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I recently bought a laptop and got to go through this (Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro). It came with Windows installed, as most non-Mac laptops do. I spent the first
by dgunay 2y ago
I recently bought a laptop and got to go through this (Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro).
It came with Windows installed, as most non-Mac laptops do. I spent the first 2 hours letting Windows Update and the OEM's proprietary firmware downloader run. The laptop got so hot just installing shit that it began to burn my lap. The whole time, Windows was throwing ads in my face and shit I never asked for like stock tickers, the weather, etc in the taskbar.
So the shitshow comes to an end and I'm up to date on firmware. "Time for the real OS" I think. I install Linux. Installation goes off without a hitch. I boot it up and unfortunately, the laptop speakers and webcam just don't work. I sort of expected this, but it's a shame to see it happen. After researching it, the problems seem to be very close to the hardware and require reverse engineering. The speakers I could maybe do, the camera though? Not a chance.
I use MacOS daily for work, but not because I particularly like it. I started using it 3 years ago because I was curious about Apple silicon, but didn't want to buy one for personal use. My work let me choose one. I was immediately floored by how long the damn thing could go on battery, and it never got hot. I've heard nary a laptop fan for years until this week.
One downside is that I juggle Windows-style and Mac-style keyboard bindings daily and my muscle memory betrays me constantly.
The various laptop OEMs are gradually getting better about it but as a diehard Linux user, I've sadly noticed that there's nearly an inverse relationship between how well something works with Linux, and its aesthetics and build quality. This laptop for example? Nicest looking and feeling non-Apple laptop I've ever used, but has the worst hardware compatibility of any I've used. The common recommendation I see universally is to get a ThinkPad, but I just think they look disgusting. Call me shallow, I guess.