[wellylug] Machines with OS pre-installed

[John Fouhy]

On 22/04/2008, John Durham <john.modec at xtra.co.nz> wrote:
>  Then this morning I saw an article about Ubuntu here:
>  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7358483.stm
>
>  My question is: How practical would it be to use Ubuntu in his case to
>  replace the system and restore Skype etc?

To add to what others have said:

http://www.linux-laptop.net/ is a good resource for running linux on
laptops.  It may help you figure out whether all the hardware will be
compatible with linux (e.g. whether the built-in webcam works (if it
has one), what the video driver support is like, et cetera).

Second, Codeweavers (http://codeweavers.com/) sell
windows-compatibility software that may help you get essential windows
software running.  They support a few products (e.g. Office) and many
more will work anyway.
(Codeweavers' product is based on WINE, which you could try if you
want to go the pure free-software route)

Finally, you can run Ubuntu from a "live CD" which will allow you to
test the operating system without installing anything (or otherwise
affecting the hard drive).

-- 
John.