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Ask HN: Best linux laptop right now?

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Re: Ask HN: Best linux laptop right now?

#81
post #54
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's may be too 'new' of a computer in Debian userland, although I'm probably wrong.

I'm using the driver versioned at 2:2.99.917 from backports, although I see that unstable has added stuff from a recent git branch. Still, if apparently I'm using the latest released driver, shouldn't that be enough?

Have you tried removing the Intel graphics drivers? Based on "It is probably time to ditch xf86-video-intel[1]" I removed the intel drivers from a debian machine and an Arch machine and things have become more stable for me.

1: https://www.reddit.com/r/archlinux/comments/4cojj9/it_is_pro...

Re: Ask HN: Best linux laptop right now?

#82
post #80

I've got a Dell Precision 5510 with supported Ubuntu that's been good to me so far. I had to argue with a keymapping or two, but it's been solid otherwise.

I dual boot (on its own ssd) with a Dell Precision m6600 and it is amazing. Only issue is it is a workstation with tons of power, quality built in that makes it a concrete slab on your lap. The power supply is a brick.

Re: Ask HN: Best linux laptop right now?

#83

My Asus UX305 (I have the previous Broadwell based model) was able to install Ubuntu with no extra configuration. The battery life, storage, and matte IPS screen are excellent and the device is extremely thin and light. The overall build quality is comparable to the MacBook Air but it costs half as much. The trackpad works very well. I bought it a few months ago for $600 from the Microsoft Store (irony acknowledged).…

Came here to say that. I have Ubuntu running on a UX305CA and it works phenomenally well. You do have to update the kernel out of the box or the touchpad wont work.

Re: Ask HN: Best linux laptop right now?

#85
post #78

I have a Dell Chromebook 13. Basically it is a Macbook Pro that happens to run Linux really well. I have used Thinkpads X (200, 201, 220) in the past, then switched to Chromebook C720, then this. After you install John Lewis' ROM (basically a Coreboot build), it is an absolute dream, and everything worked out of the box, wifi, bt, 3d acceleration, suspend/resume, audio jack detection, you name it. Trackpad is really…

Acer c720 owner here - people tend to mock chromebooks all the time as glorified web browsers.

To some extend, that's true. Most things I do that aren't development related are done on a web browser. It's absolutely perfect for that. Starts up extremely quickly, very light, long battery, lovely.

For very occasional dev purposes, I simply used crouton, which works insanely well. I can even use sshfs and go back to ChromeOS and have the drive still mounted. Highly recommend the c720, or whatever is the more recent equivalent.

Re: Ask HN: Best linux laptop right now?

#86
post #80

I've got a Dell Precision 5510 with supported Ubuntu that's been good to me so far. I had to argue with a keymapping or two, but it's been solid otherwise.

I also have installed Ubuntu on an old Vaio and that has more than enough power/space and it is comparable to a mac for usability.

Re: Ask HN: Best linux laptop right now?

#89

My general advice would be to check the Arch wiki ( https://www.archlinux.org/ ), whether you intend to run Arch or not. It's a pretty good indicator to determine how much support you're going to get with the laptop and whether things generally work as they're supposed to. For example, here's the page for my laptop: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Dell_XPS_13_%282015%29

I have written this elsewhere (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11492941), but I caution everyone away from the 13 DE and go with the Precision instead (15"). I could dig up the litany of Dell Forum posts I wrote and responded to for my XPS 13DE (9343), but it would be time consuming. They eventually sorted it out, but the issue isn't the Sputnik team, its the hardware in the 13" XPS. The Precision M3800 has better hardware suited for Linux (Intel vs. Broadcom wireless for example).

Also the Precision has thunderbolt...absolute must if you want a reasonable docking solution under Linux.

Also consider: https://system76.com/

Their stuff has been rock solid for me.

Re: Ask HN: Best linux laptop right now?

#90
post #84

I have a Dell XPS 13, and it's great! High resolution screen, works well out of the box, light, compact, looks good.

I've had two generations of the Dell XPS 13 as well as a Thinkpad X1 Carbon. The Dell XPS 13 is the better of the two, hands-down.
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