Ask HN: Laptop for FreeBSD?

#1

Post by NhanH » Tue, Feb 03, 2015, 8:28 PM UTC

I'm thinking of replacing my current XPS 13 running Debian with a FreeBSD laptop. I'm looking for something with a nice screen (preferably better than 1080), and reasonable spec (the usual i5, 8GB+ Ram & SSD etc.). Is anyone currently using a FreeBSD laptop, or recommending one?

Re: Ask HN: Laptop for FreeBSD?

#2

Post by neduma » Tue, Feb 03, 2015, 8:38 PM UTC

How about Vagrant + FreeBSD in MacBook?

Re: Ask HN: Laptop for FreeBSD?

#3

Post by olgeni » Tue, Feb 03, 2015, 8:44 PM UTC

neduma wrote: post #2

How about Vagrant + FreeBSD in MacBook?

I have VirtualBox + FreeBSD stable/10 but things can get weird when disk load is high (IIRC some processes can get stuck in biowr).

Re: Ask HN: Laptop for FreeBSD?

#4

Post by davidw » Tue, Feb 03, 2015, 9:06 PM UTC

If this is as open as claimed, it should be easy to get FreeBSD running on it in short order:

https://www.crowdsupply.com/purism/librem-laptop

Downvoters - care to explain? Open hardware means it will work for everyone, which is pretty cool in my book.

Re: Ask HN: Laptop for FreeBSD?

#5

Post by worklogin » Tue, Feb 03, 2015, 9:20 PM UTC

davidw wrote: post #4

If this is as open as claimed, it should be easy to get FreeBSD running on it in short order: https://www.crowdsupply.com/purism/librem-laptop Downvoters - care to explain? Open hardware means it will work for everyone, which is pretty cool in my book.

Doesn't deserve a downvote, but it doesn't solve the "now" issue of the question.

Re: Ask HN: Laptop for FreeBSD?

#6

Post by sebcat » Tue, Feb 03, 2015, 9:21 PM UTC

I use FreeBSD on a Thinkpad x201, I really love it.

Newer thinkpads will probably be a bit problematic, or so I've heard. Currently on a zenbook w/ Linux because of problems related to UEFI boot.

Re: Ask HN: Laptop for FreeBSD?

#7

Post by octix » Tue, Feb 03, 2015, 9:22 PM UTC

neduma wrote: post #2

How about Vagrant + FreeBSD in MacBook?

It could be a shock to you, but not everyone loves Mac OS X. There are (imagine that) other OSs that have terminals too.

Oh snap! I must've stroke a chord. What did I say? I mean, he asks how to grill a steak, but some suggest how to cook brats.

Re: Ask HN: Laptop for FreeBSD?

#8

Post by ChuckMcM » Tue, Feb 03, 2015, 9:26 PM UTC

These guys: https://system76.com/laptops have laptops that will run either FreeBSD or Linux. I run Ubuntu on a Thinkpad T430s but looking to upgrade it to a Thinkpad T450s but I want to check out the keyboard first.

Re: Ask HN: Laptop for FreeBSD?

#9

Post by octix » Tue, Feb 03, 2015, 9:26 PM UTC

Does FreeBSD play nice with resolutions higher than 1080? I mean, I know linux still has issues and I always thought *BSD a re bit behind when it comes to Desktop experience.

I think you should look for a good linux laptop 1st and check for FreeBSD compatibility.

Re: Ask HN: Laptop for FreeBSD?

#10

Post by jseliger » Tue, Feb 03, 2015, 9:27 PM UTC

worklogin wrote: post #5

davidw wrote: post #4

If this is as open as claimed, it should be easy to get FreeBSD running on it in short order: https://www.crowdsupply.com/purism/librem-laptop Downvoters - care to explain? Open hardware means it will work for everyone, which is pretty cool in my book.

Doesn't deserve a downvote, but it doesn't solve the "now" issue of the question.

Unless I'm missing something, the OP doesn't mention the word "now," and the sentence "I'm thinking of replacing my current XPS 13 running Debian with a FreeBSD laptop" implies that time is not necessarily of the essence. The Libre Laptop proposes an April 2015 ship date, which is about two months from now; as such, it seems like a useful piece of information, and I in fact came into this thread expressly to link to it.