RE: [tlug-digest] Re: [tlug] Linux Laptop

["BURLING, KENNETH M. RPSN (CV63 RELMIN)" <burlingk@example.com>]

For a mouse, when there are space concerns, I always liked the thumb
style track ball.
:-)

Logitech makes one, and so does Microsoft.  Both are available in
wireless if needed I think. :)


>-----Original Message-----
>From: Michael Smith [mailto:smith@example.com] 
>Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2005 12:20 PM
>To: tlug@example.com
>Subject: [tlug-digest] Re: [tlug] Linux Laptop
>
>
>David J Iannucci <jlinux@example.com> writes:
>
>> I've been running SuSE on a couple IBM Thinkpads for a while 
>now, and 
>> have been very happy.  SuSE 9.1 runs on my old Thinkpad 600X like a 
>> charm (I've really gotta upgrade :-), and I've recently got 
>a new T42 
>> at work that I'm running 9.3 Pro on.  The Thinkpads are 
>reputed to be 
>> perhaps the most Linux-friendly line of major-brand laptops, and so 
>> far my experience bears that out.
>
>I've been using a T42p as my main machine for several months 
>now and found it relatively easy to get a Linux (2.6.7 kernel 
>and Debian testing/unstable) system installed and working on it.
>
>The one complaint I have about it is that it is very heavy. 
>Lugging it around Tokyo in the summer time has made me wonder 
>whether I shouldn't have just gone with an X series model instead.
>
>But I don't use an external monitor, and now that I've been 
>using the built-in one at 1600x1200, I think I would have a 
>very hard time getting used to a machine that had 1024x768 as 
>its maximum screen resolution.
>
>> I really like them all-around, and one thing that seems 
>unique to them 
>> is 3 buttons on the Trackpoint/trackpad! I usually use a mouse, but 
>> it's nice to know that third button is there for when I'm "on the 
>> road" :-)
>
>I guess I've sort of been taking the three buttons for 
>granted. I'd now find it hard to get used to a machine that 
>didn't have them, because I don't use an external mouse.
>
>One nice thing about the thinkpoint/button setup is that you 
>can pretty easily switch back and forth between using your 
>right and left hand with it. I pretty much need to that in 
>order to try to mitigate the permanent damage I am probably 
>doing to my hands and wrists by using it. When the pain it 
>causes in my right hand gets unbearable, I just switch to 
>using my left for a while.
>
>I gave up on trying to use trackpads a long time ago, after I 
>found that it seemed to cause excruciating hand and wrist pain 
>a lot more quickly.
>
>I bought a bluetooth mouse and attempted using that for a 
>while, but found it not too compatible with the variety of 
>surfaces I tried to use it with -- e.g., park benches, 
>beer-soaked bar counters, the leg of the sleeping guy sitting 
>next to me on a crowded train.
>
>  --Mike
>
>-- 
>Michael Smith
>http://sideshowbarker.net/
>