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I run Ubuntu on a Dell XPS 13 without any issues as far as I can tell. I've done almost no tweaking. I just do periodic software and firmware updates. I close t
by chrsw 2y ago
I run Ubuntu on a Dell XPS 13 without any issues as far as I can tell. I've done almost no tweaking. I just do periodic software and firmware updates. I close the lid, throw it my bag, open it hours later, or the next day and I'm right back to where I was. The experience as close to Mac-like as I've ever experienced outside of Apple.
But I still do wish someone would make a Linux laptop that's as tightly integrated with the hardware as macOS is on a MacBook.
- Raydovsky 2y agoThat's because the XPS were built to run ubuntu. You can even buy one with it pre-installed.
- chrsw 2y agoUbuntu 20.04 was preinstalled on my machine. But I reinstalled when I moved to a larger SDD. I think I still used the OEM install image too.
- bdcravens 2y agoI can't help but wonder if Dell tweaked the firmware. I know that I, and everyone I've seen discuss it, haven't been able to get a vanilla XPS (non-Developer edition, sold with Windows) with a typical off-the-shelf distro, including Ubuntu, to work 100%.
- chrsw 2y agoSorry, I should have specified Developer Edition in my first post.
- trelane 2y agoThat seems likely. I know that firmware is one of the big differences between System76 laptops and the version that Clevo subsequently offers with Windows. I think the chips can vary sometimes too. Just from an ACPI perspective, I'd expect the Linux variant to (at a minimum) be built with the Intel compiler and the Windows one with Microsoft's. It is likely that there are far more differences, though.
- KennyBlanken 2y agoThe biggest problem with System76 laptops: their screens. $1400 for a laptop with 1920x1080 at 60hz in 2024 is a joke. $200 more gets you a 3024x1964 @ 120hz, with an M3 processor and the ability to get warranty service walk-in anywhere around the world.
- trelane 2y agoI agree that a better screen would be great, and walk-in service anywhere in the world would be fantastic. But I want a Linux laptop, not Windows or OSX. I also want a computer that obeys me, not some megacorp (not unrelated to the previous point.) I also want to not fight it all the time.
- vbezhenar 2y agoI bought Dell 3410 once which was shipped with Ubuntu. I closely inspected that Ubuntu, compared it with vanilla Ubuntu install. All I've found are branding packages (desktop pictures, etc) and one package which blacklisted some module. No secret drivers, no secret kernels. Can't comment about XPS, but I feel that it'll be the same.
- freeqaz 2y agoDell does the work to upstream the hardware support into the kernel. It's pretty rad. I miss my old XPS 13!
- AdmiralAsshat 2y agoI've had a Dell XPS 13 9343 (2017 model, non-Developer edition) running Fedora for years without problems. I suppose you might consider it cheating because I replaced the original Broadcom WiFi card with an Intel WiFi card, as that driver was a bit flaky in the early days (whereas the Intel driver has kernel support). Other than the pitiful 4 hour battery life, the laptop still runs fine, and mostly does what I need it to do for a permanently-docked daily driver.
- haspok 2y agoHey there! I no longer use my 9343, but I remember I was not able to run Fedora without breaking the sound support for it (Ubuntu had some kernel option set on startup that put the sound card to some legacy mode, instead of the I2C that Windows used). And I never managed to setup palm rejection, it was a constant pain whenever I had to use the (otherwise excellent) trackpad. (The external "carbon-like" skin texture just disintegrated on it after a few years, and the hinges got loose, but otherwise it is tip-top, still functional!)
- AdmiralAsshat 2y agoIf memory serves, the audio issue you're describing was fixed by a BIOS update: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dell_XPS_13_(9343) https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dell_XPS_13_(9343)
- gosub100 2y agoI ordered one with Ubuntu pre installed and it worked well, however there was an annoying issue where the mouse would freeze for a few seconds every couple minutes. I eventually swapped it with Garuda Linux and got a much faster UX, but suspend/sleep doesn't fully work. Doesn't bother me.
- vbezhenar 2y agoI have Thinkpad which is supposedly built to run ubuntu as well and even certified for RHEL and Ubuntu. It doesn't work so good, though. It works, but there are rough edges around sleeping, external displays, power management. I feel that it has nothing to do with manufacturer, though, just not good enough Linux support for laptops.
- yjftsjthsd-h 2y ago> I feel that it has nothing to do with manufacturer, though, just not good enough Linux support for laptops. On the contrary, it's down to the model. As I type this on a fully-functional Thinkpad, I can assure you Linux is fine on laptops.
- ryandrake 2y ago> It works, but there are rough edges around sleeping, external displays, power management. Windows has these rough edges, too, though. It's actually pretty shocking that here in 2024, PC manufacturers and OS vendors are still struggling with basics like sleep/wakeup. Last job I had with Windows laptops, everyone would walk around the office from meeting to meeting with their laptops propped open because nobody could be sure that their OS would actually wake up when they opened the lid. And when you closed it and went home for the day, would standby actually work or would it be on fire and out of battery the next morning? Somehow, only Apple has seemed to be able to solve this Herculean problem.
- szundi 2y agoIf you have an issue with windows, it’s abnormal - while with linux is pretty expected on several fronts
- Willish42 2y ago> Somehow, only Apple has seemed to be able to solve this Herculean problem. Bit of a stab in the dark here but I would assume ARM has at least something to do with this? Tablets, phones, etc. get standby a lot better than x86 systems seem to. My pre-M1 Macbook Pro does not handle standby well but my partner's M2 Macbook Air lasts for forever and handles sleep etc. well. The lower power consumption in "standby mode" on ARM seems like at least part of the picture for why Apple gets this so much better. I bet it's part of why Windows is trying to release their ARM variant and have been working on it for 10+ years
- m_st 2y agoWoah! Standby is working fine too? I'm a huge XPS15 advocate at work and really love these machines as a Windows developer. But the standby just doesn't work. If I close the lid and throw it in my bag, then the battery will be empty and the bag will be hot as hell. This is a huge failure and makes me shutdown my XPS15 every evening. Which is just nonsense. I'm a Mac user at home and just never shut these laptops down ever.
- chrsw 2y agoYes, standby is working fine. I don't have the machine in front of me now but I don't remember fiddling with any of the power settings either. It was all working after the install. I definitely run software update so that might explain why it's working so smooth too. Meanwhile, my other machine from work is a Precision workstation running Windows 10 and it gives me all kinds of power issues, more invasive updates, random restarts, random high fan RPMs, etc. Dell has already serviced the machine, twice. What a mess.
- trelane 2y agoStandby doesn't work on Windows?
- iamacyborg 2y agoCertainly doesn’t appear to on my thinkpad
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- martzy13 2y agohttps://system76.com/laptops https://system76.com/laptops
- sbrother 2y agoAre they built better now? I've bought a lot of stuff from them in the past and while their support is great and their pre-built desktops are fantastic, their laptops were just rebranded Clevo trash.
- yoyohello13 2y agoNo, still Clevo. Although the CEO said they are currently designing a custom laptop chassis in house. Probably still a minimum 2 years away, but at least they are working on it.
- ericjmorey 2y agoThey don't exclusively use Clevo and they're now leveraging their business relationships to have designs guided by System76 priorities. There's been no updates on the Virgo project for about a year. I hope they're able to get it to market, but it seems a ways off.
- cevn 2y agoThey are not. I have one and the trackpad sucks, and it has a USB C port which charges the laptop EXCEPT when it is fully dead..
- tracker1 2y agoI really wish that System76 would offer a Framework based option... would definitely pay a bit of a premium for Pop OS support on Framework hardware. Those two companies are just screaming for a teamup IMO.
- KennyBlanken 2y agoDon't waste your time. 1920x1080p @60hz in 2024...
- rty32 2y agoI assume it does not come with a touch screen or pen support? Then it is really an apple to orange comparison.
- HumblyTossed 2y agoI have a cheap Ideapad Pro with an AMD proc that gives me the same experience using Pop_OS. MacOS doesn't run on anything(1) but a Mac and people seem to be okay with that, but good grief, you tell them to pick a machine that is compatible with Linux and they lose their shit. (1) Please don't be pedantic, I get it.
- jt2190 2y ago> But I still do wish someone would make a Linux laptop that's as tightly integrated with the hardware as macOS is on a MacBook. I feel like the forces around device driver development conspire to make sure this rarely happens, that is, we can’t have “commodity” hardware that has “cutting edge” device drivers because the time and expense of developing the driver isn’t justified with commodity pricing.
- philistine 2y agoHere's my massive pet peeve around PCs that I don't even believe that the Dell XPS 13 has resolved: All those computers charge over USB-C with the full force of the port. This is fine. But the second the battery is completely drained, the port cannot revive that computer. You must use the laptop's crappy barrel plug. Only Apple allows you to use only USB-C as a charger.
- akovaski 2y agohuh? The current XPS 13 and many other laptops do not have a barrel plug. My Dell laptop without a barrel plug didn't become bricked when it ran out of battery.
- no_carrier 2y agoNot only that, but the XPS13 hasn't had a barrel plug for years now... I have no idea where OP got that info from.
- philistine 2y agoWell I looked at spec sheets, and its clearly not from the XPS line. I guess I'm thinking of the cheaper PC laptops, not this top of the line thing.
- craftkiller 2y agoMy framework laptop does not have a non-type-c way to charge. I've fully depleted the battery and charged it back up using the usb type-c port.