[ltp] Recommend a Linux Laptop

[Andrew Barr]

On Monday 16 October 2006 17:49, sudhakar+thinkpad@cs.princeton.edu wrote:
> I am thinking of taking the X1300 radeon because atleast I have binary
> drivers from the vendors. I am not so sure about Intel.

If you do not need bleeding-edge 3D performance, for the love of all that is 
holy, GO INTEL. They not only have vendor-supplied drivers, but they are open 
source and available stock in most distributions. They are in the Xorg and 
Mesa source trees. ATI, on the other hand, has delayed providing any 
functionality at all on most newer chips and even when they do it is not full 
functionality. 

I have a MythTV box that needs the nVidia binary driver and it is a PITA as it 
is. If I had to buy the hardware again I'd get the VIA board that was 
available.

Even if you do have some uses for 3D, still consider the Intel hardware. You 
would be buying the much newer GMA 950, and even on my 855GM hardware, all of 
the Xscreensaver GL hacks run just fine, Google Earth runs fine, and Compiz 
is fine too. I think you only really should consider the ATI offering if you 
are a die-hard gamer.

-- 
Andrew Barr

Now playing: Carpenters - Flat Baroque