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Lenovo Selling Linux Laptops Directly in the US

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Re: Lenovo Selling Linux Laptops Directly in the US

#71

Post by hef19898 »

raffraffraff wrote: post #44
winrid wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I got an X1 Extreme, went to switch the graphics from Hybrid to Discreet in the BIOS to install Linux, and immediately bricked it. It was a bug. No reset can fix it. They have to replace the motherboard. They had it four months before I finally got them to just replace the machine.

Their entire graphics setup on the X1 and P1 laptops is atrocious, and I've definitely bitched about it here before. Basically, you can't turn off GPU without loosing the external HDMI, so you need to leave it on if you use an external monitor. But that eats battery. And you can't easily turn the GPU on/off whenever you "go mobile" - it requires an Xorg restart. There's some software crap you can do (Bumblebee? Primu…

Honestly, I bought my X1 Extreme Gen2 explicitly for the Nvidia GPU. Having had trouble to get multiple external monitors to work, along the integrated display, I run it basically since day one with the Intel GPU deactivated in Bios. My understanding is that, besides the fingerprint reader, dual GPUs are the main problem regarding Linux on that machine. If so, I don't care. Not that I had the time trying it out so yet.

Re: Lenovo Selling Linux Laptops Directly in the US

#72

Post by neverminder »

Lenovo is still far away from Dell in this regard. None of Lenovo's top of the line Thinkpad workstations allow you to choose Ubuntu. The example you've sent has Ubuntu 18.04 which is over 3 years old and not the latest LTS version. It's a pathetic half-assed attempt from Lenovo and they're gonna have to do a lot better if they want to get in to Linux laptop market.

Re: Lenovo Selling Linux Laptops Directly in the US

#73

Post by reirob »

winrid wrote: post #14
young_unixer wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the only thing stopping me from buying an X1 Carbon. I had decided to buy a Dell Latitude instead, but apparently Dell did something similar [1], so now I don't know what to buy. Maybe a Huawei? AFAIK they haven't been caught in these shenanigans yet, but I still don't feel comfortable with them for some reason. God, the laptop market is awful. [1] https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/11/superfish-20-now-dell-.…

I got an X1 Extreme, went to switch the graphics from Hybrid to Discreet in the BIOS to install Linux, and immediately bricked it. It was a bug. No reset can fix it. They have to replace the motherboard. They had it four months before I finally got them to just replace the machine.

Same happened to me. They had to come twice, first time repare service came they had the wrong motherboard. Worst ever laptop ordering experience I had in my life, after more than 20 years of Thinkpad usage. Still sitting on the X1E Gen 1 - afraid to order a new one. I would absolutely like to go to another brand, does anyone have a suggestion? My requirements are:

1) Optimal Linux support (no Nvidia please)

2) Best possible US layout keyboard, centred, i.e. NO numpads

3) Trackpoint with physical buttons below, optimally 3, could live with 2

4) At least 15 inch screen, bright enough to work outside, and as good as possible to the eyes.

5) Option for 64 GB RAM or more

6) Option for 4 TB SSD or more

7) As much autonomy on battery as possible, as few noise and heat as possible.

8) Nice to have, but not crucial, would be repairability and extendability.

I don't care much about CPU power and prefer less power to heat and throttling. So if somebody has any suggestions, I would be very glad.

Re: Lenovo Selling Linux Laptops Directly in the US

#74

Post by badjeans »

young_unixer wrote: post #12
gentleman11 wrote: post #10

Can’t trust them since the multiple spyware incidents. Fool me four times, shame on me Eg, > But it did more than that. It injected a self-signed root HTTPS certificate, which allowed them to hijack any and all encrypted traffic Different incident > This malware was hidden in the laptop's firmware, and abused the anti-theft feature in Windows 8 and 10. Whenever the laptop booted up, the executable would be extracted…

This is the only thing stopping me from buying an X1 Carbon. I had decided to buy a Dell Latitude instead, but apparently Dell did something similar [1], so now I don't know what to buy. Maybe a Huawei? AFAIK they haven't been caught in these shenanigans yet, but I still don't feel comfortable with them for some reason. God, the laptop market is awful. [1] https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/11/superfish-20-now-dell-.…

I have a Huawei matebook x pro and I would highly recommend it. Great build quality and 3:2 screen.

Re: Lenovo Selling Linux Laptops Directly in the US

#75

Post by MrPatan »

young_unixer wrote: post #12
gentleman11 wrote: post #10

Can’t trust them since the multiple spyware incidents. Fool me four times, shame on me Eg, > But it did more than that. It injected a self-signed root HTTPS certificate, which allowed them to hijack any and all encrypted traffic Different incident > This malware was hidden in the laptop's firmware, and abused the anti-theft feature in Windows 8 and 10. Whenever the laptop booted up, the executable would be extracted…

This is the only thing stopping me from buying an X1 Carbon. I had decided to buy a Dell Latitude instead, but apparently Dell did something similar [1], so now I don't know what to buy. Maybe a Huawei? AFAIK they haven't been caught in these shenanigans yet, but I still don't feel comfortable with them for some reason. God, the laptop market is awful. [1] https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/11/superfish-20-now-dell-.…

If spyware concerns keep you from Lenovo and you then consider Huawei.... I don't know, man.

Re: Lenovo Selling Linux Laptops Directly in the US

#76

Post by f6v »

microtonal wrote: post #31

I had a ThinkPad T14 AMD, which is Linux-certified by Lenovo. If you are used to the warts of Linux on laptops, it is quite ok. However, coming from MacBooks, the experience was comparatively bad. Pros: - The CPU fan on the Ryzen 7 Pro 4750U is not very loud. - You can easily add more memory (bumped up mine to 32GB RAM). - You can easily replace the SSD (replaced mine by 1TB) and there is M.2 slot for WWAN which can…

> I enabled S3 sleep (Linux compatibility), but the laptops drains the batteries like crazy in sleep. 1-2 days in a backpack and it's dead.

84hrs off power and 45% remaining on MBA. I can't go back.

> - Battery life on Linux is ok-ish (typically 6 hours with light use), but nowhere near an M1 Mac (or even an Intel Mac).

To be fair, my 2019 Intel MBP barely survived 6 hours.

Re: Lenovo Selling Linux Laptops Directly in the US

#77

Post by erik »

reirob wrote: post #73
winrid wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I got an X1 Extreme, went to switch the graphics from Hybrid to Discreet in the BIOS to install Linux, and immediately bricked it. It was a bug. No reset can fix it. They have to replace the motherboard. They had it four months before I finally got them to just replace the machine.

Same happened to me. They had to come twice, first time repare service came they had the wrong motherboard. Worst ever laptop ordering experience I had in my life, after more than 20 years of Thinkpad usage. Still sitting on the X1E Gen 1 - afraid to order a new one. I would absolutely like to go to another brand, does anyone have a suggestion? My requirements are: 1) Optimal Linux support (no Nvidia please) 2) Best…

If a trackpoint is a hard requirement then you have very few options to choose from.

Re: Lenovo Selling Linux Laptops Directly in the US

#78

Post by ekianjo »

remuskaos wrote: post #28
young_unixer wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the only thing stopping me from buying an X1 Carbon. I had decided to buy a Dell Latitude instead, but apparently Dell did something similar [1], so now I don't know what to buy. Maybe a Huawei? AFAIK they haven't been caught in these shenanigans yet, but I still don't feel comfortable with them for some reason. God, the laptop market is awful. [1] https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/11/superfish-20-now-dell-.…

Have you considered a Framework? frame.work, mostly open, modular laptop

No official Linux for Framework yet. While its certainly possible to install it.

Re: Lenovo Selling Linux Laptops Directly in the US

#79

Post by ekianjo »

gentleman11 wrote: post #10

Can’t trust them since the multiple spyware incidents. Fool me four times, shame on me Eg, > But it did more than that. It injected a self-signed root HTTPS certificate, which allowed them to hijack any and all encrypted traffic Different incident > This malware was hidden in the laptop's firmware, and abused the anti-theft feature in Windows 8 and 10. Whenever the laptop booted up, the executable would be extracted…

This only concerned Windows and non thinkpads from Lenovo. Dont spread FUD.

Re: Lenovo Selling Linux Laptops Directly in the US

#80

Post by ekianjo »

Joff wrote: post #20
young_unixer wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the only thing stopping me from buying an X1 Carbon. I had decided to buy a Dell Latitude instead, but apparently Dell did something similar [1], so now I don't know what to buy. Maybe a Huawei? AFAIK they haven't been caught in these shenanigans yet, but I still don't feel comfortable with them for some reason. God, the laptop market is awful. [1] https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/11/superfish-20-now-dell-.…

The Framework laptop seems to be a safe purchase. Even though the company is still young, all the reviews are praising it.

No Linux support yet. Which is a real shame. If you sell an open laptop Linux should be the first OS you support.
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