Withdrawals? Missing Linux? Wha?? Well, I am now without Linux until I can
either fix, or replace my dual-boot laptop. I write this from the Windows OS
that I can use at work. At least (at work) I can "fake it" with my install of
Terminator riding atop "Cygwin".

The short version: 2 days ago, without warning, the hard drive in my dual-boot
Dell D600 up and died. Just like that. All I get now is sometimes some
click-clack sounds, or a silent drive - either way I get "Error 17" in Grub. New
documents made 2 days after last backup are (for the moment) inaccessible. I've
tried loading live PartedMagic on both Bootable CD and Bootable USB. Each fails
to get past the "Starting Raid Services..." I guess I'm hosed for now. Sigh.

So, I write to the community no so much for Linux command, application, or
general help, but a gentle push toward a Laptop vendor. I've already checked out
newegg but I don't know if they'll honor my requirements below.

Laptop, not netbook, but still lightweight/under 5 lbs. with screen size between
12" and 14". Also, will vendor let me customise and request certain software be
omitted and the HD to be partitioned to my liking??

A) I'm going to need a "windows" OS for users in family other than myself, and I
don't want any TRIALWARE. I also would like adequate drive space left untouched
so I can put Linux on it myself.

B) I want all this without voiding any Vendor warranty that usually gets voided
once you start mucking about with the partitions that THEY set up (meaning, the
machine rolls out with WINDOWS eating the whole drive until one gets in there
and sorts it out with GPARTED, or other.)

Yes, I know that these requirements may seem lofty, pie-in-the-sky or just plain
"not gonna happen" but hey, you never know.