Hi, I am in the market for a notebook computer.  I have had good luck
with hp in the past.  I am looking at buying the ze4430us.  It has
512mb ram, 2400+ amd processor, wireless 54g, 40gb HD.  I currently
use mandrake linux.  I need to know if the ze4430us would be
compatible with mandrake linux?  I need to know what would likely work
out of the box, and what wouldn't?  For example would the onboard
wireless work?

I just searched the Mandrake Linux Hardware Database and this notebook
does not appear in the list. But a very similar one (ZE4130)appears
with the status "Know as working".
To see and compare the components of this laptop with your notebook
see the following page:
http://www.hp-expo.com/productpdfs/f5870h_uk_eng.pdf

Another sites to visit are: 
Linux on Laptops, in particular the HP page:
http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/hp.html


Linux On Mobile Computers, the HP page is:
http://www.tuxmobil.org/hp.html


This page tells you how to install Mandrake 9.0 in a Portable HP
pavilion ze4130:
http://www.linac.org/portable/

This page is in french, you can translate it using the Google language
tools, just copy the url in the Web Page box, select the translation
and click on the Translate button:
://www.google.com/language_tools


This is what I found, if it satisfy you as an answer please let me
know, if not may be this help another researcher to find the required
answer.
I will wait for your response.

Regards.
livioflores-ga

The ZE4130 is different from the ze4430us.  It lacks some of the newer
features.  Also Mandrake 9.1 is out and has added wi-fi and apci
support.  I would like to know in more detail what would likely work
and what would not.

After looking at the specs, I suspect everything will work except the
wireless adapter.  It is difficult to say for sure without knowing the
exact chipset, http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/archive/25/2003/06/4/67125
makes reference to the lack of wireless support for the 4330.  I
assume you will be in the same situation with nearly any 802.11g
hardware.  If you go with this, you may want to shell out the $$ for a
supported pcmcia or usb 802.11b adapter until drivers are released.