Linux distro for laptop use

[prafaktor]

Hello!

I have a HP Elitebook 8730w laptop with an ATI FireGL graphics card. What is the best distribution to use with laptops, that support all of the laptops features (CPU freq controling, power options, extra buttons, fn key combinations, ...).

I already tried OpenSuse 11.1, but in order to install it I had to disable the "Fan alway on while AC" option in BIOS. When running linux the laptop was extremly hot (i'm guessing because of the fan option) and the extra buttons (like volume control, brightness, ...) didn't work. I then restored Vista and the temp dropped down.

I tried OpenSuse first because, when I had bought the laptop, it was said that it was Suse certified (on the HP website).

I really want to have linux on my computer, because Vista it really annoying me. I am not afraid to get my hands dirty with linux - i have some experience with Arch linux, Ubuntu, Opensuse.

So, I guess what i'm asking is, if these functions work under linux (preferably OpenSuse)?

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

Ubuntu should work fine on your machine. I would suggest you to try LiveCDs before installing any distro. You can if everything works fine and configured properly.

[techieMoe]

Hello!
I have a HP Elitebook 8730w laptop with an ATI FireGL graphics card. What is the best distribution to use with laptops, that support all of the laptops features (CPU freq controling, power options, extra buttons, fn key combinations, ...).

Most mainstream Linux distributions work just as well on a laptop as they do a desktop, including CPU scaling and power options. My laptop has media buttons along the front that work fine in Ubuntu and Fedora (haven't tried them in SuSE).

So, I guess what i'm asking is, if these functions work under linux (preferably OpenSuse)?

Well, if you've already tried openSuSE and it didn't work, that pretty much answers your question. Some other popular distributions are Ubuntu and Fedora. Both offer LiveCD options so you can try out all your hardware before you install anything.

One word of warning, though: Vista has some odd places it likes to put your boot sector (like at the very end of your drive), and that can cause some Linux partitioning tools to kill your Vista boot process. I'm pretty sure the latest version of Ubuntu has fixed this, but just a word of warning if you plan on dual-booting and you haven't already set aside an empty partition.