I therefore need a laptop recommendation.
Some prerequisites:
a) Out-of-box Ubuntu install compatibility. No driver issues for _any_ of the subsystems on the machine.
b) Required network connectivity: Wireless-N, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet. WWAN (Gobi or 3G) a plus. Required port connectivity: 2 or more USB ports, VGA and/or HDMI, audio I/O (digital I/O a plus). Docking port a plus, SD reader a plus, firewire a plus - but not required.
c) SSD storage, or easy upgradeability to SSD, a must. Minimum capacity 128Gb, 256 preferred. Built-in optical a plus, but not absolutely necessary.
e) Must run for 5 hours minimum in wifi-enabled power-saving mode, regular browsing use in Ubuntu with the standard battery config.
f) Matte / plastic glossy 11-13" screen, minimum res 1280 * 800. No glass glossies.
g) Under 1.8Kg/4lbs. The lower the better.
h) Must exhibit stable operation in most environments. Therefore no Apples or excessively cheap machines.
There is no budgetary limitation, within practical limits. It just has to meet the needs above.
Discussion about
I've had some Ubuntu installations for a while, but I'd like to walk around with a full install for various reasons.
What about the Dell Latitude 13? gdgt.com/dell/latitude/13/specs/
I know they offer it with Ubuntu as an option, so presumably there are no driver issues there.
I know they offer it with Ubuntu as an option, so presumably there are no driver issues there.
Thanks. But it's a non-contender especially given e).
c) No SSD option, reported fit issues with SSD upgrade.
e) 30Whr battery
- I'm not sure I want to rewind >4 years in terms of performance, even given Ubuntu. The slowest machine I have in daily for-work use is an i7-620LM.
c) No SSD option, reported fit issues with SSD upgrade.
e) 30Whr battery
- I'm not sure I want to rewind >4 years in terms of performance, even given Ubuntu. The slowest machine I have in daily for-work use is an i7-620LM.
I'm thinking the one and only machine I can realistically shortlist is the Lenovo X201 (the 'normal' version - not the somewhat overweight tablets I already have). Any challengers?
Somewhere along the line in this year my everyday-use notebook stash took a dramatic turn for the ugly with the (albeit maybe temporary) replacement of the Sony Z's with the Lenovo tablets, and the replacement of the gorgeously orange Dell Covets with the HP Elitebooks. Another breeze block in the lineup would no longer hurt at this stage...
Somewhere along the line in this year my everyday-use notebook stash took a dramatic turn for the ugly with the (albeit maybe temporary) replacement of the Sony Z's with the Lenovo tablets, and the replacement of the gorgeously orange Dell Covets with the HP Elitebooks. Another breeze block in the lineup would no longer hurt at this stage...
Alternative is good ol' System 76. Never heard anything but good things although they may not be able to compete with Dell on price. www.system76.com/index.php?cPath=28
Clevo contravenes h) they're kinda janky.
There is one model that has a chance of fitting the functional requirements with the extended battery and maybe System 76 do sell it - the Clevo S3101 - but , well.
There is one model that has a chance of fitting the functional requirements with the extended battery and maybe System 76 do sell it - the Clevo S3101 - but , well.
