Care must be taken when choosing a laptop, though, because any unsupported components cannot be swapped out as on a desktop system. Luckily, with a little research it's easy to find out which machines other Linux users have had the best experience with. The vast majority of laptops out there are supported, from old Micro-Channel Architecture ThinkPads to the latest iBooks. But some are better supported than others, and some are better documented.
Many laptops require workarounds that can be frustrating to both experienced and novice users alike.
Certification labs include Red Hat, Linuxcare, Keylabs, and S.u. S.E. Red Hat, the leading Linux distribution in the U.S., offers testing services to vendors who pay a fee. The leading Linux distribution in Germany, S.u. S.E. certifies hardware through user feedback but as of yet has not certified any laptops. Copyright 2000 ZD Inc. All rights reserved.