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Ask HN: Best current Linux-compatible laptop?

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

#111

Post by porlw »

Torgo wrote: post #102
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…

After 2 years my X220, which runs off battery for a couple of hours pretty much every day, reports it's at 74% or original capacity. This is with vanilla Ubuntu 12.04

Wasn't there a recall for some Thinkpad batteries a while back? Maybe you can get a replacement.

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

#112

Post by moist »

hyp0 wrote: post #59

NOT AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, but the chromebooks seem the best value-for-money laptops - and already have a linux distribution installed (ChromeOS). The Acer C720 has a Haswell dual-core and 2GB RAM - lower speced than your needs. There's the Pixel, I guess... (much higher speced).

There's also a 4GB RAM version of the C720 with a 32GB SSD.

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

#113

Post by kelseyfrancis »

janvidar wrote: post #9

I've used several ThinkPad x-series laptops in the past. My current machine is a Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition, which ships with Ubuntu pre-installed. Good battery life, excellent performance and nice size/weight - comparable to a 13" Macbook Air. You'll ned a mini-DP to HDMI/DVI converter cable though.

There's no official Linux version of the larger Dell XPS 15, but it's also a great choice if you need a little more power: quad-core i7, 16gb ram, 512gb ssd.

I recently installed Fedora 20 on it with no problems. I except Ubuntu 14.04 works well too.

All the hardware works out of the box. As usually, the proprietary NVIDIA drivers gave me fits, so I've just uninstalled them for now. Battery life is still good, as usually the Intel chip is used, even with an external monitor connected (unlike a MacBook Pro).

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

#114

Post by kelseyfrancis »

pan_sapien wrote: post #84

I'm currently using a Dell M3800 with Ubuntu 14.04. It works great for software development and 14.04 improved support for high DPI screens. Dell's Sputnik project seems to have worked out the kinks as I haven't had any problems with hardware support.

Have you been able to successfully use the proprietary NVIDIA drivers? That's the only thing I've had any trouble with at all (on the XPS 15). Otherwise, it's a really great machine.

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

#115

Post by mqsiuser »

TazeTSchnitzel wrote: post #47
mqsiuser wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a MBPR with the current Ubuntu. For non techies I'd say: Too hard (just use MacOS). For techies: No {, } and no @ (need to copy it from somewhere). I still prefer it over MacOS. Nice Hardware + dualboot with MacOS. I actually like it: It's slim, silent and feels great. The Metalcase can be cold sometimes. Retina-Dispay requires you to zoom in on webpages (Strg & "+"), but that works well. Can be a good choice…

Are you sure you are using the right keyboard layout?

Yeah, thanks the keyboard layout. Problems because it's a German MBPR: "Keyboard" -> "Text Entry" -> ...

@: alt + Q

{[]}: alt + 7890

Great nice :)

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

#116

Post by lugg »

pcx wrote: post #50
sergiosgc wrote: post #32

I'm definitely skewed towards Thinkpads, having carried one with me since '03 when I bought the first. My current laptop is an X1 carbon, and I can only say nice things about it. The only nitpick is that they messed the home/insert/end/Del key island. No problems whatsoever running Linux on it.

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.

I have an air and a t420 I've been planning on getting an x1 to replace the air. I've used the x1 and while the mouse pad feels extremely tacky to use I have a feeling its still going to work better and longer than the airs counterpart which is starting to do weird shit.

Lenovo often feels tacky if only because of their price constraints but what they offer for the price is usually an astonishingly solid build.

On the Linux compatibility side of things - most issues have work arounds on day one and full compat within a couple of months. I assume this is because of the heavy Linux following behind the think pad series.

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

#117

Post by lugg »

sandGorgon wrote: post #40
TobbenTM wrote: post #6

Most lenovo ThinkPads are certified to work with Ubuntu. And (for me at least) there are no better laptops out there. They should have all of your needs covered. I would suggest going for the T540. It's awesome.

I just upgraded (today!) to a Thinkpad T430S from a Dell Latitude E6410. I now have the ability to go to 16GB RAM and upgrade the processor as well. It is fully compatible with Linux and is one sexy 4.2 lbs laptop. the Tx30 is "theoretically" previous generation, but the problem with the current generation of Thinkpads is the touchpad without buttons which is very bad (not like the macbook) as well as the fact that s…

I would like to chime in and say, regarding ram slots and upgradeable, you just dont need that flexibility any more. Max out the ram on purchase and it will last you until you upgrade. Its very unlikely you'll be wanting for more than 16GB in 3 years.

While flexibility is always going to be a geek plus its sort of a thing of the past.

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

#118

Post by jamesjguthrie »

I really love my HP Chromebook 14. It comes with 4GB of RAM and the RAM is upgradeable. I've installed an Ubuntu chroot which had no issues with wifi/trackpad/etc. I'm on 13.10 but the new version is supported too. Everybody comments on its looks - I got the white one - and it was only ~£280.

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

#119

Post by rvijapurapu »

mello151 wrote: post #88
rvijapurapu wrote: post #12

I have been using HP Elitebook 8470p - everything works out of the box (Including the HSPA modem & suspend to ram).

I use one of these for work and always wondered how it'd fair with Linux. Do you use a docking station with it?

Yes, I do have a docking station.

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

#120

Post by nemasu »

natdempk wrote: post #107
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.

Hmm, I've got a UX32VD, makes me want to try it out, usually I don't bother with laptops.
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