[CS-FSLUG] Notebook computers

[Timothy R. Butler]

> BTW. I don't know if supervisor passwords can be set in all BIOS's but 
> I do want to have that too, that way if the notebook were to be stolen 
> whoever steals it would have a headache getting through the supervisor 
> password and then getting through the passwords in Linux (which 
> hopefully won't happen).

	I think most (all?) will let you do that. The Mac doesn't have a 
normal BIOS, but I believe you can lock down OpenFirmware.
>
> I am very concerned about all the issues I've heard of with Mac's. If 
> I do go with an iBook I'll probably go with whatever extended warranty 
> is available because I've heard about people having all sorts of 
> trouble with those. I'm not sure about

	I think you're going to have a good chance of some type of problem 
with any notebook, so warranties are always a good idea (3-year 
extended warranties are especially good).

	I'd recommend an "official" warranty, though. I mean, a lot of stores 
will sell you a warranty, but make sure to get one from the 
manufacturer... I think you will be happier.

> Mac OS X either as I want something that can network with Linux and 
> I've never tried the OS before, I'd personally much

	No problem there. Mac OS X is just BSD at its core, so it gets along 
fine with GNU/Linux and Windows (it runs Samba and nfs for file sharing 
and CUPS for printing). TerraSoft Solutions will even install GNU/Linux 
on an iBook for ya, actually (and they do have the educational 
discounts), btw.

	Big points if you look for a laptop battery life, battery life, 
battery life, and, did I mention battery life? :-)

	-Tim

---------------------------------------------------------------
Timothy R. Butler       Universal Networks      www.uninet.info
==================== <tbutler at uninet.info> ====================
| Christian Portal:      | Have you not learned great lessons |
|      www.faithtree.com | from those  who  braced themselves |
| GNU/Linux News:        | against  you   and   disputed  the |
|            www.ofb.biz | passage with you?   --Walt Whitman |
---------------------------------------------------------------
Presently on "Albert" (DP PPC 970 "G5" running at 2.0 GHz)