Certain laptops have found some more enthusiastic Linux users, than other models. This list is probably not comprehensive:
ThinkPad Configuration Tool for Linux tpctl
Mailing list linux-thinkpad.
Toshiba Linux Utilities This is a set of Linux utilities for controlling the fan, supervisor passwords, and hot key functions of Toshiba Pentium notebooks. There is a KDE package Klibreta, too.
See also Toshiba Linux Utilities
Mailing lists: linux-on-portege , Linux on Toshiba Satellite 40xx linux-tosh-40xx <majordomo@geekstuff.co.uk>.
Toshiba itself offers now Toshiba Linux Support.
COMPAQ Concerto Fan's Home Page and Aero-FAQ.
The latest version of the Linux Compaq Concerto Pen Driver is available from Joe Pfeiffer's home page.
Mailing list at linux-dell-laptops