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Best ultrabook for linux? [April 2013 edition]

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Re: Best ultrabook for linux? [April 2013 edition]

#21

Post by loxs »

cjbprime wrote: post #7
kstenson wrote: post #2

Have a look at the Zenbook UX32VD, http://zenbook.asus.com/zenbook/?c=prime_ux32 It's full HD 1080p IPS screen, switchable intel HD/ nvidia graphics, expandable RAM and HD. I've had one since November and find the keyboard and build quality to be excellent. Since I bought it I've upgraded the HD to a SSD and add a additional 8gb for ram to bring it up to 10gb total. Linux compatibility seems good http://www.linlap.co…

Also consider the UX32A [edit: I meant UX31A], which doesn't have switchable graphics (which don't work well under Linux anyway), has an SSD instead of an HDD (good), doesn't have upgradable RAM (bad), and is cheaper. Same screen on both.

Hmm, I can't seem to find a machine with these specs. Especially I can't find one with Full HD screen. Maybe because I am searching in European stores... (where I live)

On the other hand, I found a UX32VD with 2x256 GB SSDs. This is a little too much. Also I don't need the nVidia graphics card.

But in general, the Zenbook is probably my current favourite.

Re: Best ultrabook for linux? [April 2013 edition]

#22

Post by cjbprime »

loxs wrote: post #21
cjbprime wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also consider the UX32A [edit: I meant UX31A], which doesn't have switchable graphics (which don't work well under Linux anyway), has an SSD instead of an HDD (good), doesn't have upgradable RAM (bad), and is cheaper. Same screen on both.

Hmm, I can't seem to find a machine with these specs. Especially I can't find one with Full HD screen. Maybe because I am searching in European stores... (where I live) On the other hand, I found a UX32VD with 2x256 GB SSDs. This is a little too much. Also I don't need the nVidia graphics card. But in general, the Zenbook is probably my current favourite.

My mistake -- that should be UX31A.

Re: Best ultrabook for linux? [April 2013 edition]

#23

Post by richo »

loxs wrote: post #11
richo wrote: post #4

Dell just released their native-linux-running XPS: http://www.dell.com/Learn/us/en/555/campaigns/xps-linux-lapt... 1080p screen and you can assume the hardware works with linux.

My problem with Dell is that their keyboards usually suck. They are not that bad, but certainly worse than ThinkPads and MacBooks. Also, this actual model is more expensive than the Chromebook Pixel, and is arguably worse at every detail (except for the bigger SSD).

Portability goes a long way, and iirc it's a smaller form factor.

That said, I'm not sure that I'd choose it over the pixel either.

Re: Best ultrabook for linux? [April 2013 edition]

#25

Post by tehwalrus »

14113 wrote: post #18
octo_t wrote: post #14

Macbook Airs (or 13" MBP Retina) is (in my experience) the nicest choice for an ultrabook. - Installing Linux is really easy - Macbook Air isnt' full hd, but the retina is obviously better than full hd - they've all got SSDs - Macbook keyboards are amazing - my air will last for about 8-9 hours of light use (vim etc) between charges

I've been looking at getting a macbook air recently (because shiny), specifically to run linux on it. However, I couldn't find much about driver support for recent airs. How well does linux run on it? Is there much that doesn't work properly, or is there really great support for it?

I'd be interested in an answer to this too. Especially about support for multitouch gestures (that could be mapped to keyboard shortcuts, at least).

At the moment I use a debian VM inside OS X when I need to.

Re: Best ultrabook for linux? [April 2013 edition]

#26

Post by bmurphy1976 »

I currently run Ubuntu on a 2008 MacBook (runs near flawlessly) and a 2012 top of the line Dell Latitude (buggy as hell).

A lot of the responses here are along the lines of "I think you should look at this laptop", not "I have personally run this laptop and it works great."

I bring this up because my experience with the Dell which is otherwise the best laptop I have ever used and technically meets all the right specs has been dreadful.

My advice is to seek out answers from people who have actually done what you are trying to do and get some real world feedback. Also, if all else fails, I believe the shear volume of technically inclined people who own an Apple laptop compared to products from other companies should be taken into consideration.

Good luck and make sure whatever you get has a solid return policy!

Re: Best ultrabook for linux? [April 2013 edition]

#28

Post by loxs »

gambiting wrote: post #19
octo_t wrote: post #14

Macbook Airs (or 13" MBP Retina) is (in my experience) the nicest choice for an ultrabook. - Installing Linux is really easy - Macbook Air isnt' full hd, but the retina is obviously better than full hd - they've all got SSDs - Macbook keyboards are amazing - my air will last for about 8-9 hours of light use (vim etc) between charges

Does it really work that long with Linux? I have the 13" Air(2012 Ivy Bridge model) and while on Mac OS and only using Eclipse/XCode for work I never get it past 6 hours mark. But in any case, I honestly don't see many reasons why would I install Linux on it in favour of Mac OS. I can see why would I swap Windows for Linux,but I find myself able to do 99% of linux stuff on MacOS just fine. It's got the terminal, it's…

As I said in the first post, "why not MacOS" is not the question right now. Please, stick to the topic.

Re: Best ultrabook for linux? [April 2013 edition]

#29

Post by mvermaat »

I've had an Asus Zenbook Prime (1920x1080, 256GB SSD) for about half a year now and am generally very happy with it. I run Debian testing (with Linux 3.7.1 at the moment) and as far as I know everything works.

Compared to my girlfriend's Mcbook Air I have to charge the battery much more often, but I'm not sure if that's the hardware or the OS. Another minor nitpick is the rather high fan speeds it prefers, even with low temperatures. This makes a noticeable noise in a quiet environment (I don't hear the Air).

Keyboard is not great but ok (better than that of the older Zenbook), I love the screen (this resolution is new for me) and wrt size/weight/form factor/price it's pretty much equivalent to a Macbook Air.

As I said, I'm happy with it, and would probably buy it again. The only other model that made me just a tiny bit jealous is my colleague's Lenovo X1 Carbon, but it's quite expensive and wasn't available half a year ago.

HTH.

Re: Best ultrabook for linux? [April 2013 edition]

#30

Post by loxs »

bmurphy1976 wrote: post #26

I currently run Ubuntu on a 2008 MacBook (runs near flawlessly) and a 2012 top of the line Dell Latitude (buggy as hell). A lot of the responses here are along the lines of "I think you should look at this laptop", not "I have personally run this laptop and it works great." I bring this up because my experience with the Dell which is otherwise the best laptop I have ever used and technically meets all the right specs…

Yes, good points. Of course I value most answers from people with actual experience. But I'm also happy with answers of the kind like "see, manufacturer X is going to release model Y in 2 months"...

Same observations about Dell, except for the cheap class (which I don't want) which is extremely good for its price.

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