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What Subnotebooks Work Best w/ Linux?
elliotj asks: "With the widespread adoption of WIFI, I'm finding more and more places where I'd like to use the Internet on the road. All I really need is a linux command line to run SSH, links, and a few other things. What I'm looking for is a very lightweight subnotebook with a long battery life, quick sleep/wake times, that can run Linux and WIFI. I've looked at the Sony picturebook line and the Toshiba Librettos. Both are sweet machines, but have more features and are more expensive than I really need. Are there any cost effective options out there?"
Get yourself an apple ibook... it has a very efficient battery. OSX is BSD based... if you don't like that then run over to yellowdoglinux.com and pick up a copy.
probably people need two more criteria. What is the budget in terms of $$, top end, and do you need a real keyboard integrated?
Without knowing those things, I think that any notebook or subnotebook (really no industry cutoff point there I think, it's a matter of taste) used that has a known track record of running and installing linux easily will narrow it down, then look at that list for best battery life. Virtually all decent used notebooks nowadays accept pcmcia cards, so wireless is just a matter of putting the appropriate card in.
Also, you have to ask yourself, is one or two lbs difference really a deal breaker? You might be able to get a pretty decent machine if you are willing to lug around 2 more lbs in gross weight. It seems like every pound subtracted from a "normal" laptop costs another 500 bucks or something like that and makes it harder to see and use. Me, I'd just as soon hump the extra weight and have a bigger screen and bigger battery, etc, for cheaper cost. For your needs, the older and slightly heavier used laptop would be cheaper to buy, then you could spend the savings on more ram, the wireless card, etc. Anything 200 mghz or larger runs linux in graphics mode just fine with enough ram, so text mode should be a piece of cake.
While those are very cool, and I want one just for that reason, there is no keyboard on that toy.
.ogg files you'll still have space for.
Since the poster specifically mentioned:
All I really need is a linux command line to run SSH, links, and a few other things.
Then I'll wager no-keyboard is a deal breaker.
If you really want to run a command line comfortably, I'd suggest you bump up to the "small notebook, of previous generation processors" category. I just sold my Armada M700 series laptop, and I think it's lesser brothers might be a good match for your needs. The M700 was a true platform in that they had a large range of processors and ram that fit it. So compatible accessories abound on ebay.
Since they were targeted at the corporate types they have good docking station integration, and most importantly although there are an abundance of modern slip in peripherals (like a DVD/CDRW combo drive) the ones with the 400Mhz processors run XP like slugs so the corporate types are getting off them quick. This gives you a rare combination of "older laptop prices" but modern laptop battery and peripheral capability.
This one here. Will probably sell for $270. It's PII 400Mhz processor will run a LowProfile Linux very well, and then you get multiple xterms per screen (which is always cool when your admin-ing). Cooler still you can slip out that nearly useless DVD drive and slip an additional battery in, and get excellent run times. Which you'll need for 1500