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Ask HN: Best current Linux-compatible laptop?

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Re: Ask HN: Best current Linux-compatible laptop?

#101

Post by DanBC »

jaseemabid wrote: post #4

As of now, I use a mac for the hw but the linux experience on this box is shitty. I installed archlinux, and still havent got the fonts right. Its so much strain on the eyes and I had to go back to mac.

I agree.

I'm using a 2009 MBP and the Linux experience is frustrating. (I'm not even dual booting)

It's fine if you enjoy tinkering with the system and finding different drivers and so on, and it's probably good as a learning experience. (WIFI doesn't work. Some models don't have ethernet. That's a fun and relatively easy puzzle to solve).

Re: Ask HN: Best current Linux-compatible laptop?

#102

Post by Torgo »

hadoukenio wrote: post #16

Ctrl+F ThinkPad. I guess the search count should show you something. I'm on a W530. It's a beast and everything works. And I'm talking Debian!

I have that same laptop. It uses the Nvidia optimus video architecture, I can't get that to work right, but I just use the Intel GPU and it works perfectly if you're not playing 3D games. The external displayport doesn't work out of the box for me, I have heard it doesn't work right but it might be an advanced configuration thing.

The fingerprint reader doesn't work, but you shouldn't use it anyway because it offers no real security.

The BIOS doesn't support booting off the sdcard or expresscard slot, which isn't a linux-specific problem, but is a giant pain in the ass.

edit: also adding, I bought it only maybe a year ago, and the battery is already at around 50% recharge capacity. I don't know if it's me or it's linux, but I only run Linux and it's torn through thinkpad and macbook (2008-ish) batteries.

Re: Ask HN: Best current Linux-compatible laptop?

#103

Post by ansible »

Galanwe wrote: post #20
hadoukenio wrote: post #16

Ctrl+F ThinkPad. I guess the search count should show you something. I'm on a W530. It's a beast and everything works. And I'm talking Debian!

ThinkPads USED to be good products. Lenovo killed it. the W530 is still good, but the W540 is a joke. The "Lenovo recommends Windows." at the top of Lenovo's website finished to convince me not to buy any TP anymore.

I got to try out a W520 recently. It seemed quite nice, and I like machines with a bigger screen but without the numeric keypad (which I generally have no use for). From my point of view, it is a shame the W540 now crams in the numeric keypad. I'd rather have a keyboard with full-sized keys (including shift, control, arrows, etc.) than have the more common cramped style seen with most 15.6" screen laptops.

Re: Ask HN: Best current Linux-compatible laptop?

#104

Post by rawland »

fgd wrote: post #31

I'm currently very happy with ThinkPad T440s. It covers all your requirements, comes with a FullHD panel (optional touchscreen) and double batteries. The only downside is the new Lenovo touch/clickpad. I got used to it, but it took me a while to figure out the settings which worked for me.

Same here! I like the T440s a lot and get 10h+ out of the double battery under heavy usage incl. WiFi and usable brightness with tlp and roughly the same at a low profile using the standard battery.

Clickpad fix, which feels good:

http://rscircus.org/post/72978821261/t440s-clickpad-fix-whic...

Decent power management:

http://rscircus.org/post/71103253232/linux-on-lenovos-thinkp...

Disclaimer: Wrote that myself to have a manual on how to setup it again in case my machine crashes.

Re: Ask HN: Best current Linux-compatible laptop?

#105

Post by theshadowmonkey »

I currently use ThinkPad T520. Its a bit heavy. But works smoothly with Fedora. I am looking to buy a T440s which looks awesome and is incredibly light for a thinkpad. I also run dual boot macbook pro. Both suit my needs well and have no problems getting them working.

Re: Ask HN: Best current Linux-compatible laptop?

#106

Post by sitkack »

jlgaddis wrote: post #94
hadoukenio wrote: post #16

Ctrl+F ThinkPad. I guess the search count should show you something. I'm on a W530. It's a beast and everything works. And I'm talking Debian!

> I'm on a W530. It's a beast and everything works. Same here: Quad-core i7, 32 GB RAM, 480 GB SSD + 500 GB SATA, 1920x1080. This thing is mostly going to waste. :(

My current machine only runs 16GB, I am very envious (jealous) of you. Doesn't that machine support 3 SATA devices, so you could run 2 SSD and I rotational drive?

I really could use a machine with 64GB.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7742/im-intelligent-memory-to-...

Re: Ask HN: Best current Linux-compatible laptop?

#107

Post by natdempk »

hpaavola wrote: post #19

I have Asus Zennbook UX31A (I got only 4 GB of ram, newer version have 8GB) and it works almost perfectly with Ubuntu 14.04 (and older, only thing that does not work is ambient light detector). At least here in Finland they cost about 1100 euros ( http://www.verkkokauppa.com/fi/product/36916/dnqkg/Asus-Zenb... ). While it does not have VGA output, it comes with HDMI->VGA adapter. See https://help.ubuntu.com/community…

+1 for Zenbooks. I have a UX32VD, with 12 GB RAM and an i7 and it runs all of the distros I've tried with minimal problems and setup. I've run different versions of Ubuntu and Arch on it with no real issues, and the battery life is decent for its weight and thickness as well. The 1080p screen in the small form factor is also really nice.

Re: Ask HN: Best current Linux-compatible laptop?

#108

Post by Pyrodogg »

ansible wrote: post #103
Galanwe wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

ThinkPads USED to be good products. Lenovo killed it. the W530 is still good, but the W540 is a joke. The "Lenovo recommends Windows." at the top of Lenovo's website finished to convince me not to buy any TP anymore.

I got to try out a W520 recently. It seemed quite nice, and I like machines with a bigger screen but without the numeric keypad (which I generally have no use for). From my point of view, it is a shame the W540 now crams in the numeric keypad. I'd rather have a keyboard with full-sized keys (including shift, control, arrows, etc.) than have the more common cramped style seen with most 15.6" screen laptops.

For all the configurable internal guts and how much people have issues with keyboard layout i wish manufacturers had options for the keyboard on their mid-high tier laptops.

Re: Ask HN: Best current Linux-compatible laptop?

#109

Post by eldelshell »

sergiosgc wrote: post #77
pcx wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've heard very good reviews for the X1 Carbon. The only cons are: 1)weird keyboard layout 2)low-quality mousepad. Except for that the X1 Carbon seems to be a perfect Linux laptop. My friend's running Arch and it's working like a breeze.

It has a chicklet type keyboard, not the ones you find on previous thinkpads. I like it better than the old ones. Layout-wise, it has the weird layout of the home/insert island, and a stupid positioning of the print screen key. Other than that it's standard qwerty. As for the trackpad, I'm not a good reviewer. I use the red trackpoint exclusively. My previous laptop (X61t) didn't even have a trackpad. Between the tra…

My wife has a new Lenovo and I despise the stupid annoying keyboard layout because of all you mentioned AND the freaking position of the FN key and that function keys are not anymore function keys.

Want to close a window? Press Fn + Alt + Mute Microphone... WTF?!?!!

At least their ESC key is one of the biggest I've seen, so a big win for viers.

Re: Ask HN: Best current Linux-compatible laptop?

#110

Post by porlw »

davb wrote: post #53
mercurial wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Other happy T430 user here. Great keyboard and trackpoint. The touchpad is meh, but you don't really need it with the trackpoint.

Yeah I don't use the touchpad most of the time either. With a huge SSD and plenty of RAM, the i7-3520M T430S gets the job done. I'm not entirely pleased with the screen quality, but perhaps I've been spoiled by the IPS display on my personal laptop (Dell XPS 13) and my desktop monitor (Samsung S24C750PS). My one complaint is that the keyboard isn't as robust as previous models. After only a few months I already have…

With my Thinkpads I always get the international on-site warranty - it's well worth paying a bit extra to have someone come to wherever you are to fix a problem.
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