[CentOS] modestly priced laptop for C7

[Fred Smith]

On Thu, Nov 02, 2017 at 06:34:06PM -0700, Alice Wonder wrote:
> On 11/02/2017 10:41 AM, Fred Smith wrote:
> >I'm looking to replace my (old, creaky) netbook (Acer Aspire One D255e,
> >a screaming dual core 1.6 GHz Atom, and a whole 2 gigs of RAM) with
> >something faster but not too large. Sometimes (usually) the netbook is
> >painfully slow.
> >
> >Something like a  hi-res 14 (or 15) inch screen (full HD), minimum of 4 gigs
> >RAM, HD of a half terabyte or bigger.
> >
> >I'd like to not have to go over 600-700 dollars, so I know my choices
> >are somewhat limited if I want to avoid the 400-500 dollar windows 10
> >junk^H^H^H^Hsystems from BJs, etc.
> >
> >Something with a quad-core processor, and all hardware works with C7.
> >
> >I've glanced at Lenovo Thinkpads on amazon where there are several
> >"factory refurbished" ones with similar specs to what I mention above
> >in the $500-700 range, but I don't know if they're any good or not
> >
> >I'm open to suggestions from any/all of you!
> >
> >thanks in advance!
> >
> >Fred
> >
> 
> CentOS works well on T-Series thinkpads but be careful of the video,
> some use an nvidia card which at least historically had issues in
> Linux that caused the battery to run down faster and caused the
> laptop to run hot.
> 
> T series thinkpads use Intel wifi that "just works" with CentOS - at
> least in my limited experience. Many laptops require 3rd party
> drivers with proprietary firmware to get the wifi working, which can
> be a pain in the neck when point release update happens (e.g. 7.3 to
> 7.4) because you then have to rebuild the RPM in the new point
> release or the driver won't work, and often that means downloading a
> new nosrc.rpm - which may not immediately be available.
> 
> Somewhere there's a list of wifi hardware that works out of the box
> with the Linux kernel, whatever brand you buy I would recommend the
> wifi device is on that list.

thanks, Alice, I'll keep your advice in mind.

Fred

-- 
---- Fred Smith -- fredex at fcshome.stoneham.ma.us -----------------------------
                      The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, 
                    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
----------------------------- Proverbs 15:3 (niv) -----------------------------