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Ask HN: I Want to have a small Linux laptop. What are my options?

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Ask HN: I Want to have a small Linux laptop. What are my options?

#1

Post by in9 »

Buy laptops to run Linux is a bit of fortune wheel. Usually older models have better support due to more developement time. Yesterday I saw an M2 MacBook air and the build seemed really nice. Great for travel. However those are expensive, and I love Linux.

What are some options with a similar feel? Good for travel, seems sturdy, and a nice screen? Samsung has a few options, but idk how's the Linux support on their models.

Re: Ask HN: I Want to have a small Linux laptop. What are my options?

#4

Post by AlexeyBrin »

I have an 11" Chromebook (Intel CPU) with the Linux extension enabled (you get a Debian VM), I can run any Linux program on it, even programs that require graphics. It is perfect for travel (battery is good for about 8 - 10 hours, depending on usage). If you decide to go on this route, make sure that you buy a supported machine (as in it will receive updates for at least a few years from now).

Re: Ask HN: I Want to have a small Linux laptop. What are my options?

#6

Post by vhodges »

I am quite happy with my 12th gen 13" Framework running NixOS. Everything I need seems to work out of the box (sleep/resume (not using hibernate though), Touchpad, camera, mic, etc) and seems quite stable.

The 13th Gen (w/i7 only?) has a bigger batter so battery life should be better (a chief concern for some - though I am almost always plugged in). The new version also has an option for a matte screen. There's also an option (coming) for an AMD based system (eg better iGPU).

Almost everything is repairable/replaceable... and in a year or three, when I want to upgrade to a newer/faster system, I know I'll be able too (the upcoming AMD MB is tempting but my machine is less than a year old and I can't justify the cost)

Re: Ask HN: I Want to have a small Linux laptop. What are my options?

#9

Post by dhruvmittal »

vhodges wrote: post #6

I am quite happy with my 12th gen 13" Framework running NixOS. Everything I need seems to work out of the box (sleep/resume (not using hibernate though), Touchpad, camera, mic, etc) and seems quite stable. The 13th Gen (w/i7 only?) has a bigger batter so battery life should be better (a chief concern for some - though I am almost always plugged in). The new version also has an option for a matte screen. There's also…

+1 on this, I've got a 11th gen 13" Framework running Archlinux. As with yours, everything works out of the box (and I do use hibernate). Waiting to see some reviews o the new AMD boards before I make the leap (hopefully sometime next year, or maybe the next AMD generation).
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