Best Ultrabook for Linux?

#1

Post by chashaz » Sun, Mar 18, 2012, 2:16 PM UTC

Hello,

I'm a programmer and I'm looking for some recommendations as to what type of Ultra-book I should buy for myself. I use Sabayon Linux (Gentoo based) and I would mainly use an ultra-book for programming and perhaps some light gaming.

I'm looking for hardware that is fully supported / compatible on Linux & I'm interested in hearing more about your suggestions.

Kindly note that I'm willing to make sacrifices regarding hardware incompatibilities with stuff like fingerprint reader, etc. as long as most stuff works fine on Linux.

Also I'm on a limited budget so I would prefer if the ultra-book doesn't come with a high price tag.

Thanks.

Re: Best Ultrabook for Linux?

#2

Post by traxtech » Sun, Mar 18, 2012, 2:32 PM UTC

The Lenovo ThinkPad X220 is really great, and it's also Ubuntu certified since a long time (10.10) so it should be okay with others distros.

Re: Best Ultrabook for Linux?

#3

Post by LarryMade » Sun, Mar 18, 2012, 2:35 PM UTC

Well most of the issue I have with Linux is graphics compatibility, that being said, I'd recommend any with an nVidia GPU over one with an ATI one. With that you will certainly have a much better experience.

Re: Best Ultrabook for Linux?

#4

Post by bergie » Sun, Mar 18, 2012, 2:42 PM UTC

MacBook Air (I have an early 2011 11" with Ubuntu and GNOME3) works pretty well, though sometimes I have issues connecting to WiFi access points that work fine on my other Linux devices.

Some notes about the setup: http://bergie.iki.fi/blog/11-macbook_air-the_best_computer_i...

Re: Best Ultrabook for Linux?

#5

Post by MattSkeptic » Sun, Mar 18, 2012, 2:45 PM UTC

bergie wrote: post #4

MacBook Air (I have an early 2011 11" with Ubuntu and GNOME3) works pretty well, though sometimes I have issues connecting to WiFi access points that work fine on my other Linux devices. Some notes about the setup: http://bergie.iki.fi/blog/11-macbook_air-the_best_computer_i...

How much battery life do you get with that setup?

Re: Best Ultrabook for Linux?

#6

Post by ghost91 » Sun, Mar 18, 2012, 2:46 PM UTC

traxtech wrote: post #2

The Lenovo ThinkPad X220 is really great, and it's also Ubuntu certified since a long time (10.10) so it should be okay with others distros.

also the battery life beats any ultrabook

Re: Best Ultrabook for Linux?

#7

Post by k_bx » Sun, Mar 18, 2012, 2:47 PM UTC

Since this is a notebook-thread, I would be interested in 15" thin and beauty notebooks for linux. They are not ultrabooks because of 15" screen, but I really can't stand Thank you.

Re: Best Ultrabook for Linux?

#8

Post by orlandu63 » Sun, Mar 18, 2012, 2:49 PM UTC

LarryMade wrote: post #3

Well most of the issue I have with Linux is graphics compatibility, that being said, I'd recommend any with an nVidia GPU over one with an ATI one. With that you will certainly have a much better experience.

On the contrary I suggest either Intel or ATI graphics because unlike nVidia, Intel and ATI actually contribute to their open source drivers.

Re: Best Ultrabook for Linux?

#9

Post by bergie » Sun, Mar 18, 2012, 2:50 PM UTC

MattSkeptic wrote: post #5

bergie wrote: post #4

MacBook Air (I have an early 2011 11" with Ubuntu and GNOME3) works pretty well, though sometimes I have issues connecting to WiFi access points that work fine on my other Linux devices. Some notes about the setup: http://bergie.iki.fi/blog/11-macbook_air-the_best_computer_i...

How much battery life do you get with that setup?

Used to be 3-4 hours, now after a year slightly worse.

Re: Best Ultrabook for Linux?

#10

Post by pmjordan » Sun, Mar 18, 2012, 2:50 PM UTC

LarryMade wrote: post #3

Well most of the issue I have with Linux is graphics compatibility, that being said, I'd recommend any with an nVidia GPU over one with an ATI one. With that you will certainly have a much better experience.

Nit-pick: the "Ultrabook" brand specifically means an Intel CPU with built-in GPU. Even outside the brand, there aren't many laptops with that form factor with a non-Intel GPU these days.

Having said that, for window compositing the open-source radeon drivers seem to work fine as long as you don't go for a bleeding-edge chip.[1] For games, the proprietary nvidia drivers are likely better and might be worth the extra hassle (but realistically, booting into Windows is less hassle and gives a bigger choice of games... Also, realistically, you won't get a powerful 3D chip in a thin & light laptop).

[1] I've never tried the open-source nouveau drivers for nvidia chips; they have apparently been improving in leaps and bounds.