Posted by Jim at March 10th, 2005

There are two things one might do with a tax refund. The responsible one seems likely to be saving it or investing it somehow. The other, more likely option is spending it on something cool. For the last few years, I’ve been doing the former option, using the refund for something responsible even though I’ve had the money necessary to buy a particularly cool digital camera. This year, I’m thinking of spending the money on something.

Alas, not the camera.

Over Christmas, Kristen and I got a digital camera. Not, I might add, the professional level digital camera I’ve often considered buying, but a good enough camera that I no longer feel a burning need to indulge my urge to buy something that I may never use to it’s full potential.

I understand the basics of photography and have even done some paid work on occasion, but I’m not a professional or even particularly close to that level of skill.

Thus, I’m tempted to buy something that I will use: a notebook of some kind.

I’m tempted to buy either a refurbished Dell notebook and install Linux on it or possibly to buy a notebook from Linare, the company that provides Linux notebooks to Walmart. With the latter option I’d initially avoid the possible pain of getting all devices working and thus just be able to use the notebook.

I say initially because the likelihood of my eventually installing Debian over the Linare distribution of Linux is pretty high. At that point, all the time saved by buying a new notebook with a pre-loaded operating system will disappear.

Alternately, I’m also considering buying a used or reconditioned iBook (a G3/900mhz or similar G4). That would again save me the hassle of OS installation at the cost of running an older notebook that will become obsolete sooner (making it possible that I would end up installing Linux on it…).

Buying an iBook would also allow me to test my web design on Mac IE and Safari, something that would be pretty useful. Not to mention Javascript. For the most part I’m inclined not to bother getting Javascript to work in Safari or Konqueror, but I’d like to have it fail gracefully if it must fail. Thus, it’d be nice to have a test box.

Either one seems likely to have wireless cards available (an absolute requirement for a notebook in my opinion), but the Mac will cost more. Of course, the quality of Linare is an open question. I still haven’t seen any reviews of their stuff.

Anyone have any advice on this one?