this post was submitted on 08 Nov 2023
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Linux on a 2in1 for Uni (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by Defaultplace@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Hello linix@lemmy, I got fixed on the idea of replacing my iPad with a 2in1 like the thibkpad X13 for uni since I use the keyboard with my iPad a lot. The only time I need to take handwritten notes is in chemistry, mathematics and to annotate PDFs. Does anyone here have experience with convertibles running Linux? What would be the best one for palm rejection and writing?

I was unable to find reviews on reasonably modern hardware. Until now I have my eyes set on an Thinkpad X13 since it is Ubuntu certified at least. Thanks :)

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[–] flashgnash@lemm.ee 14 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Don't get a Lenovo yoga they kinda suck

Not sure about the ThinkPad yogas, only used a non -thinkpad one but I'm sure someone will chime in

From what I hear, ironically enough the surface pros are pretty good for Linux

[–] rufus@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I happen to own one of the Thinkpad Yogas.

Both are entirely different product lines. Unless something changed in recent years. I like mine. And I've seen the ones without the ThinkPad branding in a store. They're cheap. But that's about it.

[–] Cralder@feddit.nu 8 points 1 year ago

I had a surface pro 4 with Linux for several years. The install process is a bit annoying since you need to get the custom surface kernel but other than that it worked great. I had a lot of issues with the hardware (unrelated to Linux), but I've heard that it has gotten better with the newer versions

[–] krash@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

Surface pros work, but they're not ideal for linux. Expect struggle during the installation, and be aware some parts of the hardware won't work.

[–] ShortN0te@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 year ago (3 children)

The thinkpad yogas (at least the models i worked with) work just fine with Linux (Except maybe the fingerprint reader but i never bothered to get it working).

When you need a software recommendation for handwriting/annotating then i strongly recommend xournal++. Imho the best there is and i prefer it over any windows application (onenote sucks balls). Have used it for 5-6 years now.

[–] AlijahTheMediocre@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

I have a 2-in-1 Lenovo Yoga 6 13" that I've installed Linux on. I've given up on the fingerprint reader working. The part manufacturer doesnt make drivers for Linux nor do they provide the necessary information for someone to make one themselves.

[–] cdk@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

I use a thinkpad x1 yoga 4th gen with Ubuntu 23.10. Works great. Palm rejection has given me a couple problems, but only sometimes... I have not had time to troubleshoot yet though. I tried xournal++ first but was very unhappy, then tried the snap version of onenote which was much worse and landed on Rnote. Rnote is great!

[–] the_tab_key@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I second a Thinkpad yoga. I've been using the x11 version for about a year now and it's fantastic. My fingerprint reader also works (kubuntu 23.04/10)

[–] Patch@feddit.uk 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Slightly sideways suggestion is the Star Labs Starlite, which is a tablet with detachable keyboard/touchpad stand. This might meet your requirements.

[–] Defaultplace@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I agree, this would be the perfect device. Sadly they didn't put a digitizer into the screen so thee is no stylus support apart from the capacitive ones.

[–] Patch@feddit.uk 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

If you're after something for digital art this probably isn't it, but for note taking and basic handwriting it should be alright. They sell a specific active stylus themselves, so it can't be too useless.

[–] shibbityshooby@feddit.uk 1 points 11 months ago

Another thing to consider is it might be worth getting a cheap $50 Wacom tablet to plug in for that, I’m running a non touch laptop and that’s what I’ve grown quite satisfied with however I mainly use it at home.

[–] rufus@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

are nice. Palm rejection for the touchscreen works fine on my Debian Linux, ThinkPad Yoga. I'm not sure if I configured it or it does that out-of-the-box. Keyboard and mouse seem to be deactivated by hardware once i fold it over.

If you're a nerd you could also learn LaTeX to take notes. I know a few people who got crazy fast typing maths that way. I didn't, took notes during a lecture with a pen and did quite some of my assignments with LaTeX.

[–] Defaultplace@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks for the comment, I use latex already for my reading notes but I'm too slow for the lectures. Also my profs like drawing a lot hahah.

[–] glasgitarrewelt@feddit.de 3 points 1 year ago

Drawing with tikz in real time would be a baller move!

[–] lynx@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

Thanks for suggesting RNote, i always use Xournal++ to take notes, but there are some problems and RNote seems to work much nicer with gestures. The only thing that i am missing is an option for saving pen configuration to easily switch between a black pen and a yellow marker.

[–] x3i@lemmy.x3i.tech 3 points 1 year ago

Running an HP Elite x360 1030 G2 since 2018 and an Elite Dragonfly since last year, both on Arch linux and Sway (recently Hyprland) with full touch and pen support. Can recommend both!

[–] SGHFan@lemdro.id 2 points 1 year ago

Rocking a Galaxy Book2 360. Can't adjust keyboard brightness, kernel parameter is needed for OLED backlight, and 3.5mm headphone jack doesn't work.

[–] tubbadu@lemmy.kde.social 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have a shitty hp 2in1 that really sucks, but for taking notes and annotate pdfs is good enough. In case you'll choose KDE as desktop environment check out this kwin script I wrote to get a tablet-like experience

[–] Defaultplace@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks, will check it out

[–] glasgitarrewelt@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago

I bought a Microsoft Surface Book 2 when I wasn't converted yet. BUT: now it kind of rules. There is a custom Linux Kernel for Surface devices, everything except the camera works now. That means especially: attach and detach the screen from the Keyboard and use the pen with all it's features.

I wouldn't buy a surface device now, because I don't want to support Microsoft. But if you find a Book 2 for cheap, this would be a possible solution to your search.

[–] Professor_Piddles@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

I have a Lenovo Yoga 6 13" that I've had a pretty good experience with. Screen rotation didn't work properly on Ubuntu 20.04 when I tried it back then, but I switched to Fedora 36 KDE, which worked great for over a year. I'm now on Debian 12 + KDE with an equally good experience. Fingerprint reader is not supported, but I didn't want to use it anyway.

[–] CaptainJack42@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 year ago

I used an acer switch 12 convertible during uni until the battery started bloating up and I put it out of order. The pen wasn't great, especially the palm rejection was pretty bad, but that wasn't a Linux issue it wasn't great on windows either, overall it was pretty much the same. Linux ran great though, given that it only had 3 or 4 gigs of ram and a low tier i3 (I think 3rd or 4th gen) processor. I ran mint with KDE and I'd recommend running something with KDE (or gnome haven't tried that since I prefer kde if it has to be a full DE and not a lightweight WM) as well.

[–] fart_pickle@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hardware wise dell xps 13 2-in-1 is a good choice. However folio is horrible, magnetic stand is way too weak and I still cannot figure out deep sleep/hibernation. Aslo fingerprint scanner doesn't work.

Another thing is that Linux is not the best choice for a touch device. I've tried gnome and kde and they both suck. I've also tried plasma mobile and it feels like nearly days of touch screens.

[–] 30021190@lemmy.cloud.aboutcher.co.uk 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

We have had the 13" 2in1 XPS and found Fedora and Stylus support to be good (once the drivers were available, the downside of getting a prerelease model).

We recommend our users to have xournal++ for handwriting support.

[–] fart_pickle@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I was using Rnote. It worked pretty well but I don't have a use case for stylus so it sits somewhere in a drawer

[–] steal_your_face@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Back in the day I used a surface pro 3 dual booting windows and linux. Linux didn’t have the drivers to support the pen back then so I used windows and one note for note taking.

[–] turkelton@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

Nice post !