5 ms·

2 Weeks with Ubuntu Linux on the Dell XPS 13

35 points by dsego 8y ago

torrance 8y ago
My idea for Linux compatibility: the ‘community’ picks two or three laptops a year, and works in common to ensure they ‘just work’ on a range of (documented) Linux distros. Focusing our limited resources around so few hardware configurations would surely help in ensuring full and complete support, and for people looking to buy for Linux they provide assurance ahead of time.
- yjftsjthsd-h 8y ago
  This is seems much more cohesive then I think actually exists. Generally the way it works is that I try to make things suport the hardware that I actually own. If a bunch of people come together and decide that they want to support one model, then that's great, but if it's not the model that I already have that I'm not going to contribute.
ganeshkrishnan 8y ago
A really bad combination. I had more success with Asus machines than these xps. Few of the issues that you notice after regular use: The fingerprint reader is not supported on Linux. GPU is worse off than windows. Nvidia has horrible support, there is no auto mode to dynamically switch Keyboard typing is laggy Touchpad does not support Palm detection for accidental swiping while typing Overall not satisfied with Linux on xps for such a premium price
- symfoniq 8y ago
  Ubuntu 18.04 is pretty buggy on my Thinkpad P50, too (graphics problems, trackpad issues, poor battery life, no backlight adjustment, etc). And Gnome is just ridiculously slow compared to Windows and macOS. I’m still not sure there is a Linux laptop out there that just works.
  - richjdsmith 8y ago
    That is unfortunate to hear :/ I was seriously considering ditching MacOS on my next laptop and pick up a thinkpad carbon x1 with Ubuntu 18.04. Really hoping this improves.
    - symfoniq 8y ago
      Be aware that Lenovo has removed an ACPI sleep state from the 6th generation Carbon X1 that is causing sleep issues on Linux. There is a workaround but it looks pretty gnarly.
      - sofaofthedamned 8y ago
        AFAIK this is mandated by Microsoft for Windows compatibility. To support the latest s0i3 (hybrid sleep, like a smartphone) the machine is not allowed to support S3 (normal sleep) TBF Linux does support s0i3,but not as well as Windows. On my X1 Carbon (2018) I had to disable a whole lot of stuff as well as do some kernel command-line fiddling. Once I did this, however, it was better than Windows. I do boot into Windows on this laptop every month or so 'cos Windows Update. Each time the fans go crazy - I will say I never see the fans go like this in Linux. It's unbelievable that in 2018 just logging into a Windows box will make it go batshit insane and require multiple reboots before it settles down. It's these times I really appreciate apt/dnf/yum etc.
        dmm 8y ago
        It's a standard ACPI feature to provide different tables for different operating systems. Computer makers could have enabled S3 for anything not microsoft.
        sofaofthedamned 8y ago
        Yeah agreed it's a weak excuse, but from memory it's the one Lenovo used on their forum when asked about the issue.
    - 8y ago
- ht85 8y ago
  > Touchpad does not support Palm detection for accidental swiping while typing All large touchpads suffer from this under X11 / synaptics. Synaptics has a PalmDetect setting, but I find it absolutely terrible. The way I configure mine (XPS 15 9550) is by using the X11 config, which allows setting areas of the touchpad where you can't initiate a click or drag. Here is my config for the XPS 15: Section "InputClass" Identifier "touchpad catchall" Option "AreaLeftEdge" "1700" Option "AreaRightEdge" "5100" Option "MaxDoubleTapTime" "130" Option "SingleTapTimeout" "130" EndSection Any DragStart / MouseDown where (absolute X < AreaLeftEdge) or (absolute X > AreaRightEdge) will be ignored. To figure out the min / max coordinates of your touchpad, and where you want the zones to start / end, run "sudo evtest | grep ABS_X", select your touchpad device number and tap along the X axis. You can do the same with AreaTopEdge and Y coordinates if your palm is hitting the top of the touchpad.
  - bscphil 8y ago
    I thought pretty much everyone used syndaemon for disabling the touchpad while typing. Does your OS not install that by default?
    - ht85 8y ago
      I find it horrendous. Setting a static delay means that either you set it high and it'll feel incredibly sluggish when trying to move the cursor right after you type, and setting it low means that any pause while typing will cause palm interference. My solution doesn't have any arbitrary delay, and I haven't fat-palmed at all since I've found the right settings.
- prolikewh0a 8y ago
  >GPU is worse off than windows. Nvidia has horrible support, there is no auto mode to dynamically switch XPS 13 has no NVidia GPU's, and never has. I believe it has had upgraded Intel GPU, but never anything from NVidia. >Keyboard typing is laggy No issues here. I do live chat on it for my job on a daily basis. >Touchpad does not support Palm detection for accidental swiping while typing I haven't had a single laptop from multiple brands that worked with palm detection in Linux, they're all really bad. >Overall not satisfied with Linux on xps for such a premium price I run encrypted uefi Arch Linux and straight out of the box wireless works, all media keys work, audio works, keyboard backlight works, touchpad works great, touchscreen is accurate and I draw with a stylus in GIMP, nvme is just as fast as Windows, with tlp I achieve nearly 10 hours battery life on moderate brightness with 6-7 on full brightness. I can't really complain much. It's the best Linux laptop I've ever owned.
  - ganeshkrishnan 8y ago
    >XPS 13 has no NVidia GPU's, and never has. I believe it has had upgraded Intel GPU, but never anything from NVidia. I have an XPS 15 with Nvidia GPU and I assumed XPS 13 is just the smaller screen version. Nvidia driver versions are a hit and miss on XPS 15. The latest 396 version doesn't even startup and I had to do a clean reinstall of mint. And Gnome is a resource hog. I loved it but my XPS couldn't keep up with it's demands
lozf 8y ago
Previous discussion (earlier today) : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17586411 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17586411
oddity 8y ago
On the desktop, I've had an extremely positive experience using Ubuntu for the past few years. Honestly, at this point I find it easily a better desktop experience than Windows or macOS. However, I've so far stuck to macOS for my laptops and iOS for my other devices mostly because I tend to need more reliability for these (and a bit of my own bias). With how toy-ified iOS is and the progressively worse state (imo) of macOS-running hardware, I've started considering other options more seriously. Are there any tablet PCs that work well with Ubuntu?
- VonGuard 8y ago
  I'm in a similar place, with Mint on a desktop and laptop for some time now. The real issue is never on the desktop: it always runs fine. However, the laptop seems to have developed driver issues over time, to the point where the trackpad requires special care and feeding... The little nooks and crannies of laptop drivers remain the single reason I think Linux is so hard to get right on laptops. The successful users I know all have Thinkpads.
  - lykr0n 8y ago
    Linux is the OS I need to reinstall every few months. It's like where Windows was during 7. I think a big reason is that if version 0.1.0 installs a config file, version 0.9.3 won't override it- even if it has better defaults.
- dbetteridge 8y ago
  I've found the surface book + https://github.com/jakeday/linux-surface https://github.com/jakeday/linux-surface To work quite nicely, battery life is decent (6-8 hours with coding and web browsing usage). I'd think the Surface Pro would be similar.
H1Supreme 8y ago
Fwiw, my 13" Dell Inspiron 7000 runs Ubuntu Mate 18.04 as flawless as one can ask for. The Mate installer handled all the drivers, as well. I didn't have to install a thing manually. Touchpad works fine; haven't dealt with any palm rejection problems. Full disclosure, I have it docked most of the time. But, I've used the trackpad enough that I should have noticed any problems if they existed. I know XPS is default answer for new Linux laptops, but this Inspiron 7000 has been great so far. The one downside is battery life. It has a small battery, so I don't think it's going to work for people who require 8 hours of charge. I'm plugged in most of the time, so it's not been an issue in my case.
yani 8y ago
I have seen many people switch from MacOS to Linux nowadays. Not because MacOS is bad but because of the new line of Macbook Pro. Hackintosh is more difficult than it should be. Once Adobe products start to support linux, there will be an even better adoption.
- freedomben 8y ago
  I've seen this too. I think that the "just works" progress of Linux has been a factor here as well. Fedora especially has been rock-solid. I've helped several people set up new laptops, and Fedora is my go-to these days because it's "just works" is so good. Now that they have proprietary driver support built in through Gnome software, as well as some non-free stuff, the experience is great.
- scardine 8y ago
  > Once Adobe products start to support linux, there will be an even better adoption. Is this being considered at all? My wife is a professional designer that likes Krita but can't stand gimp/inkscape.
andrewmackrodt 8y ago
I had a very positive time with the EU XPS 13 Developer Edition (and enhanced i7 touchscreen model which ran Ubuntu fine too) a few years ago. At the time Dell only shipped the EU versions in 8 GB variants. I'm in the market for a new 13 or 14 inch machine and am split on a new MBP, Thinkpad or XPS 13. Apple seem to have the best offering in terms of what causes me the least amount of annoyances with hardware/OS integration but don't offer a 32GB laptop. I also would prefer to run Linux natively. It's a tough decision given the ~2,000 GBP cost. Edit: a couple of replies mention not liking the touchbar or keyboard in the new MBP line-up. I used a touchbar 13" model daily for ~6 months at my last full time and after a weeks usage grew to like the keyboard and love the touchpad. The touchbar was .. meh, even with BetterTouchTool to map my IDE shortcuts. Apple need to add haptic feedback to the touchbar IMO but I didn't find the lack of physical keys too hurtful to my workflow.
- jordanthoms 8y ago
  The latest generation of MBPs has a 32GB option.
  - zchrykng 8y ago
    And a horrible keyboard. So decidedly a mixed bag.
  - torstenvl 8y ago
    Not in a laptop, only in the folding desktop version. ;-)
  - mightykan 8y ago
    And a toy light bar whose brightness and duration cannot be controlled (which sucks precious battery life) and is an insult to the "Pro" name. Are there any serious options available?
    - threeseed 8y ago
      The battery life for the TouchBar MacBook Pro is almost identical to the non TouchBar version. And I am actually really surprised by all of the hate for TouchBar. If you use it with a tool like BetterTouchTool (which allows you to define shortcut sequences) it's really quite powerful. Once Apple brings the Shortcuts app to OSX you can be sure people will find it useful.
hackerbrother 8y ago
Anecdote: Lubuntu and Xubuntu have worked very well for me on a lower-end Dell Inspirion. I've had this same laptop for about 5 years now, and I think its trackpad is great.
tbrock 8y ago
The XPS13 is garbage. Sure the screen looks cool but at the end of the day it’s still a Dell. The quality is miserable and the support when it breaks is abominable. Get a thinkpad (x or t series) or Mac, you won’t regret it. Note: Dell if you are reading this I desperately want you to succeed here and provide another viable laptop option.
- prolikewh0a 8y ago
  Nonsense. XPS 13 is a wonderful laptop and their support is fantastic for not having stores placed in every city across the country. I work with Dell Support on a weekly basis, and they're just as good as Lenovo. 2018 models have also fixed any and all coil whine that was apparent on some older XPS 13's. It also works near flawlessly with almost any distro of Linux right out of the box, Lenovo's and Macs do not work nearly as well with Linux. I have a really hard time picking out issues with the XPS 13 other than normal failures at around the same failure rate as both Macs and Lenovo laptops.
- edoceo 8y ago
  I've been putting Gentoo and Xubuntu on ASUS gear for ages, great laptops for <$1000. Quality is good and cost is low enough it's an easy replacement compared to Thinkpad or Mac
- kabdib 8y ago
  I'm using an older Macbook Pro and an XPS-13 running Ubuntu these days. The XPS is fine; the trackpad isn't as good as the one on the Mac, nor is the UI as well done, but on the whole I have no complaints and certainly wouldn't classify it as "garbage".
- timrichard 8y ago
  No complaints about the build quality of my XPS13. Runs beautifully, too. Prior to that my Linux machine was a Thinkpad X60.
earenndil 8y ago
I wonder why it is that linux distros having centralized package management is seen as a good thing, but the windows store is reviled by all
- locusm 8y ago
  Linux informs you that an update is available. Windows doesn't care that you're in a call to a client, update all the things. That was on a Windows 10 build from a year ago, not sure if things have improved.
  - earenndil 8y ago
    Not the os updates, the application updates. And fwiw I use linux primarily and think it's overall much better; but I still think it's a bit curious.
  - prolikewh0a 8y ago
    Windows still doesn't care, it updates when it wants, even if you're in the middle of doing things. I was in the middle of my companies earnings report a few months ago and it popped up the "We're going to update in 5 minutes, please close everything" with no option to delay or cancel. It shut down and I missed a good 30 minutes while it was updating. Really good for productivity and work (/s). I am now fully Linux except on my gaming PC at home which is rarely even turned on.
- lykr0n 8y ago
  I can install any Repo i want and pull packages I want from there. Windows has a closed monopoly where you only have one choice, where I can use any Fedora/Ubuntu mirror I want (I can even make my own).
- maccam94 8y ago
  The Windows store has a single repository and it has fees and restrictions. On Linux, you can typically add many repositories to the package manager, so there's no lock-in.
- flukus 8y ago
hoosieree 8y ago
I had a similar "last straw" moment this morning and put Ubuntu 18.04 on the Minecraft/Netflix notebook. Very smooth install and having Minecraft as a 1-click install in the Snap store was a pleasant surprise compared to having to install Oracle's Java and/or find a ppa with the right configuration of Minecraft junk. Plus the LAN issues we were having with Minecraft have disappeared, and the trackpad response is better, and the fonts even seem crisper for some reason. BTW this is a $200 notebook with 2GB of ram and a 32GB emmc for storage. It didn't have enough free space to keep Windows 10 updated (even after removing Chrome, Minecraft, and assorted OEM bloatware). Now with Ubuntu (minimal install plus Minecraft) there is 20GB free.
known 8y ago
It's better to try Ubuntu with pendrive http://tuxtweaks.com/2014/03/create-linux-mint-persistent-live-usb/ http://tuxtweaks.com/2014/03/create-linux-mint-persistent-li...

35 points by dsego 8y ago

My idea for Linux compatibility: the ‘community’ picks two or three laptops a year, and works in common to ensure they ‘just work’ on a range of (documented) Linux distros. Focusing our limited resources around so few hardware configurations would surely help in ensuring full and complete support, and for people looking to buy for Linux they provide assurance ahead of time.

yjftsjthsd-h 8y ago
This is seems much more cohesive then I think actually exists. Generally the way it works is that I try to make things suport the hardware that I actually own. If a bunch of people come together and decide that they want to support one model, then that's great, but if it's not the model that I already have that I'm not going to contribute.

ganeshkrishnan 8y ago

A really bad combination. I had more success with Asus machines than these xps. Few of the issues that you notice after regular use: The fingerprint reader is not supported on Linux. GPU is worse off than windows. Nvidia has horrible support, there is no auto mode to dynamically switch Keyboard typing is laggy Touchpad does not support Palm detection for accidental swiping while typing Overall not satisfied with Linux on xps for such a premium price

symfoniq 8y ago
Ubuntu 18.04 is pretty buggy on my Thinkpad P50, too (graphics problems, trackpad issues, poor battery life, no backlight adjustment, etc). And Gnome is just ridiculously slow compared to Windows and macOS. I’m still not sure there is a Linux laptop out there that just works.
- richjdsmith 8y ago
  That is unfortunate to hear :/ I was seriously considering ditching MacOS on my next laptop and pick up a thinkpad carbon x1 with Ubuntu 18.04. Really hoping this improves.
  - symfoniq 8y ago
    Be aware that Lenovo has removed an ACPI sleep state from the 6th generation Carbon X1 that is causing sleep issues on Linux. There is a workaround but it looks pretty gnarly.
    - sofaofthedamned 8y ago
      AFAIK this is mandated by Microsoft for Windows compatibility. To support the latest s0i3 (hybrid sleep, like a smartphone) the machine is not allowed to support S3 (normal sleep) TBF Linux does support s0i3,but not as well as Windows. On my X1 Carbon (2018) I had to disable a whole lot of stuff as well as do some kernel command-line fiddling. Once I did this, however, it was better than Windows. I do boot into Windows on this laptop every month or so 'cos Windows Update. Each time the fans go crazy - I will say I never see the fans go like this in Linux. It's unbelievable that in 2018 just logging into a Windows box will make it go batshit insane and require multiple reboots before it settles down. It's these times I really appreciate apt/dnf/yum etc.
      - dmm 8y ago
        It's a standard ACPI feature to provide different tables for different operating systems. Computer makers could have enabled S3 for anything not microsoft.
        sofaofthedamned 8y ago
        Yeah agreed it's a weak excuse, but from memory it's the one Lenovo used on their forum when asked about the issue.
  - 8y ago
ht85 8y ago
> Touchpad does not support Palm detection for accidental swiping while typing All large touchpads suffer from this under X11 / synaptics. Synaptics has a PalmDetect setting, but I find it absolutely terrible. The way I configure mine (XPS 15 9550) is by using the X11 config, which allows setting areas of the touchpad where you can't initiate a click or drag. Here is my config for the XPS 15: Section "InputClass" Identifier "touchpad catchall" Option "AreaLeftEdge" "1700" Option "AreaRightEdge" "5100" Option "MaxDoubleTapTime" "130" Option "SingleTapTimeout" "130" EndSection Any DragStart / MouseDown where (absolute X < AreaLeftEdge) or (absolute X > AreaRightEdge) will be ignored. To figure out the min / max coordinates of your touchpad, and where you want the zones to start / end, run "sudo evtest | grep ABS_X", select your touchpad device number and tap along the X axis. You can do the same with AreaTopEdge and Y coordinates if your palm is hitting the top of the touchpad.
- bscphil 8y ago
  I thought pretty much everyone used syndaemon for disabling the touchpad while typing. Does your OS not install that by default?
  - ht85 8y ago
    I find it horrendous. Setting a static delay means that either you set it high and it'll feel incredibly sluggish when trying to move the cursor right after you type, and setting it low means that any pause while typing will cause palm interference. My solution doesn't have any arbitrary delay, and I haven't fat-palmed at all since I've found the right settings.
prolikewh0a 8y ago
>GPU is worse off than windows. Nvidia has horrible support, there is no auto mode to dynamically switch XPS 13 has no NVidia GPU's, and never has. I believe it has had upgraded Intel GPU, but never anything from NVidia. >Keyboard typing is laggy No issues here. I do live chat on it for my job on a daily basis. >Touchpad does not support Palm detection for accidental swiping while typing I haven't had a single laptop from multiple brands that worked with palm detection in Linux, they're all really bad. >Overall not satisfied with Linux on xps for such a premium price I run encrypted uefi Arch Linux and straight out of the box wireless works, all media keys work, audio works, keyboard backlight works, touchpad works great, touchscreen is accurate and I draw with a stylus in GIMP, nvme is just as fast as Windows, with tlp I achieve nearly 10 hours battery life on moderate brightness with 6-7 on full brightness. I can't really complain much. It's the best Linux laptop I've ever owned.
- ganeshkrishnan 8y ago
  >XPS 13 has no NVidia GPU's, and never has. I believe it has had upgraded Intel GPU, but never anything from NVidia. I have an XPS 15 with Nvidia GPU and I assumed XPS 13 is just the smaller screen version. Nvidia driver versions are a hit and miss on XPS 15. The latest 396 version doesn't even startup and I had to do a clean reinstall of mint. And Gnome is a resource hog. I loved it but my XPS couldn't keep up with it's demands

lozf 8y ago

Previous discussion (earlier today) : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17586411 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17586411

oddity 8y ago

On the desktop, I've had an extremely positive experience using Ubuntu for the past few years. Honestly, at this point I find it easily a better desktop experience than Windows or macOS. However, I've so far stuck to macOS for my laptops and iOS for my other devices mostly because I tend to need more reliability for these (and a bit of my own bias). With how toy-ified iOS is and the progressively worse state (imo) of macOS-running hardware, I've started considering other options more seriously. Are there any tablet PCs that work well with Ubuntu?

VonGuard 8y ago
I'm in a similar place, with Mint on a desktop and laptop for some time now. The real issue is never on the desktop: it always runs fine. However, the laptop seems to have developed driver issues over time, to the point where the trackpad requires special care and feeding... The little nooks and crannies of laptop drivers remain the single reason I think Linux is so hard to get right on laptops. The successful users I know all have Thinkpads.
- lykr0n 8y ago
  Linux is the OS I need to reinstall every few months. It's like where Windows was during 7. I think a big reason is that if version 0.1.0 installs a config file, version 0.9.3 won't override it- even if it has better defaults.
dbetteridge 8y ago
I've found the surface book + https://github.com/jakeday/linux-surface https://github.com/jakeday/linux-surface To work quite nicely, battery life is decent (6-8 hours with coding and web browsing usage). I'd think the Surface Pro would be similar.

H1Supreme 8y ago

Fwiw, my 13" Dell Inspiron 7000 runs Ubuntu Mate 18.04 as flawless as one can ask for. The Mate installer handled all the drivers, as well. I didn't have to install a thing manually. Touchpad works fine; haven't dealt with any palm rejection problems. Full disclosure, I have it docked most of the time. But, I've used the trackpad enough that I should have noticed any problems if they existed. I know XPS is default answer for new Linux laptops, but this Inspiron 7000 has been great so far. The one downside is battery life. It has a small battery, so I don't think it's going to work for people who require 8 hours of charge. I'm plugged in most of the time, so it's not been an issue in my case.

yani 8y ago

I have seen many people switch from MacOS to Linux nowadays. Not because MacOS is bad but because of the new line of Macbook Pro. Hackintosh is more difficult than it should be. Once Adobe products start to support linux, there will be an even better adoption.

freedomben 8y ago
I've seen this too. I think that the "just works" progress of Linux has been a factor here as well. Fedora especially has been rock-solid. I've helped several people set up new laptops, and Fedora is my go-to these days because it's "just works" is so good. Now that they have proprietary driver support built in through Gnome software, as well as some non-free stuff, the experience is great.
scardine 8y ago
> Once Adobe products start to support linux, there will be an even better adoption. Is this being considered at all? My wife is a professional designer that likes Krita but can't stand gimp/inkscape.

andrewmackrodt 8y ago

I had a very positive time with the EU XPS 13 Developer Edition (and enhanced i7 touchscreen model which ran Ubuntu fine too) a few years ago. At the time Dell only shipped the EU versions in 8 GB variants. I'm in the market for a new 13 or 14 inch machine and am split on a new MBP, Thinkpad or XPS 13. Apple seem to have the best offering in terms of what causes me the least amount of annoyances with hardware/OS integration but don't offer a 32GB laptop. I also would prefer to run Linux natively. It's a tough decision given the ~2,000 GBP cost. Edit: a couple of replies mention not liking the touchbar or keyboard in the new MBP line-up. I used a touchbar 13" model daily for ~6 months at my last full time and after a weeks usage grew to like the keyboard and love the touchpad. The touchbar was .. meh, even with BetterTouchTool to map my IDE shortcuts. Apple need to add haptic feedback to the touchbar IMO but I didn't find the lack of physical keys too hurtful to my workflow.

jordanthoms 8y ago
The latest generation of MBPs has a 32GB option.
- zchrykng 8y ago
  And a horrible keyboard. So decidedly a mixed bag.
- torstenvl 8y ago
  Not in a laptop, only in the folding desktop version. ;-)
- mightykan 8y ago
  And a toy light bar whose brightness and duration cannot be controlled (which sucks precious battery life) and is an insult to the "Pro" name. Are there any serious options available?
  - threeseed 8y ago
    The battery life for the TouchBar MacBook Pro is almost identical to the non TouchBar version. And I am actually really surprised by all of the hate for TouchBar. If you use it with a tool like BetterTouchTool (which allows you to define shortcut sequences) it's really quite powerful. Once Apple brings the Shortcuts app to OSX you can be sure people will find it useful.

hackerbrother 8y ago

Anecdote: Lubuntu and Xubuntu have worked very well for me on a lower-end Dell Inspirion. I've had this same laptop for about 5 years now, and I think its trackpad is great.

tbrock 8y ago

The XPS13 is garbage. Sure the screen looks cool but at the end of the day it’s still a Dell. The quality is miserable and the support when it breaks is abominable. Get a thinkpad (x or t series) or Mac, you won’t regret it. Note: Dell if you are reading this I desperately want you to succeed here and provide another viable laptop option.

prolikewh0a 8y ago
Nonsense. XPS 13 is a wonderful laptop and their support is fantastic for not having stores placed in every city across the country. I work with Dell Support on a weekly basis, and they're just as good as Lenovo. 2018 models have also fixed any and all coil whine that was apparent on some older XPS 13's. It also works near flawlessly with almost any distro of Linux right out of the box, Lenovo's and Macs do not work nearly as well with Linux. I have a really hard time picking out issues with the XPS 13 other than normal failures at around the same failure rate as both Macs and Lenovo laptops.
edoceo 8y ago
I've been putting Gentoo and Xubuntu on ASUS gear for ages, great laptops for <$1000. Quality is good and cost is low enough it's an easy replacement compared to Thinkpad or Mac
kabdib 8y ago
I'm using an older Macbook Pro and an XPS-13 running Ubuntu these days. The XPS is fine; the trackpad isn't as good as the one on the Mac, nor is the UI as well done, but on the whole I have no complaints and certainly wouldn't classify it as "garbage".
timrichard 8y ago
No complaints about the build quality of my XPS13. Runs beautifully, too. Prior to that my Linux machine was a Thinkpad X60.

earenndil 8y ago

I wonder why it is that linux distros having centralized package management is seen as a good thing, but the windows store is reviled by all

locusm 8y ago
Linux informs you that an update is available. Windows doesn't care that you're in a call to a client, update all the things. That was on a Windows 10 build from a year ago, not sure if things have improved.
- earenndil 8y ago
  Not the os updates, the application updates. And fwiw I use linux primarily and think it's overall much better; but I still think it's a bit curious.
- prolikewh0a 8y ago
  Windows still doesn't care, it updates when it wants, even if you're in the middle of doing things. I was in the middle of my companies earnings report a few months ago and it popped up the "We're going to update in 5 minutes, please close everything" with no option to delay or cancel. It shut down and I missed a good 30 minutes while it was updating. Really good for productivity and work (/s). I am now fully Linux except on my gaming PC at home which is rarely even turned on.
lykr0n 8y ago
I can install any Repo i want and pull packages I want from there. Windows has a closed monopoly where you only have one choice, where I can use any Fedora/Ubuntu mirror I want (I can even make my own).
maccam94 8y ago
The Windows store has a single repository and it has fees and restrictions. On Linux, you can typically add many repositories to the package manager, so there's no lock-in.
flukus 8y ago

hoosieree 8y ago

I had a similar "last straw" moment this morning and put Ubuntu 18.04 on the Minecraft/Netflix notebook. Very smooth install and having Minecraft as a 1-click install in the Snap store was a pleasant surprise compared to having to install Oracle's Java and/or find a ppa with the right configuration of Minecraft junk. Plus the LAN issues we were having with Minecraft have disappeared, and the trackpad response is better, and the fonts even seem crisper for some reason. BTW this is a $200 notebook with 2GB of ram and a 32GB emmc for storage. It didn't have enough free space to keep Windows 10 updated (even after removing Chrome, Minecraft, and assorted OEM bloatware). Now with Ubuntu (minimal install plus Minecraft) there is 20GB free.

known 8y ago

It's better to try Ubuntu with pendrive http://tuxtweaks.com/2014/03/create-linux-mint-persistent-live-usb/ http://tuxtweaks.com/2014/03/create-linux-mint-persistent-li...