[gentoo-user] Re: Which Laptop is recommended for Gentoo GNU/Linux?

[7v5w7go9ub0o <7v5w7go9ub0o@gmail.com>]

On Fri, 05 Jan 2007 23:49:48 -0500, »Q« <boxcars@gmx.net> wrote:

> qfpvajdy <qfpvajdy@trashmail.net> wrote:
>
>> I'm interessted to buy a laptop on which I would like to install
>> Gentoo GNU/Linux by using 100% all hardware functions of the laptop
>> for which I have bought.
>
> I've just installed Gentoo on a Sony VAIO VGN-FS740, and I recommend
> against it.  Almost everything in it is well-supported, but one of the
> most important things is a PiTA.  Sony uses some unusual system to
> handle power management, and there are things the drivers available
> with the kernel will not handle.  Most notably, I could not get control
> of LCD brightness without installing a driver which is (a) not in
> portage and (b) AFAICT not in most distros' repositories.  If someone
> hadn't published a portage overlay for it, I would still be struggling
> with it.  From what I've read (which was a lot more than I wanted to,
> this is the situation with most (all?) of Sony's FS models.

Think that this is exactly right.

However, I wouldn't limit my laptop selection to one that is 100%  
Gentooable.

e.g. I went with Sony (their smallest) and would do so again, because  
small size, light weight, and high-quality display (necessary on a tiny  
box) were so important. As you indicated, it was a PITA; Lot of stuff  
still doesn't work :-( , but it's light enough (2.7 lbs) and small enought  
that I stick it in the backpack and don't resent it.

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