6 ms·

Fold or not, what I want for a laptop is: A tablet with a matte screen. That can run Linux. So I can put it on a stand and a keyboard in front of it. That w

by TekMol 4y ago

Fold or not, what I want for a laptop is: A tablet with a matte screen. That can run Linux. So I can put it on a stand and a keyboard in front of it. That would be the ultimate travel setup! Working in cafes without having to look down all the time. Does something like this exist?

pjmlp 4y ago
Most likely only if packaged in ChromeOS or Android workloads, which isn't what you're asking for, but is what OEMs care about after the netbooks market vanished.
nixcraft 4y ago
Older Asus fold had many issues with Linux. In most cases, you can get headless mode working but forget about GUI. A better solution would be trying out System76, HPDevOne or Dell XPS dev edition for Linux desktop.
- sjamaan 4y ago
  The Purism Librem 14 isn't half bad either. Currently using it. Love the build quality of the case, matte screen and kill switches. Quality of the built-in speakers is not that great. Keyboard is acceptable. The trackpad is nice and big.
Dave3of5 4y ago
If you don't mind selling your soul to the devil, dell have a range that support linux. A newer brand that will run linux is the framework laptop that's my personal recommendation. As for the matte screen you can buy films for both of those that will make the screen matte. Here is the ones for the framework: https://viascreens.com/screen-protectors/framework/ https://viascreens.com/screen-protectors/framework/ You should note that mat screens generally sacrifice contrast and colour saturation. I suspect you won't be happy with any of this though as most hn commenters are extremely picky about these sorts of things.
spaceman_2020 4y ago
Just get a Thinkpad. They have all the features you want. They're not going to be as thing and light, but their keyboards are better than anything out there. The touchpad is iffy, but if you're using Linux (I use it too), your touchpad experience is going to be subpar anyway.
- falcor84 4y ago
  My 2 cents: get a model with a touchpoint - once you get used to it, it's amazing how efficient it is to quickly switch between mouse and keyboard.
- bogwog 4y ago
  I used to love Thinkpads until I started using laptops with displays that aren't dog shit. I can adapt to a bad keyboard, lack of trackpoint and bad touchpad, but a bad screen will always bother me.
  - smoldesu 4y ago
    This is especially a problem on the older models. Some Thinkpads are really excellent machines besides their unfortunate 720p, TN panels. Admittedly though, Lenovo seemed to get their act together on later laptops. My T460s has a matte 1080p display with 90%+ DCI P3 coverage, which is pretty good for a $300 used laptop.
  - opan 4y ago
    On the T440p you can swap in a screen from a Razer Blade. There are probably similar things you can do to other models.
  - nathanasmith 4y ago
    I ordered a 1080p screen and controller from Aliexpress for my trusty old Lenovo T420. Installed in about 30 minutes and worked perfectly. The difference in image quality versus the original crap panel is huge.
- TekMol 4y ago
  This is a misunderstaning. A Thinkpad does not let me take off the keyboard. That's why I want a tablet and a keyboard. So I can put the tablet on a stand and the keyboard in front of it.
leephillips 4y ago
I use the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 this way (other models run Linux well, also). However, the screen is not matte.
nailer 4y ago
Yes same here! *Everyone is making this manually*. I carry around a music stand, a keyboard and mouse. My laptop has a keyboard I never use. GIVE US A PORTABLE SCREEN PC THAT RAISES TO EYE LEVEL AND TAKE OUR MONEY.
weberer 4y ago
The PineTab, but its been sold out for quite a while.
- bluGill 4y ago
  Should be back in stock "soon"... Though I'm keeping an eye on the pipenote instead now - more powerful CPU. Instead of LCD it is epaper which as pros and cons for this use.
nvr219 4y ago
Dell XPS with Linux is great
nivenkos 4y ago
How would you use Linux when using it as a tablet though?
driverdan 4y ago
I have a Surface Pro 7 and it's great for this. It doesn't have a matte screen but does the rest of it well. I'm running PopOS on it and switch between the included keyboard and an external keyboard with it on a tablet arm.
emehrkay 4y ago
https://en.jingos.com/jingpad-a1/ https://en.jingos.com/jingpad-a1/ maybe. I doubt the screen is matte

by TekMol 4y ago

pjmlp 4y ago

Most likely only if packaged in ChromeOS or Android workloads, which isn't what you're asking for, but is what OEMs care about after the netbooks market vanished.

nixcraft 4y ago

Older Asus fold had many issues with Linux. In most cases, you can get headless mode working but forget about GUI. A better solution would be trying out System76, HPDevOne or Dell XPS dev edition for Linux desktop.

sjamaan 4y ago
The Purism Librem 14 isn't half bad either. Currently using it. Love the build quality of the case, matte screen and kill switches. Quality of the built-in speakers is not that great. Keyboard is acceptable. The trackpad is nice and big.

Dave3of5 4y ago

If you don't mind selling your soul to the devil, dell have a range that support linux. A newer brand that will run linux is the framework laptop that's my personal recommendation. As for the matte screen you can buy films for both of those that will make the screen matte. Here is the ones for the framework: https://viascreens.com/screen-protectors/framework/ https://viascreens.com/screen-protectors/framework/ You should note that mat screens generally sacrifice contrast and colour saturation. I suspect you won't be happy with any of this though as most hn commenters are extremely picky about these sorts of things.

spaceman_2020 4y ago

Just get a Thinkpad. They have all the features you want. They're not going to be as thing and light, but their keyboards are better than anything out there. The touchpad is iffy, but if you're using Linux (I use it too), your touchpad experience is going to be subpar anyway.

falcor84 4y ago
My 2 cents: get a model with a touchpoint - once you get used to it, it's amazing how efficient it is to quickly switch between mouse and keyboard.
bogwog 4y ago
I used to love Thinkpads until I started using laptops with displays that aren't dog shit. I can adapt to a bad keyboard, lack of trackpoint and bad touchpad, but a bad screen will always bother me.
- smoldesu 4y ago
  This is especially a problem on the older models. Some Thinkpads are really excellent machines besides their unfortunate 720p, TN panels. Admittedly though, Lenovo seemed to get their act together on later laptops. My T460s has a matte 1080p display with 90%+ DCI P3 coverage, which is pretty good for a $300 used laptop.
- opan 4y ago
  On the T440p you can swap in a screen from a Razer Blade. There are probably similar things you can do to other models.
- nathanasmith 4y ago
  I ordered a 1080p screen and controller from Aliexpress for my trusty old Lenovo T420. Installed in about 30 minutes and worked perfectly. The difference in image quality versus the original crap panel is huge.
TekMol 4y ago
This is a misunderstaning. A Thinkpad does not let me take off the keyboard. That's why I want a tablet and a keyboard. So I can put the tablet on a stand and the keyboard in front of it.

leephillips 4y ago

I use the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 this way (other models run Linux well, also). However, the screen is not matte.

nailer 4y ago

Yes same here! *Everyone is making this manually*. I carry around a music stand, a keyboard and mouse. My laptop has a keyboard I never use. GIVE US A PORTABLE SCREEN PC THAT RAISES TO EYE LEVEL AND TAKE OUR MONEY.

weberer 4y ago

The PineTab, but its been sold out for quite a while.

bluGill 4y ago
Should be back in stock "soon"... Though I'm keeping an eye on the pipenote instead now - more powerful CPU. Instead of LCD it is epaper which as pros and cons for this use.

nvr219 4y ago

Dell XPS with Linux is great

nivenkos 4y ago

How would you use Linux when using it as a tablet though?

driverdan 4y ago

I have a Surface Pro 7 and it's great for this. It doesn't have a matte screen but does the rest of it well. I'm running PopOS on it and switch between the included keyboard and an external keyboard with it on a tablet arm.

emehrkay 4y ago

https://en.jingos.com/jingpad-a1/ https://en.jingos.com/jingpad-a1/ maybe. I doubt the screen is matte