Over the past few years, Linux has migrated out of the machine room and onto the desktop, even the laptop. Like Linux on servers, Linux on personal computers offers speed, reliability, and a host of varied, powerful, and sophisticated applications. But where the desktop is quite commonplace, laptops are still a niche, and most Linux distributions aren't tailored to users on-the-go with a finite power supply and wireless connections.

This article provides ten useful "power tools" for using Linux in a mobile environment. It includes mobile how-to's and tricks and configuration tips for creating a mobile Linux you can rely on. So, break out your cell phone, wireless card, suitcase, and briefcase. It's time to get unplugged.

If you run Linux on your desktop, you know that it's fast, reliable, and gets jobs done quickly. However, that performance comes with a price: electrical power.

On the desktop, electrical power is hardly ever an issue: your desktop or disk-side computer -- with its fast processor, feature-rich motherboard, and peripherals -- is plugged into the wall, and your flat screen display and other devices are plugged in separately. There's no shortage of power.

However, on your laptop, power is a precious, limited resource that must be shared between all components. Indeed, if you've ever tried to do anything complex on your laptop while running on battery, you've no doubt run into real longevity limitations.

Out of the box, most Linux distributions are configured to operate on machines with an unlimited supply of power. So, to use Linux in a mobile environment, you've got to make a few tweaks and take advantage of the many tools available to manage and conserve power.

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Very indepth article on getting Linux configured on your laptop. Certainly there are some hardware restrictions. In that case, contact the manufacturer and log a complaint. Only when customers complain enough for Linux support will it be granted.