Ask HN: What are the best Linux-based laptops? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What are the best Linux-based laptops?

#11

Post by sadanapalli » Sat, Mar 01, 2014, 8:27 AM UTC

trouserpants wrote: post #2

Are you aware that you can install a Linux distribution on just about any hardware? System76 are OK, I've never been wowed by them. Realistically, I would just go with a Thinkpad, unbeatable keyboard and great build quality (though lately Lenovo has been messing up on both of those)

Yes, I am aware of that. I am talking about things just working out of the box. It depends on which linux distro you use. I am not talking about just installing linux here.

There are choices - Fedora, Ubuntu, Mint, OpenSuse etc. and each distribution differs in user interface and the hardware support (graphic cards/wifi/bluetooth etc.). So far, Ubuntu seems to have a slight upper hand on hardware compatibility.

Re: Ask HN: What are the best Linux-based laptops?

#12

Post by niftylettuce » Sat, Mar 01, 2014, 8:39 AM UTC

http://niftylettuce.com/posts/linux-mint-ubuntu-nodejs-hacke...

Re: Ask HN: What are the best Linux-based laptops?

#13

Post by lsiebert » Sun, Mar 02, 2014, 12:21 AM UTC

I use a ThinkPad. Mine is a t530, and a good balance of the things I want. 16gb ram and a discrete video card are nice.

Best is vague. Best bang for your buck? Best ultra portable? Best workstation? Best battery life?

Re: Ask HN: What are the best Linux-based laptops?

#14

Post by yuhong » Sun, Mar 02, 2014, 3:47 AM UTC

trouserpants wrote: post #2

Are you aware that you can install a Linux distribution on just about any hardware? System76 are OK, I've never been wowed by them. Realistically, I would just go with a Thinkpad, unbeatable keyboard and great build quality (though lately Lenovo has been messing up on both of those)

I'd prefer vendors that care about Linux and will fix firmware bugs etc that affect them.

Re: Ask HN: What are the best Linux-based laptops?

#15

Post by thaweatherman » Sun, Mar 02, 2014, 5:23 PM UTC

lbarrett wrote: post #6

I got the Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition. I like it.

Same here. It's been solid so far for me!

Re: Ask HN: What are the best Linux-based laptops?

#16

Post by jamespcole2 » Tue, Mar 04, 2014, 7:17 AM UTC

I have owned a couple of System76 machines and they have always been pretty good, I currently have the Darter and I have no complaints.

If you want something small and portable my Asus X202E works well.

Re: Ask HN: What are the best Linux-based laptops?

#17

Post by drill_sarge » Wed, Mar 05, 2014, 1:14 AM UTC

If you want some 100% no issues working, just get something with Intel CPu and GPU. Although the free Radeon drivers are pretty good now too. Avoid some kind of integrated GPU+extra discrete chip combination. Otherwise there isn't really anything special to worry about or to buy a special "built for Linux" machine (which I consider marketing bullshit).