dream laptop

[FireBird34]

Originally posted by remote4((3550r
Buy the laptop, with or without the O/S (which ever is cheapest) and then just install Linux yourself, linux is availabe free to download!

I actually run a duel boot with MDK, have Slack and Gentoo on CD, and run Open/FreeBSD on a 486 and 386 ;) heh

Also, thanks for the advice/links -- I'll look into everything (and be sure to check out e-bay).

Just figured that if I'm to go to DEF CON next year (and bring a laptop), I don't want to be the only Windows user lol

[blackwave]

Originally posted by FireBird34
Just figured that if I'm to go to DEF CON next year (and bring a laptop), I don't want to be the only Windows user lol

Damn there goes my concept for a new DC game - I spotted the FWU (F'n Windows-User)

[ck3k]

Originally posted by blackwave
Damn there goes my concept for a new DC game - I spotted the FWU (F'n Windows-User)

Better start printing the shirts, there be alot of those sheep in da woods.

[mercutio]

dream laptop

if you could buy any laptop with opteron procesor, dvd burner, wirless-and ethernet, huge hard-drive, max ram, etc, what laptop would you get?

m3rc

[DISINGENUOUS]

if you could buy any laptop with opteron procesor, dvd burner, wirless-and ethernet, huge hard-drive, max ram, etc, what laptop would you get?

m3rc

I've had my VIAO in for serviceing 2 tims in less thn 6 months, the second time one week after getting it back from service. It's not holding up like I'd like it too.

If I had to do it over, I'd either go with a ThinkPad, or one of the cheap no names without a battery on Pricewatch. You can get one decked out for around $600. How often do you run on your battery? Not often. You can get external batterys for them.

Cheap notebook.

If wardriving is on your agenda, then you shold already have a good cig lighter Power Inverter, or one hard wired into your ride. Laptop will run as long as you like, totally mobile.

[kraa26]

I got a nice laptop though www.pricewatch.com. Only problem is that I can not seem to get the pcmcia port to work correctly in any linux. Works fine in XP. I have tried slackware, redhat, and freebsd. So just because it is cheap... you might not be able to use it for wardriving.. without extra work.

[hackajar]

Only problem is that I can not seem to get the pcmcia port to work correctly in any linux. Works fine in XP. I have tried slackware, redhat, and freebsd. .

*Anal On*
Being a little touch on this one, maybe you didn't mean to say it but... FreeBSD is NOT linux
*Anal Off*

[TwinVega]

*Anal On*
Being a little touch on this one, maybe you didn't mean to say it but... FreeBSD is NOT linux
*Anal Off*

*drunk on*
I like freebsd, but freelamo and freekevin are pretty good too...
*drunk still on*

[hackajar]

*drunk on*
I like freebsd, but freelamo and freekevin are pretty good too...
*drunk still on*

good point :p

[ck3k]

I got a nice laptop though www.pricewatch.com. Only problem is that I can not seem to get the pcmcia port to work correctly in any linux. Works fine in XP. I have tried slackware, redhat, and freebsd. So just because it is cheap... you might not be able to use it for wardriving.. without extra work.

wardriving in da linux, one what kinda laptop is it, it is odd for a pcmcia slot to not work, what distro are you using? Packages are online no matter what, unless it is either really really old...or brand new without anytype of support.

my toshiba does me just fine, powerful, and puts up against the beating I tend to give it.

[TwinVega]

my toshiba does me just fine, powerful, and puts up against the beating I tend to give it.

Because it's so "well built", you could cook an egg on it though

[ck3k]

Because it's so "well built", you could cook an egg on it though

That was my hp, you just mock this cause it is heavy, but thats cause my screen is bigger then yours :D

[TwinVega]

That was my hp, you just mock this cause it is heavy, but thats cause my screen is bigger then yours :D

No, I was speaking of your Toshiba

[skroo]

Hm...

Looking back at this thread, we haven't really played much in the way of the 'if I could...' game. Here's what I'd like in a laptop:

Form factor: this is largely dictated by my wants in terms of hardware spec and the package I'm willing to lug around. Here's what I'm looking for in both instances:

- Weight: 8lbs. (including battery) max.
- Screen: 15" diagonal. 16" is better, and also the practical max. Also, make it a touchscreen, with the touchscreen portion twinned to the PS/2 touchpad (yeah, no Thinkpad nipple - I hate those damn things) so that it's treated like a bog-standard mouse.
- Must have (on-board): CD-RW (DVD-RAM is better), USB, FireWire, one parallel and one serial port, SVGA in/out (yep, both), SB-compatible audio in and out, one mini-PCI slot (most likely used for 802.11g), two PCCARD slots, 10/100 ethernet (eepro, preferably), 56Kbps modem (preferably a USR hardware unit).

With the exception of the serial port and FireWire, my Toshiba Satellite 1905-S301 has all this in a form factor I can live with - I'm one of those laptop users who is willing to trade bulk for heft, so to speak.

The guts: I like power, and lots of it. Especially power that I don't have to replace for at least three years, just upgrade sympathetically as needs dictate. To that end:

- SMP. In the roughly five years that I've been using SMP machines, the one thing I've learned is that one processor per person is not enough. I want a laptop with two physical processors (this hyperthreading bullshit doesn't count).
- 100GB of HDD. I never, ever want to run out of disk space. At least, not for a long time.
- Non-proprietary hardware (and I include anything that needs a software DSP or other processor in this). Use shit that everything supports and doesn't drain the CPU to do its job.
- Non-proprietary methods of accessing on-board hardware (which, on a laptop, means everything). This is a big one. It means that manufacturers need to treat every device exactly the same and in a completely transparent manner to the OS as if it were in a generic desktop PC. None of this 'recovery disk' or 'we don't have drivers for that on your OS' crap.

The aesthetics: personally, I could care less how it looks. As long as it's not pink or some flavour of earth tones or pastels, I'm happy. However, believing that form generally follows function, give me:

- Rubberised outer protector over both halves of the clamshell. Ever see how Seagate wraps their drives for shock & vibration in a rubber wraparound? Something like that.
- Vulcanised shell. On...
- Gel-filled high-resistance shock mounts attached to a carbon-fibre frame. I realise this is getting into the realms of 'practical, as long as you'll pay for it', but, hey, it's my fantasy. And while I'm at it I want a Ferrari 246 Dino to go with it.

Basically... Give me an SMP Satellite with a Toughbook casing and a serial port, and I'm happy. To me a laptop needs to be a Swiss Army Knife so that you're never left wanting in the field, and I'm willing to make some trade-offs in the luggability stakes to get that. Thing is, I'm willing to bet that the first one to bring something like that to market at a reasonable price will sell them by the boatload.

[KeLviN]

Almost like this........ except lighter, tougher, and annother processor...