Any recommendation for a laptop with ubuntu (9.04 or above)?
Preferably a brand that will not force me to spend hours looking for drivers.
Any moderately modern laptop will do (<5 years old). Just burn an Ubuntu install CD, and install it. It’s just as easy as a Windows or Mac install. Use the latest, Ubuntu, 10.04. It’s really slick from installation to easy of use and a really slick default interface. I think this is the first version of Ubuntu that has essentially achieved parity with Mac and Windows in terms of user friendliness. I can almost guarantee you won’t have driver issues.
(I’ve performed 100’s of Linux installs in my time since the early 90’s.)
go here for some info - https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Testing/Laptop/Reports/DellStudio1555?highlight=(CategoryTestingReport) - scroll down to the testing/laptop section.
I think you will find that the basics work pretty much across the spectrum - so you will have keyboard, monitor, audio, usually some recording functionality. Now if you have anything really odd you are trying to do, you may need to dig around. Built in wireless still can be a bit tricky.
What type of drivers are you concerned about?
You could go with a vendor that pre-loads ubuntu. Dell sells some, I think HP sells one, and some little operations like system76 specialize in ubuntu laptops.
If you go a different way, here’s a list of “certified” laptops with 10.04 LTS http://webapps.ubuntu.com/certification/list/?release=10.04%20LTS&category=Laptop
Yes, HP sells their “Mini” with Ubuntu for 50 bucks less than the same unit with XP. I have the XP, and when needed, boot from a 9.04 install on USB stick that I carry. I’ve not asked anything from it other than to work what is on the laptop itself, so don’t know particular driver issues.