use it for teaching classes as well. Here are the specs I had in mind:
I like the features of the Toshiba Tecra M3, but the reviews are terrible. I really like the durability and keyboard of my Thinkpad and I worry what other vendors are going to provide. I appreciate your help.
Update: Thank you for all of your comments. I've decided to wait for the arrival of Windows Vista in Q306. By that time I expect to see Intel Virtualization Technology in 64 bit mobile CPUs like the Intel Merom, which will be very helpful for my classroom setup. There's an outside chance I would get a Mac running on Intel as well, if VMware was supported.
- Intel® Pentium® M Processor 760 [2.00GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 533MHz FSB]
- 2 GB RAM
- 60 GB+ 7200 RPM HDD
- NVIDIA GeForce video, to take advantage of their FreeBSD drivers and avoid ATI
- Gigabit NIC
- 802.11b/g is nice, especially if disabled via external switch
- Bluetooth -- not sure if I need it?
- Under 7 lbs -- my current laptop is more like a ThinkBrick
- At least a 14.1" screen; I don't care about widescreens
I like the features of the Toshiba Tecra M3, but the reviews are terrible. I really like the durability and keyboard of my Thinkpad and I worry what other vendors are going to provide. I appreciate your help.
Update: Thank you for all of your comments. I've decided to wait for the arrival of Windows Vista in Q306. By that time I expect to see Intel Virtualization Technology in 64 bit mobile CPUs like the Intel Merom, which will be very helpful for my classroom setup. There's an outside chance I would get a Mac running on Intel as well, if VMware was supported.
Comments
No, seriously, hang in there till Apple release an intel based laptop (yeah, 12 months away or so)
But when they do, I'm getting the best laptop around that can boot Windows, Solaris, Linux, *BSD and, of course, Mac OS X...
Other than that, some of the higher-end IBM laptops are nice. Bland, but still nice. I can't think off the top of my head of any other manufacturers other than IBM and Apple that make laptops in metal cases (and I'm not 100% sure if IBM still do) but my Aluminium PowerBook G4 15" is by far and away the most durable consumer laptop I've used (not including specialised ruggedised machines, such as the Panasonic ToughBooks etc)
The specs you mentioned above describe that of my ThinkPad T43PH2U, except I have the Intel 770 2.13Ghz processor with a 15" screen and 1G of RAM.
I find this post fascinating because several months ago, when I was searching for laptops I was influenced to get an IBM because I read one of your post about how FreeBSD ran soo nicely on it (it was an A-Series ThinkPad you posted about sometime ago).
My T43P runs smooth, its fast and well built. The only thing I dislike about this beauty is the heat problem when running FBSD. For instance, running buildworld with the machine set to high performance will easily raise the temperature to 99 degrees Fahrenheit. I kid you not! And, yes it still runs after that. Its a ThinkPad!
Apples are nice, but if they are going to release OSX for Intel why wait 12 months or so when you can buy a top of the line ThinkPad that will run OS X? Unless... Apple cuts a deal with Intel to only make specific Intel’s to run their OS.
If you don't mind Dell's, then the Precicion line might be of interest. The M70 comes with a nVidia Quadro FX Go1400 256MB OpenGL graphics adapter, as well as the rest of the specs that you listed. I don't know, if there is a FBSD driver for this video adapter or not.
As with any laptop heat is something that you have to live with. FBSD may not be able to communicate well with the hardware that controls ventilation/cooling on the newer laptops.
I have a Dell Latitude D810 that I use at work as my main machine. It was ordered with a docking station, so I could use an external monitor, mouse and keyboard. This is great for me, as using the laptop kvm all the time might be tiring.
I am planning on installing FBSD on it someday soon, but I just haven't had any free time to do so yet, hopefully soon though. I doubt that I will dual boot it, as I would rather leave windows behind. I might run into problems with the ATI video adapter though, but we'll see soon enough.
It has been a decent laptop so far. The only problem so far has been windows. It might not meet your needs, but the other models of the Latitude line come with nVidia graphics.
Enjoy the hunt!
Roger
I previously had a Thinkpad A21p and recently bought a T43p. The T43p is a really nice machine, it has has all the features you desire except it comes with an ATI card. The card works like a champ with Xorg though, giving you a resloution of 1400x1050.
This pdf will give you a breakdown of current models available with options.
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pcinstitute/psref/tabook.pdf
(bryan@adminfoo.net)
ThinkPad from Lenovo is a better option. IBM and HP do provide good after sales service also. Panasonic and Sony seem to lack in the support front.
It's super light, and powerful (2GHz Pentuim-M, 2GB RAM, 80GB drive, Gigabit ethernet, builtin 802.11b/g... and weighing in at less than 2kg)
15,1" screen, however max resolution is only 1024x768.
I haven't tested windows on it, but I run FreeBSD-CURRENT without any problems.
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I have to also recommend the PowerBook G4. As someone else mentioned when you run Office:mac on it, you have the best of both worlds and don't have to contstantly move back and forth out of VMWare to have the capability use a native *ix environment as well as the functionality of Windows.
I have the 12-inch G4 and use it as my pentest platform and have not come across any of the standard tools I use in that capacity that will not work.
Da Chief.
problem of T43 is there is
no reliable FreeBSD driver for the ATI X300 in 3D mode.
How do you connect to a Soekris box
w/o a serial port? The PowerBooks and IBM X don't have serial ports?
After reading your req. I would suggest go for:
Dell XPS Gen2
you will love it.
Take care.
Best Regards,
TagD.
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