linux and a labtop

[badpenguin]

Should I just download a x86 version of any distro? Also, do I need to worry about drivers or anything? Will the Touch-Pad mouse ever come into a problem? Or will linux auto-detect it as a mouse? I going to covert my labtop into a linux monster.. why? its going in my car, where I will basically use it as the cars NEW cpu :)

[irlandes]

I can only speak for my Dell 2650. Using Mandrake 9.1 at the time, touch pad works okay except it is too sensitive and clicks when you are moving cursor. Suggestions given here did nothing, because they involved scripts that were not in use.

And, that old version did not run the battery monitor.

I had to download the beta version of the Conexant driver for the modem to use it on dial-up. That was before they started charging, but the beta version still works.

I had to dink with the video driver but got it working by changing to gdm. I have used it this way almost a year and a half, am thinking of buying SuSe and trying that once.

In general, it runs fine, though. And I used the free download version. sometimes the pay version has more drivers so you don't need to work as hard to get it all working.

There is a URL especially for laptops. Do a google for linux laptops, or search here, or someone will answer with the name.

I do not find it hard. I started with Mandrake 6.5 and have used a variety of Mandrake versions on my two laptops, first a Compaq and now the Dell. I do not believe you will have great problems, but there are off brands that do.

[Loki3]

Ah, you'd be looking for http://www.linux-laptop.net

[badpenguin]

thanks for the help guys. So far, I am installing SuSE, and eveyrhting is working fine. There are video drivers, mouse drivers, and network drivers. The mousepad is not an issue, as it works as well as it does on windows. (yay!). WEll thanks for hte help guys. im sure ill be back.