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0 pointsjjoonathan5y ago0 comments

> GNU/Linux laptops

Could we do a roll call of experiences so I know which ones work and which ones don't? Here are mine.

    Dell Precision M6800: Avoid.
        Supported Ubuntu: so ancient that Firefox
        and Chrome wouldn't install without source-building
        dependencies.
        Ubuntu 18.04: installed but resulted in the
        display backlight flickering on/off at 30Hz.

    Dell Precision 7200:
        Supported Ubuntu: didn't even bother.
        Ubuntu 18.04: installer silently chokes on the NVMe
        drive.
        Ubuntu 20.04: just works.

0 comments

BanazirGalbasi5y ago

Historically, Thinkpads have had excellent support. My T430S is great (although definitely aging out), and apparently the new X1 Carbons still work well. Also, both Dell and Lenovo have models that come with Linux if desired, so those are probably good ones to look at.

jjoonathanOP5y ago

I'll have to look into modern thinkpads. I had a bad experience about ~10 years ago, but it wouldn't be fair to bring that forward.

> both Dell and Lenovo have models that come with Linux

Like the Dell Precision M6800 above? Yeah. Mixed bag.

anthony_barker5y ago

Have used linux on thinkpads since the 90s.

Rules of thumb: - Use older thinkpads off business lease is great - stick to intel video graphics - max out the ram and upgrade storage (NVMe)

mrj5y ago

Most companies wouldn't end up trying to shove a disk into a computer though, they would buy from a vendor with support and never have compatibility issues. I have owned 3 System76 computers for this reason...

jjoonathanOP5y ago

> they would buy from a vendor with support

Like the Dell Precision 6800 above? The one where the latest supported linux was so decrepit that it wouldn't install Firefox and Chrome without manually building newer versions of some of the dependencies?

"System76 is better at this than Dell" is valid feedback, but System76 doesn't have the enterprise recognition to be a choice you can't be fired for.

Maybe ThinkPads hit the sweet spot. I'll have to look at their newer offerings.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointsjjoonathan5y ago0 comments

> GNU/Linux laptops

Could we do a roll call of experiences so I know which ones work and which ones don't? Here are mine.

    Dell Precision M6800: Avoid.
        Supported Ubuntu: so ancient that Firefox
        and Chrome wouldn't install without source-building
        dependencies.
        Ubuntu 18.04: installed but resulted in the
        display backlight flickering on/off at 30Hz.

    Dell Precision 7200:
        Supported Ubuntu: didn't even bother.
        Ubuntu 18.04: installer silently chokes on the NVMe
        drive.
        Ubuntu 20.04: just works.

0 comments

BanazirGalbasi5y ago

jjoonathanOP5y ago

I'll have to look into modern thinkpads. I had a bad experience about ~10 years ago, but it wouldn't be fair to bring that forward.

> both Dell and Lenovo have models that come with Linux

Like the Dell Precision M6800 above? Yeah. Mixed bag.

anthony_barker5y ago

Have used linux on thinkpads since the 90s.

Rules of thumb: - Use older thinkpads off business lease is great - stick to intel video graphics - max out the ram and upgrade storage (NVMe)

mrj5y ago

jjoonathanOP5y ago

> they would buy from a vendor with support

"System76 is better at this than Dell" is valid feedback, but System76 doesn't have the enterprise recognition to be a choice you can't be fired for.

Maybe ThinkPads hit the sweet spot. I'll have to look at their newer offerings.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse