Another article on DIY laptops

[Patrick]

http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/43550/index.html

Currently I leaning towards one of the following companies who sell laptops with linux preinstalled:
http://www.pcsforeveryone.com/
http://www.laclinux.com/en/Start
http://eracks.com/
http://www.linuxcertified.com/linux_laptops.html

Or a DIY route:
http://www.abspc.com/diy/notebookdiy.asp

Ultimately, it boils down to is how much of a markup the preinstalled laptops vs how long to install linux on an OS-less laptop. If the difference is $100 than I'll go the preinstalled route. If higher I might just get a barebones machine and do it myself.

I'm a little torn. I'd love to support businesses that are stepping and offering machines with linux preinstalled but conversely I don't want to get robbed in the process.

Has anyone done the DIY method? I haven't heard from someone who's personally done it themselves.

[snarkout]

You can do a fairy reasonable "DIY" with a bare-bones thinkpad. I don't have a link to the site right now, but the "build it myself" option should take you to a page that has non-HD and CD/DVD options that you piece together yourself. No HD means no WinXP, and the drive takes a single screw to install (well, 5 if you count the screws that actually mount the drive on the bracket.

IMO thinkpads are *the* linux laptop. They aren't cheap though.