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This is exactly what I want from the iPad Pro. Unlock the virtualization support to let me have a debian/ubuntu VM with a complete development environment that

This is exactly what I want from the iPad Pro. Unlock the virtualization support to let me have a debian/ubuntu VM with a complete development environment that I could take for holiday to make emergency fixes, and leave the precious MBP at home.

tech4bot 5mo ago
Exactly. The hardware is already powerful enough. An iPad Pro with unlocked virtualization and a proper Linux VM would be an amazing travel dev machine. This is the reason I made this project, and I am still exploring for other tablets with better resolution and more resources.
- kokada 5mo ago
  That is also my dream, iPads Pro are very expensive but the hardware is so good (that is including the Magic Keyboard). BTW OP, have you ever tried a hybrid Chromebook tablet like Lenovo Duet 3? This is my favorite device for travel exactly because it is so good as a small Linux machine. Crostini fits the "I want to run a Linux VM". You can even use postmarketOS if you want an even more "traditional" Linux experience. I wrote about it here : - https://kokada.dev/blog/my-favorite-device-is-a-chromebook/ https://kokada.dev/blog/my-favorite-device-is-a-chromebook/ - https://kokada.dev/blog/my-favorite-device-is-a-chromebook-without-chromeos/ https://kokada.dev/blog/my-favorite-device-is-a-chromebook-w...
  - tech4bot 5mo ago
    Thanks, I’ll check it out. Seems interesting. I usually prefer cheap devices for travel, because you never know when something gets lost, broken, or stolen. This tablet fits that well, Android for the kids or for testing an app, and Linux when I need something more specific.
  - djfergus 5mo ago
    PostmarketOS is amazing on supported arm chromebooks. Unfortunately the newest 'community' level supported devices are all from the early 2020's and are getting a bit long in the tooth, especially when it comes to web browsing. I have a few that I throw in a bag for beach/jungle holidays - they are literal e-waste, something liberating about carrying a laptop that's worth significantly less than a decent family meal. "Another issue is that this device is working well enough in v25.12 release, but I tried edge once (the rolling release channel) and my touchpad started to work in absolute instead of relative mode." I (foolishly) did an apk upgrade and ran into this one - an AI fixed it for me, its caused by keyd having a too broad device mask (0000:0000) so it grabs everything including the touchpad causing havok. From my noteslop: "The fix was to patch /usr/bin/pmos-generate-cros-keymap to match the exact cros_ec keyboard ID, k:0000:0000:af5c732c, then regenerate the config and restart keyd so it no longer grabs the touchpad. "
    - mghackerlady 5mo ago
      I've always been disappointed with postmarket for its intended purpose (it's supposed to be a phone os) but as a thin client OS it is best in class.
    - alchemist1e9 5mo ago
      > PostmarketOS is amazing on supported arm chromebooks. Any tips on best models that are abundantly available used on the cheap and work well? > I have a few that I throw in a bag for beach/jungle holidays - they are literal e-waste, something liberating about carrying a laptop that's worth significantly less than a decent family meal. I definitely do this with a few Thinkpad 11e I have laying around from a failed project 4 years ago. However I’d really like to switch to e-waste as what you describe would be very liberating. An e-waste Linux device with encrypted disk that you just wifi tether to phone and works fine for use old school types. I wonder how cheap they can go? How easy to flash? etc
fsflover 5mo ago
Here is the tablet that can do this: https://puri.sm/products/librem-11 https://puri.sm/products/librem-11. It can even run Qubes OS.
- whizzter 5mo ago
  Feels not entirely underpowered compared to ARM alternatives, does it have a somewhat decent battery life though?
  - fsflover 5mo ago
    Looks like about 3 hours: https://forums.puri.sm/t/my-librem-11-arrived-today/21480/16 https://forums.puri.sm/t/my-librem-11-arrived-today/21480/16
- kamranjon 5mo ago
  if only it supported sim cards
  - fsflover 5mo ago
    Then Librem 5 smartphone might be a better choice.
    - kamranjon 5mo ago
      not really the same - that's sort of the nice thing about ipads and some business laptops is you can add a sim card and use them anywhere. The MNT Pocket Reform has this but the waitlist is months out.
- tomaskafka 5mo ago
  Yes, but I already have an iPad and they have an excellent hardware and keyboard. I'm mad at the thought that I'd buy additional hardware instead of Tim Shareholder Value enabling a single boolean flag.
  - 5mo ago
Dead_Lemon 5mo ago
Consider Asahi Linux limited feature support for the M1, after all these years, this is not going to ever happen. Its not like Apple has every shown any interest in opening their hardware up to 3rd party OS support and nor will they.
- wltr 5mo ago
  Did you mean M1 MacBook Air/Pro or is it now possible to install it on an iPad?
  - jlokier 5mo ago
    I think they mean that Apple is shipping the M5 now, while Asahi only runs reasonably on the M1 (from 2020!), half-works on the M2, and won't run at all on the M3 and above. Asahi developers have done amazing reverse engineering and driver development. But for the foreseeable short-term, there's no chance of it being installed on a current M-series iPad; it can't even be installed on a current Apple laptop. I think the Macbook Neo might change that. It's not even an M-series, so there's a quite a lot of work to get Linux running on it. But because it's so much cheaper than the other laptops, and quite powerful, it makes a good "spare" laptop for people who can afford an M-series. And it probably has many internal functions similar to the M-series. I think it might get more attention by reverse engineering enthusiasts over the next couple of years. Also, AI agents can help experts with reverse engineering labour in ways they couldn't a year ago. (I'd love to do this, if anyone out there wants to pay for it :-)
    - wltr 5mo ago
      Thanks for covering that!
mghackerlady 5mo ago
Pine64s pinetab is pretty nice for this. Comes with a nice keyboard/trackpad case
SoftTalker 5mo ago
Sounds like defeating the purpose of a holiday.
- tomaskafka 5mo ago
  Well, as an indie SaaS owner, my options are: - risk being hungry for upcoming months - risk losing macbook pro to beach sand in car boot - Apple actually unlocking the iPadOS

tech4bot 5mo ago

Exactly. The hardware is already powerful enough. An iPad Pro with unlocked virtualization and a proper Linux VM would be an amazing travel dev machine. This is the reason I made this project, and I am still exploring for other tablets with better resolution and more resources.

kokada 5mo ago
That is also my dream, iPads Pro are very expensive but the hardware is so good (that is including the Magic Keyboard). BTW OP, have you ever tried a hybrid Chromebook tablet like Lenovo Duet 3? This is my favorite device for travel exactly because it is so good as a small Linux machine. Crostini fits the "I want to run a Linux VM". You can even use postmarketOS if you want an even more "traditional" Linux experience. I wrote about it here : - https://kokada.dev/blog/my-favorite-device-is-a-chromebook/ https://kokada.dev/blog/my-favorite-device-is-a-chromebook/ - https://kokada.dev/blog/my-favorite-device-is-a-chromebook-without-chromeos/ https://kokada.dev/blog/my-favorite-device-is-a-chromebook-w...
- tech4bot 5mo ago
  Thanks, I’ll check it out. Seems interesting. I usually prefer cheap devices for travel, because you never know when something gets lost, broken, or stolen. This tablet fits that well, Android for the kids or for testing an app, and Linux when I need something more specific.
- djfergus 5mo ago
  PostmarketOS is amazing on supported arm chromebooks. Unfortunately the newest 'community' level supported devices are all from the early 2020's and are getting a bit long in the tooth, especially when it comes to web browsing. I have a few that I throw in a bag for beach/jungle holidays - they are literal e-waste, something liberating about carrying a laptop that's worth significantly less than a decent family meal. "Another issue is that this device is working well enough in v25.12 release, but I tried edge once (the rolling release channel) and my touchpad started to work in absolute instead of relative mode." I (foolishly) did an apk upgrade and ran into this one - an AI fixed it for me, its caused by keyd having a too broad device mask (0000:0000) so it grabs everything including the touchpad causing havok. From my noteslop: "The fix was to patch /usr/bin/pmos-generate-cros-keymap to match the exact cros_ec keyboard ID, k:0000:0000:af5c732c, then regenerate the config and restart keyd so it no longer grabs the touchpad. "
  - mghackerlady 5mo ago
    I've always been disappointed with postmarket for its intended purpose (it's supposed to be a phone os) but as a thin client OS it is best in class.
  - alchemist1e9 5mo ago
    > PostmarketOS is amazing on supported arm chromebooks. Any tips on best models that are abundantly available used on the cheap and work well? > I have a few that I throw in a bag for beach/jungle holidays - they are literal e-waste, something liberating about carrying a laptop that's worth significantly less than a decent family meal. I definitely do this with a few Thinkpad 11e I have laying around from a failed project 4 years ago. However I’d really like to switch to e-waste as what you describe would be very liberating. An e-waste Linux device with encrypted disk that you just wifi tether to phone and works fine for use old school types. I wonder how cheap they can go? How easy to flash? etc

fsflover 5mo ago

Here is the tablet that can do this: https://puri.sm/products/librem-11 https://puri.sm/products/librem-11. It can even run Qubes OS.

whizzter 5mo ago
Feels not entirely underpowered compared to ARM alternatives, does it have a somewhat decent battery life though?
- fsflover 5mo ago
  Looks like about 3 hours: https://forums.puri.sm/t/my-librem-11-arrived-today/21480/16 https://forums.puri.sm/t/my-librem-11-arrived-today/21480/16
kamranjon 5mo ago
if only it supported sim cards
- fsflover 5mo ago
  Then Librem 5 smartphone might be a better choice.
  - kamranjon 5mo ago
    not really the same - that's sort of the nice thing about ipads and some business laptops is you can add a sim card and use them anywhere. The MNT Pocket Reform has this but the waitlist is months out.
tomaskafka 5mo ago
Yes, but I already have an iPad and they have an excellent hardware and keyboard. I'm mad at the thought that I'd buy additional hardware instead of Tim Shareholder Value enabling a single boolean flag.
- 5mo ago

Dead_Lemon 5mo ago

Consider Asahi Linux limited feature support for the M1, after all these years, this is not going to ever happen. Its not like Apple has every shown any interest in opening their hardware up to 3rd party OS support and nor will they.

wltr 5mo ago
Did you mean M1 MacBook Air/Pro or is it now possible to install it on an iPad?
- jlokier 5mo ago
  I think they mean that Apple is shipping the M5 now, while Asahi only runs reasonably on the M1 (from 2020!), half-works on the M2, and won't run at all on the M3 and above. Asahi developers have done amazing reverse engineering and driver development. But for the foreseeable short-term, there's no chance of it being installed on a current M-series iPad; it can't even be installed on a current Apple laptop. I think the Macbook Neo might change that. It's not even an M-series, so there's a quite a lot of work to get Linux running on it. But because it's so much cheaper than the other laptops, and quite powerful, it makes a good "spare" laptop for people who can afford an M-series. And it probably has many internal functions similar to the M-series. I think it might get more attention by reverse engineering enthusiasts over the next couple of years. Also, AI agents can help experts with reverse engineering labour in ways they couldn't a year ago. (I'd love to do this, if anyone out there wants to pay for it :-)
  - wltr 5mo ago
    Thanks for covering that!

mghackerlady 5mo ago

Pine64s pinetab is pretty nice for this. Comes with a nice keyboard/trackpad case

SoftTalker 5mo ago

Sounds like defeating the purpose of a holiday.

tomaskafka 5mo ago
Well, as an indie SaaS owner, my options are: - risk being hungry for upcoming months - risk losing macbook pro to beach sand in car boot - Apple actually unlocking the iPadOS