5 ms·

For the past 20 years I have been only using Thinkpad from the T and the X series. The only one with an issue was I think the X220 with the SD card reader not b

by Loic 4y ago

For the past 20 years I have been only using Thinkpad from the T and the X series. The only one with an issue was I think the X220 with the SD card reader not being stable. All the other ones are working perfectly well. My current one is a T480. But I always take some time to look if somebody succeed in installing Linux on the laptop I want to buy before. If it means I need to wait an extra 6 months, then I wait a bit.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
mid-kid 4y ago
I kind of expected the A485 to have similar issues to the T480, since it's the same laptop except for the cpu and graphics. I did some preliminary searching and the listing of the laptop as "ubuntu certified" gave me too much confidence, I guess. I forgot to mention in the parent post that the SD card reader can't detect insertion/removal at times, yeah, so I have a script to reload the rtsx_pci_sdmmc kernel module to force it to recheck.
- bluedino 4y ago
  Being an AMD instead of Intel, the motherboard is different which means the whole laptop is different.
- ldng 4y ago
  The A485 has really terrible support ! To the point I'm wondering if Lenovo didn't do it on purpose ... Very disappointed with mine to this day. Time definitely did not improve support.
a-dub 4y ago
same. it's been rock solid on thinkpads because thinkpads are some of the strongest pc laptops and as such have been popular (and well supported by) oss developers.
- autoexec 4y ago
  old IBM Thinkpads were pretty solid, but now they're made by Lenovo who has a long history of shipping devices pre-infested with malware and backdoors, usually in exchange for money. They've even been caught stuffing malware into UEFI so that users reinstalling their OS would be infected over and over again. However nice their laptops are, I could never trust them. They have already proved that they are perfectly willing to compromise your security and privacy to line their own pockets. All the builtin radios, cameras, microphones, and sensors in modern laptops make them ideal for stealing your private data. I already have an untrusted cell phone, I want my personal laptop to be something I can feel comfortable keeping my data on. Because I can't personally audit every chip, that means I need some level of trust, and Lenovo has demonstrated over and over and over again that they cannot be trusted.
  - petra 4y ago
    What laptops brands do you buy? Why?
    - autoexec 4y ago
      Right now I'm liking System76. Expensive, but I like that they come with linux working out of the box. They're specifically designed/tested to work well with linux so no worries about the hardware not being supported. Like many other companies they are basically selling re-branded laptops made by the Taiwanese company Clevo. I still can't audit every chip in them, but at least I don't have clear documentation of repeated abuses (so far). System76 is looking into making their own hardware now too so I'm really looking forward to seeing what they come up with in-house.
      - EFreethought 4y ago
        I got a Meerkat mini desktop 6 months ago, and I love it. They do make their own desktops and minis now. I think they use Clevo for laptops, and those do get more complaints here on HN than the desktops (but I think the consensus is they are getting better). They have more laptop models, so making their own would be a huge task.
daliusd 4y ago
X230 meanwhile requires turning some exotic feature in BIOS if you want suspend to work properly
- andrewshadura 4y ago
  I don't think it does, maybe only some builds, as my X230 worked with no issues and no extra settings anywhere.
  - daliusd 4y ago
    Maybe it was turned off on your device https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-laptop-and-netbook-25/how-i-solved-suspend-hibernation-and-poweroff-issues-with-my-lenovo-x230-4175673862/ https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-laptop-and-ne...

by Loic 4y ago

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

mid-kid 4y ago

I kind of expected the A485 to have similar issues to the T480, since it's the same laptop except for the cpu and graphics. I did some preliminary searching and the listing of the laptop as "ubuntu certified" gave me too much confidence, I guess. I forgot to mention in the parent post that the SD card reader can't detect insertion/removal at times, yeah, so I have a script to reload the rtsx_pci_sdmmc kernel module to force it to recheck.

bluedino 4y ago
Being an AMD instead of Intel, the motherboard is different which means the whole laptop is different.
ldng 4y ago
The A485 has really terrible support ! To the point I'm wondering if Lenovo didn't do it on purpose ... Very disappointed with mine to this day. Time definitely did not improve support.

a-dub 4y ago

same. it's been rock solid on thinkpads because thinkpads are some of the strongest pc laptops and as such have been popular (and well supported by) oss developers.

autoexec 4y ago
old IBM Thinkpads were pretty solid, but now they're made by Lenovo who has a long history of shipping devices pre-infested with malware and backdoors, usually in exchange for money. They've even been caught stuffing malware into UEFI so that users reinstalling their OS would be infected over and over again. However nice their laptops are, I could never trust them. They have already proved that they are perfectly willing to compromise your security and privacy to line their own pockets. All the builtin radios, cameras, microphones, and sensors in modern laptops make them ideal for stealing your private data. I already have an untrusted cell phone, I want my personal laptop to be something I can feel comfortable keeping my data on. Because I can't personally audit every chip, that means I need some level of trust, and Lenovo has demonstrated over and over and over again that they cannot be trusted.
- petra 4y ago
  What laptops brands do you buy? Why?
  - autoexec 4y ago
    Right now I'm liking System76. Expensive, but I like that they come with linux working out of the box. They're specifically designed/tested to work well with linux so no worries about the hardware not being supported. Like many other companies they are basically selling re-branded laptops made by the Taiwanese company Clevo. I still can't audit every chip in them, but at least I don't have clear documentation of repeated abuses (so far). System76 is looking into making their own hardware now too so I'm really looking forward to seeing what they come up with in-house.
    - EFreethought 4y ago
      I got a Meerkat mini desktop 6 months ago, and I love it. They do make their own desktops and minis now. I think they use Clevo for laptops, and those do get more complaints here on HN than the desktops (but I think the consensus is they are getting better). They have more laptop models, so making their own would be a huge task.

daliusd 4y ago

X230 meanwhile requires turning some exotic feature in BIOS if you want suspend to work properly

andrewshadura 4y ago
I don't think it does, maybe only some builds, as my X230 worked with no issues and no extra settings anywhere.
- daliusd 4y ago
  Maybe it was turned off on your device https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-laptop-and-netbook-25/how-i-solved-suspend-hibernation-and-poweroff-issues-with-my-lenovo-x230-4175673862/ https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-laptop-and-ne...