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You might contact a Micron PC sales rep and see if they'll provide a laptop with a version of Linux installed. If I remember correctly, I was able to arrange such a deal for a client... I don't see any option on their website so I might just be crazy :)

You might also take a look at Los Alamos Computers. They aren't as light as you want, but they might be an option.

QLI is also an option, but weight is an issue again.

Finally, Emperor Linux has some very light looking machines :) They are as light as 2 lbs, but you'll have to sacrifice a little speed. (2lbs is around 1 kg..)

Good luck.. I don't have any experience with any of these companies except for Micron PC.. You might do a quick search on google next time...

If you try loading up a Dell PC with HDTV gear (card, extra hard drive(s), etc) you're likely to overload their weak power supplies (250W on a P4?!), at which point you'll probably think you can just swap in an Antec 550W from your local toy store and be on your way. Think again. Dell uses a nonstandard pinout on their ATX power supplies for no good reason.

If you must buy a prebuilt machine from a big vendor, MicronPC offers a better than average component selection, including industry standard 300W ATX power supplies (which is still low by my standards but better than most other big vendors) and nVidia nForce2 motherboards. I still custom build my PCs though.

FWIW, I have an AccessDTV card in my dual CPU Athlon rig. They've shaken most of the bugs out with the latest beta software. There's no Linux support though. I'm not aware of any HDTV card that's Linux-friendly (anyone?). There's a neat 1024p mode that works great with 1280x1024 res monitors.

I'd go with MicronPC and their new Millenia 910a series. Their component selection is the best I've seen from the larger vendors (ie, 300W power supplies, which is entry-level by my standards but better than Dell), their support is supposed to be better than average, and nForce2-chipset systems rock. Select an Athlon XP 2400+ CPU or faster.

I custom-build all my own PCs, of course. I tell everyone else to buy from MicronPC. They then ignore me, buy from Dell, and then I explain to them in intricate detail why that was Bad while I straighten out their systems.

I'd go with MicronPC and their new Millenia 910a series. Their component selection is the best I've seen from the larger vendors (ie, 300W power supplies, which is entry-level by my standards but better than Dell), their support is supposed to be better than average, and nForce2-chipset systems rock. Select an Athlon XP 2400+ CPU or faster.

I custom-build all my own PCs, of course. I tell everyone else to buy from MicronPC. They then ignore me, buy from Dell, and then I explain to them in intricate detail why that was Bad while I straighten out their systems.

It's that simple. If you do boneheaded things like use cheap, weak 200W power supplies like Dell uses and put one too many drives in the machine (two Seagate Barracuda IV's in the 1GHz Celeron box in this case), you'll have an unstable, flakey system (unplugging the second drive fixed that). If you don't install the current Service Pack, updates, and drivers (like Dell failed to do), you'll get an unstable Windows system (yes, I know, run Linux, but we don't have the source to everything that'd need porting).

If you carried over your 5-year-old ATX power supply to your new Athlon system just because the plug fit and didn't buy an Athlon-certified power supply (the P4's second power plug forced upgrade spared them from that), you'll have a flakey system. If you bought a VIA chipset board (ASUS's A7V333 is great, just so y'know) and didn't install the current 4in1 driver set, you'll risk a flakey system. If you bought an Intel board because you don't like VIA and didn't check out the nVidia nForce boards (which are driving AMD's invasion of the big OEM market), you're an idiot.

Building Athlons requires slightly more skill than building an Intel-based system. If you can't handle it, go buy a prebuilt system from someone who can.

This was the big deciding factor for me. The initial capital expense is lower for rolling your own, but there's a lot to be said for picking up the phone and having a replacement mobo shipped to you overnight at no additional cost.

Besides, with the way vendors change their product lines these days, you'll be lucky to get the same box next year that you standardized on this year.

As for AMD, I've been using Athlon-based machines from Micron PC and haven't had any trouble related to the platform. They're about $300 cheaper for the same relative power and I haven't noticed any problems that the Intel-based boxes woudn't have had as well.

In the end, it's up to you. You might also consider that you might not always be the computer guy at this business, and whoever follows you will have a harder time learning about the quirks of your home-rolled systems than they would learning who to call to get the pre-made ones fixed.

Micron has started selling a laptop with built in thumb scanner. My military unit is already talking to them. Too bad it is a P-4 system.

Micron laptop with thumb scanner

I've been wanting to upgrade my aging Toshiba Satellite, but so far every Athlon notebook I've found uses some lame graphics chip rather than nVidia or ATI Radeon series chips. And no SXGA+ or UXGA res screens either. Has anyone found one? Maybe we'll see them early next year when the 130nm Mobile Athlons come out?

Maybe Micron will build one. Their new Athlon/nForce desktops look sweet, definite Dell-killers.

Micron is just as high quality as Dell and they have AMD configurations. I'm a very satisfied customer.

The Intel 440GX is way behind the curve. Intel has poured so much into the Rambus avenue they forgot about the high-end where 4GB RAM and 2 standard PCI busses don't cut it. And the MTH (memory translator hub) failed to produce the SDRAM alternative they needed with the i840.

Enter ServerWorks' (formerly Reliance Computer Corporation, RCC) ServerSet III chipsets. They product chipsets for the big-boys, now for mainboard OEMs like Tyan, Asus and SuperMicro. 2 to 3 PCI busses (1 or 2 are 64-bit x 66MHz -- NOT slots, but whole busses!), 2 to 4-way PC133 SDRAM (supports upto 16GB), DDR SDRAM on the way, just awesome. The massive PCI I/O blows anything Intel's got away, and meets or beats most RISC vendors. Cheap too as the 2 CPU, 2 PCI bus, 2-way PC133 bus ServerSet IIILE can be had for just over $250 in SuperMicro mainboards.

ServerWorks is so good, Intel has adopted their chipsets for their own branded mainboards. Again, check them out!

P.S. As far as AMD, stay _away_ from Gateway 2000 -- the cheapest/worst components. Stick with a vendor that builds quality AMD systems, with AMD-approved components. Try Micron PC as they just introduced systems based on the new DDR SDRAM AMD i760 chipset mainboards and PC266 CPUs.

-- Bryan "TheBS" Smith

just do a google or pricewatch search for them... not exactly ubiqitous but not 1.13Ghz vaporware either. A month after the 1.13 launch a total recall affected less than 200 users..

Shaddup and get back to your Tazer MBD OS reload!