[Discuss] Yet Another Laptop Recommendation Thread

[david at thekramers.net (David Kramer)]

On 09/29/2012 11:04 PM, Laura Conrad wrote:
>>>>>> "David" == David Kramer <david at thekramers.net> writes:
> 
>     David> Any comparisons of HP vs Lenovo, or specific models that have
>     David> worked or not worked with Linux would be great.
> 
> I don't have any experience with HP laptops, but I've been buying HP
> desktops for my last two machines, and the sound is unreliable on
> Linux.  I think the chips are the same in the laptops, so if that
> matters to you, you might want to go with Lenovo.  
> 
> This page
> <http://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/sound/alsa/HD-Audio.txt> seems
> to be the explanation for why I have to plug my speakers into the front
> headphone jack and can't use any of the 6 rear jacks.  If you buy an HP
> and that turns out to matter to you and you get the rear jacks working
> by trying all the options and hitting on one that works, let me know.
> 

Hmm.  Come to think of it, for years we've had people come to
Installfests with sound problems with HP laptops, like when they plug in
headphones the sound still comes out of the speakers.  This is due to a
similar issue; instead of switching outputs mechanically like every
other device on the planet does, they drive it by software, which is OK
if you have that software.

I might have to head to a Best Buy with a Kubuntu LiveCD.  Or STFW for
specific models.