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Ask HN: Linux Laptop for Workstation

My work will be giving me a tech bonus to get myself a laptop. I’d prefer something preloaded with Linux of some type, so the system 76 stuff looks good. What else is out there that I should look at? Not a gamer.

mraza007 5y ago
I would suggest checking out dell xps developer edition they are pretty good. I have been using mine for about 4 years now It works like a charm very solid build quality
necovek 5y ago
Thinkpads are also commonly available with Linux preloaded, though you might need to call instead of relying on the website.
daviddever23box 5y ago
+1 on Dell XPS (or Mobile Precision), though I wouldn’t get hung up on pre-loaded Linux; latest Ubuntu is generally full-featured on driver support. Razer Blade 13 and Book 13 both work well for vanilla Ubuntu install (Intel Tiger Lake-U).
elviejo 5y ago
https://kfocus.org/ https://kfocus.org/ their laptop specs are amazing..
quantumofalpha 5y ago
Thinkpad X series / X1 Carbon / X1 Nano May or may not come preloaded with Linux, I wouldn't trust what they'd put on it anyway. Easy to install any Linux distribution you want and stuff generally just works out of the box.
- necovek 5y ago
  I'd be wary of just blanket supporting them (saying as someone having X1 Carbon 5th/6th/7th gen in the house): they always get there eventually, but 6th gen in particular required ACPI table patching to re-enable traditional S3 sleep (iow, suspend didn't work). Lenovo officially patched BIOS only a year or so down the line.
necovek 5y ago
Dell's preloads: https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/overview/cp/linuxsystems https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/overview/cp/linuxsystem... Lenovo: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/d/linux-laptops-desktops?sort=sortBy&currentResultsLayoutType=grid https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/d/linux-laptops-desktops?sort=s... I personally hated the original Dell XPS13 Ubuntu's keyboard (loved the laptop otherwise, though the higher resolution screen was very reflective).
GianFabien 5y ago
I would suggest a current top spec ChromeBook. Once you put them into developer mode, you can run Crostini on current machines and Crouton on older systems. I have been using Crouton for years and it makes for a light, fast enough for me, system that runs all day on batteries.
- schwartzworld 5y ago
  Check out GalliumOS too, an Ubuntu distro optimized for Chromebooks. I use it on a 6 year old Asus and it's fine.
znpy 5y ago
I'd consider the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro, if anything for the very good display. See for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1wcU8BD0cQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1wcU8BD0cQ
neilsimp1 5y ago
I haven't used it, but the Librem 14 is getting a good reception from what I've been seeing. https://puri.sm/products/librem-14/ https://puri.sm/products/librem-14/
nnnhhh 5y ago
Tuxedo Pulse 15 = Schenker Via 15 Pro = MECHREVO Code 01 = TongFang PF5NU1G

mraza007 5y ago

I would suggest checking out dell xps developer edition they are pretty good. I have been using mine for about 4 years now It works like a charm very solid build quality

necovek 5y ago

Thinkpads are also commonly available with Linux preloaded, though you might need to call instead of relying on the website.

daviddever23box 5y ago

+1 on Dell XPS (or Mobile Precision), though I wouldn’t get hung up on pre-loaded Linux; latest Ubuntu is generally full-featured on driver support. Razer Blade 13 and Book 13 both work well for vanilla Ubuntu install (Intel Tiger Lake-U).

elviejo 5y ago

https://kfocus.org/ https://kfocus.org/ their laptop specs are amazing..

quantumofalpha 5y ago

Thinkpad X series / X1 Carbon / X1 Nano May or may not come preloaded with Linux, I wouldn't trust what they'd put on it anyway. Easy to install any Linux distribution you want and stuff generally just works out of the box.

necovek 5y ago
I'd be wary of just blanket supporting them (saying as someone having X1 Carbon 5th/6th/7th gen in the house): they always get there eventually, but 6th gen in particular required ACPI table patching to re-enable traditional S3 sleep (iow, suspend didn't work). Lenovo officially patched BIOS only a year or so down the line.

necovek 5y ago

Dell's preloads: https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/overview/cp/linuxsystems https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/overview/cp/linuxsystem... Lenovo: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/d/linux-laptops-desktops?sort=sortBy&currentResultsLayoutType=grid https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/d/linux-laptops-desktops?sort=s... I personally hated the original Dell XPS13 Ubuntu's keyboard (loved the laptop otherwise, though the higher resolution screen was very reflective).

GianFabien 5y ago

I would suggest a current top spec ChromeBook. Once you put them into developer mode, you can run Crostini on current machines and Crouton on older systems. I have been using Crouton for years and it makes for a light, fast enough for me, system that runs all day on batteries.

schwartzworld 5y ago
Check out GalliumOS too, an Ubuntu distro optimized for Chromebooks. I use it on a 6 year old Asus and it's fine.

znpy 5y ago

I'd consider the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro, if anything for the very good display. See for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1wcU8BD0cQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1wcU8BD0cQ

neilsimp1 5y ago

I haven't used it, but the Librem 14 is getting a good reception from what I've been seeing. https://puri.sm/products/librem-14/ https://puri.sm/products/librem-14/

nnnhhh 5y ago

Tuxedo Pulse 15 = Schenker Via 15 Pro = MECHREVO Code 01 = TongFang PF5NU1G