Or just install Linux on any laptop made in the past 10 years.
this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2023
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Is it pretty seamless on a laptop you picked up from a retailer with Windows on it? Like in terms of picking right up and going after installing?
It is usually pretty seamless, but unfortunately some laptops may have some weird quirks or certain things which may not work and may require manual steps. Most common issues you might come across is with suspend/resume - it's either broken, or it may not resume properly or may crash etc. Other issues could include audio issues, or wifi issues.
This isn't generally a problem though with popular / "good" models, as these get picked up and fixed pretty quickly. The problem usually is with less popular models, or brand new models which haven't been tested yet by the wider Linux community.
Good models/brands include Thinkpads, mainstream Dells (especially the XPS series), mainstream HP (especially the EliteBook series) and Framework. Plus there are laptops which come with Linux out-of-the-box, as the ones by System76 and Star Labs. HP also have the Dev One, and Dell have the XPS Developer Edition.
In general, I'd recommend going for a full AMD system (CPU+GPU) because of their better integrated GPU performance, particularly on Linux. Unlike nVidia, you don't need to install any proprietary drivers for AMD GPUs, which increases system stability and reliability - especially when you update your system.
Fantastic; I've always loved Thinkpads with Windows so that's what I'm leaning to for Linux too.
Lenovo laptops generally work well with Linux but even your HP should run it fine.
However if you have the budget definitely get a machine from a dedicated Linux OEM like System 76, Tuxedo, Slimbook etc. That's also one in the UK who I can't remember. Just Google it.
Not just Lenovo. ThinkPads.
That's also one in the UK who I can't remember.
Starlite?
Planning on getting their new 2-in-1 Laptop
Entroware. Just heard it on a Linux podcast and it reminded me.
I see that Framework and System76 were already mentioned. I would add Slimbook and Tuxedo Computers to the list.
I was just in a market for a Linux laptop and I really wanted a Framework but it's not available in my country so I settled on Slimbook Executive 14 instead. I have it for around a month now and I'm very satisfied.
I've (almost) always had good experiences with Lenovo laptops, especially T-series or X1 Carbon.
my random acer works perfectly for me
Lenovo X1 Carbon
I've not had any trouble with HPs, burn a boot USB and boot a live distro and see if it works.
TBH I must have been lucky because the only linux hardware support grief I've had with laptops (a dozen all different brands) has been wifi cards/drivers. The one time I had that problem I coughed up the £20 and replaced the pcie wifi card with an Intel one.
Then again I don't try to make fingerprint readers work which apparently is a pain
ThinkPads are the de facto Linux laptop.
I am running the latest Debian on an ASUS Vivobook. I obtained the machine at COSTCO.