-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 >>>>> "Glen" == Glen Mehn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Glen> I've had great luck with ThinkPads in the past. They are quite Glen> expensive, however, but if that's not a factor. The T-23s have Glen> some sort of titanium cover that makes them 'more resistant', Glen> although train hopping probably isn't quite what IBM had in mind Glen> when making them. ThinkPads seem to have relatively good Linux support, and the newer models (I guess starting from a couple of years ago) have a three button pointing device! If you want something that's really light, and you don't need a CD-ROM or floppy other than when you're "home", it may be worth taking a look at their X series. They're quite expensive (starting at around $3000 CDN, or about $2000 US), but you might be able to pick up a used one somewhere for cheap. Since the X series has no CD-ROM and no floppy, there is an optional UltraBase, which has a bay that can house a floppy drive or CD-ROM (both of which are extra $, I think). So it can get pretty expensive, but if money isn't much of a factor, or if you can find a cheap one, and you don't need a CD-ROM and floppy while you're train hopping, it's the lightest and most portable ThinkPad (3.2 lbs). General things that you should look at in a laptop: - - pointing device -- TrackPoint or touch pad? Some people can't use one of them. If this is your case, it may limit your choices. - - keyboard -- make sure it's comfortable to use. Some laptops put certain keys in weird places, but it's usually easy to get used to it, as long as you don't switch between your laptop and a desktop very often. - - screen size and resolution. Of course, if you want a smaller laptop, you may have to settle for a smaller screen. But check out the resolution. Some 12" screens are 800x600, and some are 1024x768. - - screen type -- TFT, DSTN, etc. TFT (active matrix) is the best quality (and more expensive, obviously). I think that all IBM's and Sonys are TFT. - - built-in drives. If you need a CD-ROM and/or floppy on the road, it's probably best to have them built in, as Heather mentioned. For you, it won't make sense to get external drives, since you'll have to carry them around with you wherever you go anyways. - - connectivity. Most laptops have built-in modems, but they're mostly WinModems. If you need a modem on the road, you probably want to make sure that yours will work in Linux, if you don't want to get a PCMCIA modem card. Some laptops have built-in Ethernet too, if you don't want to get a PCMCIA LAN card. (Although PCMCIA cards aren't really that heavy, so it won't add much to the weight factor, it's still an extra thing that you have to carry around and remember to take with you.) - - future expansion. Will you need wireless before it's time to retire your laptop? Bluetooth? USB 2.0? Firewire? etc... Whatever you think you'll need, make sure that the laptop will be able to handle it, in the form of PCMCIA slots, or having the support built in. I'm sure I've forgotten something... As someone else mentioned, you should also think about your laptop getting stolen. I've lightly defaced my laptop (by plastering stickers over the cover). It's a light measure, but given a choice, a robber would rather steal a new-looking laptop, than an older one. You should also avoid letting people know that you have a laptop, e.g. by carrying it around in something that doesn't look like a laptop bag. I've heard that diaper bags are pretty good, and have good padding, but it would probably make people suspicious seeing a train hopper with a diaper bag. Laptop locks, etc. are good, but only work if the robber isn't pointing a knife/gun at you and forcing you to unlock it. - -- Hubert Chan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> - http://www.geocities.com/hubertchan/ PGP/GnuPG key: 1024D/71FDA37F Fingerprint: 6CC5 822D 2E55 494C 81DD 6F2C 6518 54DF 71FD A37F Key available at wwwkeys.pgp.net. Encrypted e-mail preferred. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.0.6 (GNU/Linux) Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org iD8DBQE8t8keZRhU33H9o38RAoCQAJ4/HJXVqKgx9zvINytbALa9JfBb/ACgjlVo Smb9i46izImxctETSbco2oQ= =UuDy -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
