Quoting Russell Coker on Tue, Nov 27, 2001 at 08:14:24AM +0100: > On Tue, 27 Nov 2001 01:47, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > I was originally looking at a toshiba Tecra 9000 for a new Laptop to fit > > my budget of $5000 CAD. I recently came across the IBM Thinkpad A30p > > which i can squeeze into the budget as well. I'm favouring this over the > > tecra now for a few reasons (133MHz Bus instead of 100, ATI Radeon 32 MB > > instead of some other garbage, Video in/out as opposed to tv-out only etc > > etc..) Does anyone know of any problems running linux on this model or > > have any opinions on IBM's w/ Linux as opposed to other Laptop > > Manufacturers? > > I'm on my third Thinkpad now, so I've been quite happy with them. > > I currently use the T series (advertised as "portability without > compromise"). The T series are powerful and have reasonable hardware built > in, but are slightly reduced from desktop machines (can't have CD and floppy > at the same time is one limitation). > > The A series (advertised as "desktop replacement") has all the hardware > (including floppy and CD) but they haven't tried hard to make it light or > portable. On another list I'm on people are flaming Thinkpads because of the > experience of carrying an A series around. > > If your laptop goes between your work and your home in your car then an A > series will be great. > > If your laptop goes around the world, and goes to work with you by public > transport then a T series is probably as big and heavy as you can tolerate. > > Also regarding the CD, getting a USB CD-ROM at work and one at home is one > solution to the problem of having CD and floppy... > > Another thing to consider is having a power supply at home and one at work > (PSUs are heavy). > I am using a T21 series after some time with a IBM Thinkpad 600e. The T21 has some very nice features and everything works with debian unstable including sound; no big requirements for video, etc. I have done a lot of work with the A30p systems and overall I don't particularly care for them. The size seems rather odd to me and I think the X or T series is much easier to be mobile with even with some of the limitations noted above.
Overall the finest one I have used so far is the T21. Memory and hard disk are very easy to upgrade/replace. In the T series, I have messed with the T20, 21, 22, 23 laptops. In the X series, I have messed with the X20 and X21 and X22. In the A series, most of them including the "21s" and "22s". The A30p, ImO, has a weight issue and a size issue and I understand that it provides a lot of functionality. For me, the weight of a T21 and its feature set provide just the right mix of power and mobility. If I wanted something totally light, the X22 would be a choice. However, both the A30 and the X22 share the same video chipset. I prefer a system that I can get X working without downloading an entire CVS tree of X; but I have done it probably 30 times or so with the recent IBM laptops above. When X 4.2 comes out, it should have support for the ATI mobility radeon M6 chipsets; which will make the A30s a lot easier to work with. BTW, the T21s can be found at very reasonable costs. Memory upgrades are not prohibitive. I went from 128 to 256 for only $60. -- Michael Perry | "Do or do not; there is no try" Master Yoda [EMAIL PROTECTED] | http://www.lnxpowered.org
