new hardware

[Laura Eaves]

Hello --
I just got my new DecTalk in the mail today -- wasn't going to get a 
hardware synth, but from the posts on this list, I deecided it would be a 
good idea.
Anyway, now I need a machine and would like to get a laptop if possible, but 
wanted to get recommendations first.
Is it hard to run linux on a laptop? Are there any added complexities 
running it with speakup?
What about drivers for the particular hardware? If you aren't able to 
connect to the net wethout a driver, I assume the driver has to be 
downloaded on another pc and transfered by CD or floppy, but does it have to 
be compiled for linux, or is that below the OS level so that it will run 
with any OS?
Sorry for the dumb questions, but I am a relative newbie on administrative 
issues.
Thanks in advance.
--le