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You should realize though that most of these companies purchase the hardware from companies like Sager (Linux forum) and Compal, and those companies also supply the big-name guys like Compaq, HP, Dell, and Toshiba. So when you find some no-name laptop, it is usually equivalent to some branded laptop that never touched the hands of HP/Compaq/Toshiba/Dell. (And figuring out exactly *which* brand-name laptop it is equivalent to can be extremely difficult) Some of the below claim to manufacture their own notebooks, but what this means is that they buy them from Saeger/Compal or someone else, and put in a hard drive/CPU/RAM, which is why you will find identical looking cases at several of these vendors.

If you find a HP/Compaq/Toshiba/Dell/IBM/Sony branded laptop that has linux preinstalled, it means that the vendor paid for windows and removed it. I do not list them below because I think this is a despicable and deceptive practice. These manufacturers do not (yet) sell no-os or linux laptops. (But please, call them and ask!! The squeaky wheel gets the grease!) Also if you order a no-OS laptop, please request linux to be installed anyway, and tell them you'll pay for it! Let them know there is demand!

1. Linux-preinstalled laptops
2. ASA Computers
3. ASLab (Linux Forum)
4. American Computer
5. Cyclox
6. Kachina Tech (positively ancient laptops -- K6 and PII)
7. QLI Tech
8. Workstation 2000

1. No-os laptops
2. ARM Computer
3. Chem USA
4. Mtech Laptops (these guys outright lied to me about what they could deliver, in order to get my order, were not able to deliver the laptop, and I had to cancel my order -- which took 3 months to process and they kept $5 for the priviledge -- do not do business with them)
5. PC Torque
6. Power Notebooks (very good customer service according to Reseller Ratings) (Linux forum)
7. Xtreme Notebooks

-- Bob

Looks like QLITech, (Made famous by buying out Tuxtops this spring) is offering clustering boxes these days as well.
1U/2U AMD/Intel CPUS, and Gigabit or Dolphin Interconnects. Cool Stuff.

I've dealt with these guys for servers and a Laptop, pretty good pricing, and damn good service.

http://www.qlitech.net

I just got one of the laptops from QLITech and it's a really great system. The support they provide is top quality; call and talk directly to a tech person or email and get a reply right away. As an added plus, they support (and will preload) any of the major distributions.

Their site is www.qlitech.net

The Emperor is a portable workstation. My system runs "gears" at 810 fps, runs timedemo demo001 of Q3A at 44fps (IIRC), and my DVD player works just fine (with vlc and xine).

I reviewed this unit for our LUG CedarLUG, and you can view all of the details of this unit there.

Don't forget QLITech Linux Computers, they bought out Tuxtops a few months back (methinks)

QLITech Linux Computers

Very slick hardware, and their prices aren't bad at all. Nice guys to deal with too.

I bought one of their laptops (QLITech's). And what a great system it turned out to be. There's a review of their Emperor model at: www.linuxusersgroups.org.

Ack.

The "same thing" link is actually here.

Sorry about that. =)

Row 44, Seat M

I've got a Dell Inspiron 5000 as my laptop - but I didn't buy it from Dell - I got it from TuxTops (when they still sold hardware. Sigh.)

You can get the Inspiron 5000 form factor from ASL with a 1400x1050 screen currently. Their model is the Excalibur LT-420.

Looks like TuxTops moved their hardware sales to QLITech, where you can get the same thing.

Both the ASL and the TuxTops machines are relabeled ChemBooks, which Dell still uses for some of the Inspiron line.

I've got a Dell Inspiron 5000 as my laptop - but I didn't buy it from Dell - I got it from TuxTops (when they still sold hardware. Sigh.)

You can get the Inspiron 5000 form factor from ASL with a 1400x1050 screen currently. Their model is the Excalibur LT-420.

Looks like TuxTops moved their hardware sales to QLITech, where you can get the same thing.

Both the ASL and the TuxTops machines are relabeled ChemBooks, which Dell still uses for some of the Inspiron line.

http://www.qlitech.net
Maybe with MickeyD out of the way some smaller companies more dedicated to Linux can participate and prosper.

IBM would be another option if you prefer a major name brand.

QLITech has a nice line of Linux laptops. I bought the Amethyst 20U from Tuxtops, now the King System, and I'm very happy with it. IBM also sells laptops running linux if you look around. Don't pay the Microsoft tax!

With the exception of PCMCIA cards, SODIMM memory modules, and 2.5" hard drives, laptop parts arent commoditized - they aren't even standardized, really (CD/DVD drives are essentially the same form factor, but laptop manufacturers add their own unique connector and bezel). The rest of the parts are all specially designed for every different laptop. Very few laptop manufacturers have compatible parts (one exception is Dell and the now-defunct Quantex, who OEM'd the entire laptop from another manufacturer), which is why you can't walk into a PC shop, grab a bunch os standard laptop parts, and put them together.

If you're looking for a Linux laptop, Dell and QLITech (who took over from TuxTops; and they OEM the same system Dell sells as the 5000e as their Emperor).

VA Linux is notorious for only supporting/Installing Red Hat,
so is Penguin Computing, but at least Penguin offers AMD systems.

This is strange coming from a company who is sponsoring the Retail Debian project (VA Linux).

I've had dealings with a company in Illinois, who installs and supports almost every commercial distribution,
plus Slack (My Fav) and Debian.

The sales guys know their stuff, and they also sell a kick-ass Linux Gaming System, (apparently it's their best selling model)

You can find these guys at www.qlitech.net


"Then it comes to be,
that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel,
is just a frieght train coming your way..... "

QLITech is a linux systems vendor that offers AMD Server systems.

You can check them out at: http://www.qlitech.net


"Then it comes to be,
that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel,
is just a frieght train coming your way..... "

There is a KDE Image mirror being hosted at: http://www.qlitech.net/kdemascot