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> simply install Linux... What kind of hardware are you "simply install[ing] Linux" on? Was it really that simple? The reason I ask is because every single ti

> simply install Linux... What kind of hardware are you "simply install[ing] Linux" on? Was it really that simple? The reason I ask is because every single time I try to install Linux on actual hardware, it's a nightmare. Meanwhile, everywhere that I install Windows - it just works.

ubertaco 10y ago
Across five different desktop builds and two laptops, everywhere I've installed Linux has just worked (barring nicer power management features on the first laptop almost a decade ago).
- WayneBro 10y ago
  Sorry if my question came off as sarcastic - it wasn't. I love Linux, but I always have trouble getting it to run directly on hardware (mostly laptops). Did your laptops have dual graphics/Optimus (Nvidia+Intel)? Every spare laptop I've had includes Optimus and that's one issue I couldn't overcome and tried with various popular distros. I have one old IBM desktop workstation that I can install most Linux distros on without problems. It's usually laptops that I have a problem with and I asked because that's what I hear most working devs are using these days.
  - the_af 10y ago
    Indeed, GPUs (and Optimus and similar tech) are sometimes a pain point with Linux. Of course, this isn't a problem at the office, so my lowly Thinkpad works great and I don't have to worry about videogames :) At home, I've been using Linux exclusively for more than a decade now and I also use it for gaming. I had an HP Envy laptop with a Radeon GPU and it mostly worked, though there were glitches in some games. Recently it broke down so I bought a Lenovo Ideapad with an Nvidia GPU -- I know Nvidia is problematic on Linux, so I'll let you know how it goes ;)
miend 10y ago
Lenovo Thinkpad T-Series here, all hardware functional out of the box. Additionally, any Dell I've tried it on works just fine (XPS 13 has explicit support for it, too). In fact, in most cases it "just works" these days, but the range of hardware I attempt it on isn't great. I've had trouble with a low-end Toshiba of a friend's in the past, and even on the Thinkpad I'll sometimes have issues with rarer configurations - namely a complicated multi-display setup using the Lenovo dock/port replicator. It certainly isn't the Apple "don't make me think" experience I would love to present people with, but it's been far from a nightmare for years in my experience.
- the_af 10y ago
  > Lenovo Thinkpad T-Series here, all hardware functional out of the box Indeed! Lenovo Thinkpads in my company as well, and everything mostly "just works". There are also some Samsung Ultrabooks (I heard they have some trouble with the boot partition) and some poor quality local brand clones which break down if you stare at them too hard (but that's independent of the installed OS). The Thinkpads give no trouble. No idea why they're phasing them out. Cost savings maybe? :(
pritambaral 10y ago
As long as we're doing anecdotes, let me mention what a trouble it is every time I have to install Windows. On a model I have to use at work, which originally came with Windows 10, a fresh install of Windows simply fails to find any Wi-Fi network, can't handle touchpad scrolling, and the power hungry Nvidia graphics driver never shuts off, even when I tell the system to use the Intel driver. As I learned years ago with my experience putting OSes on shitty hardware: if you want your OS to run well, buy good hardware. Stayed away from Broadcom, Realtek, Lenovo Ideapads, Dell Inspirons etc. Bought a ThinkPad. Never had a problem with Linux on it.
- WayneBro 10y ago
  Yes, thanks - I was responding to an anecdote which was a response to an anecdote as well. It's anecdotes all the way up! Not sure what else we'll be able to find on HN...

ubertaco 10y ago

Across five different desktop builds and two laptops, everywhere I've installed Linux has just worked (barring nicer power management features on the first laptop almost a decade ago).

WayneBro 10y ago
Sorry if my question came off as sarcastic - it wasn't. I love Linux, but I always have trouble getting it to run directly on hardware (mostly laptops). Did your laptops have dual graphics/Optimus (Nvidia+Intel)? Every spare laptop I've had includes Optimus and that's one issue I couldn't overcome and tried with various popular distros. I have one old IBM desktop workstation that I can install most Linux distros on without problems. It's usually laptops that I have a problem with and I asked because that's what I hear most working devs are using these days.
- the_af 10y ago
  Indeed, GPUs (and Optimus and similar tech) are sometimes a pain point with Linux. Of course, this isn't a problem at the office, so my lowly Thinkpad works great and I don't have to worry about videogames :) At home, I've been using Linux exclusively for more than a decade now and I also use it for gaming. I had an HP Envy laptop with a Radeon GPU and it mostly worked, though there were glitches in some games. Recently it broke down so I bought a Lenovo Ideapad with an Nvidia GPU -- I know Nvidia is problematic on Linux, so I'll let you know how it goes ;)

miend 10y ago

Lenovo Thinkpad T-Series here, all hardware functional out of the box. Additionally, any Dell I've tried it on works just fine (XPS 13 has explicit support for it, too). In fact, in most cases it "just works" these days, but the range of hardware I attempt it on isn't great. I've had trouble with a low-end Toshiba of a friend's in the past, and even on the Thinkpad I'll sometimes have issues with rarer configurations - namely a complicated multi-display setup using the Lenovo dock/port replicator. It certainly isn't the Apple "don't make me think" experience I would love to present people with, but it's been far from a nightmare for years in my experience.

the_af 10y ago
> Lenovo Thinkpad T-Series here, all hardware functional out of the box Indeed! Lenovo Thinkpads in my company as well, and everything mostly "just works". There are also some Samsung Ultrabooks (I heard they have some trouble with the boot partition) and some poor quality local brand clones which break down if you stare at them too hard (but that's independent of the installed OS). The Thinkpads give no trouble. No idea why they're phasing them out. Cost savings maybe? :(

pritambaral 10y ago

As long as we're doing anecdotes, let me mention what a trouble it is every time I have to install Windows. On a model I have to use at work, which originally came with Windows 10, a fresh install of Windows simply fails to find any Wi-Fi network, can't handle touchpad scrolling, and the power hungry Nvidia graphics driver never shuts off, even when I tell the system to use the Intel driver. As I learned years ago with my experience putting OSes on shitty hardware: if you want your OS to run well, buy good hardware. Stayed away from Broadcom, Realtek, Lenovo Ideapads, Dell Inspirons etc. Bought a ThinkPad. Never had a problem with Linux on it.

WayneBro 10y ago
Yes, thanks - I was responding to an anecdote which was a response to an anecdote as well. It's anecdotes all the way up! Not sure what else we'll be able to find on HN...