Re: If a computer is sold with preinstalled SUSE, shouldn't it work with Debian?

["Jeffrey L. Taylor" <jeff@austinblues.dyndns.org>]

Quoting alex <radsky@ncia.net>:
> If a computer works with a preinstalled SUSE system and doesn't have an 
> installed MS Windows system,  what problems can be expected with adding 
> and running additional systems like Debian and a MS Windows if the hard 
> drive is properly partitioned?

If it is a desktop with no bleeding edge hardware (e.g., no 802.11g
wireless, Firewire, etc.), probably none.  Laptops are still bleeding
edge hardware as far as Linux is concerned.  Mostly due to the power
control, APCI.  Hibernate/suspend may not work right.  With a
willingness and ability to download and install new drivers, etc. you
can probably get everything that works with SuSE to work with
Debian. (E.g., EmperorLinux sells IBM Thinkpadslaptops with Linux
pre-installed, however, if you read the fine print, on some models,
the winmodem isn't supported.  Not to pick on them in particular.
Other laptops with Linux pre-installed often have unsupported hardware
built-int.)  2.6.x seems to have better support for laptops, but then
you have bleeding edge software and hardware.  Not for the faint of
heart or those facing deadlines.

Just my $0.02USD,
  Jeffrey