> -----Original Message----- > From: CentOS [mailto:centos-bounces at centos.org] On Behalf Of Valeri > Galtsev > Sent: den 2 november 2017 15:21 > To: CentOS mailing list <centos at centos.org> > Subject: Re: [CentOS] HP laptops with CentOS 7? > > > On Thu, November 2, 2017 8:29 am, Sorin Srbu wrote: > > Hello all, > > > > I'm looking into getting HP laptops for our department running CentOS 7. > > I usually recommend against HP laptops. I had Compaq quite some time ago > (the last was bought out by HP shortly after I got my laptop), and I have > seen a bunch of HP laptops people in our Department got themselves. That > (dealing with these, looking inside hardware etc) developed strong allergy > towards HP laptops in me. My Compaq, BTW, has a list of "approved > hardware" in BIOS, which is evil: I had to edit BIOS with hex editor to > replace piece of crap broadcom wireless adapter with Intel one. > > To be fair I must mention here that I love HP printers, and the whole > attitude of HP towards printers they make. Decent HP laser printers are > manageable, last forever, and HP keeps making supplies for them. I just > retired still working B/W LaserJet 4050, that worked for over 16 years, > was heavily used, still works, print quality is the same as it always had, > and HP still makes supplies for it. > > I usually recommend Dell: business lines of laptops, see which are offered > with 3 to 5 years warranty, I do get cheapest 3 year warranty, but Dell > committing to maintain it for 5 years tell you that that is solidly built, > and is not expected to be obsoleted soon. > > I recommended IBM before they sold laptop line to Lenovo. After watching > Lenovo for about 3 years, I started recommending them (they were same > well > engineered as IBMs were), but shortly after that they had a scandal: sold > a bunch of laptops with malware preinstalled, that did it: I gave up on > Lenovo for good. > > From smaller players, I would just see which makes business oriented > laptops for some time (offering purchase of long warranties is a good > sign). And if you can handle one before purchasing - say, you can go to > computer store and handle on on display, - I would recommend "propeller > test". Grab sides of laptop and try to twist it into propeller shape. If > it is flexible, it is junk that will fail soon. If it is solid, it has > great chance to last long. Flexing system board - motherboard is common > jargon for over 30 years - leads to developing microcracks in it: copper > when going through plastic deformation hardens, then cracks. Funny you should mention the "propeller test", as this is why I've stayed away from Dell laptops, and instead went for the HP Compaq's with the magnesium chassis in the early 00's! I've stayed with HP since then. HP has however had a habit of replacing the hardware anytime within a series while calling the models the same. This has bitten both me and the people at central IT sourcing the Microsoft SCCM infrastructure for us. I think I'll keep an open mind for Dell laptops for now. Thanks for the feedback! -- //Sorin