Your best bet is to check the OS hardware compatibility lists at the software web site.
Mandrake Linux actually lists Maxdata as one of the manufacturers (but it does not show the 3100x as supported or not).
Redhat Linux does not list Maxdata under it's manufacturers at all.
If you were going to get a different Linux, you need to research from their site - your chances that someone here is running that laptop and Linux are probably slim.