10 ms·

Dell’s Linux PC sequel still just works, but adds 4K screen and rough edges

120 points by martey 12y ago

rayiner 12y ago
Really disappointing that it only gets 5.5 hours of Wi-Fi browsing with a 91 watt-hour battery (on integrated graphics). The rMBP pushes 9-10 hours under those conditions.
- dubya 12y ago
  Running Linux or OS X?
  - marinhero 12y ago
    both
- Mandatum 12y ago
  Denser displays use much more power.
  - rayiner 12y ago
    It's only slightly denser: 235 versus 220 ppi.
stormbrew 12y ago
Why in god's name does a laptop that large not have independent home/end/pgup/pgdn keys. This trend drives me nuts.
- dima55 12y ago
  Or a second windows key. Or separate mouse buttons. Sigh
  - slantyyz 12y ago
    >> Or separate mouse buttons. I find that part to be the most annoying part of touch pads on non-Mac laptops these days. I get that Apple has the reputation for having the best pads (which makes them an ideal source for copying ideas), but I've always hated the clicking mechanism on my Macbook Pro, especially when it came to right clicks. My Lenovo Y50 at least doesn't require a second finger to right click, but I would rather have had two discrete, tactile buttons for the pad.
    - stilldavid 12y ago
      > ... especially when it came to right clicks Just curious, do you have secondary click set to click with two fingers, or to click in bottom right corner?
      - slantyyz 12y ago
        I'm admittedly clumsy and imprecise with touch pads, so neither option works well for me. On my Mac, I had it set to the default, which was two fingers. On my Lenovo, it's set to click in the bottom right half. I keep missing (because I don't look down) and click the bottom left half by mistake.
  - jgrowl 12y ago
    Why do people use a second windows button? I've never understood how it is useful.
    - slantyyz 12y ago
      >> Why do people use a second windows button? It's useful to people who prefer to (or are conditioned to) hit it with their right hand.
    - organsnyder 12y ago
      I like to remap those keys to AltGr and/or compose. Makes it much easier to type accents, proper punctuation…
- mod 12y ago
  That removes me from the market. I use those keys incessantly, browsing the web and coding both. I bought a very large Asus gaming laptop primarily for this reason, and I'm very fond of the placement, as well (above the numpad, can be easily found without looking). Other things that are important to me is a gap to be able to feel F5 without looking, and same for the arrow keys. So many keyboards put the arrow keys--which require a hand movement--inline with other keys without making them distinct. At the very least put a nub on the up key or something.
  - smellf 12y ago
    > That removes me from the market. Same. And what kind of developer edition laptop doesn't have a full keyboard, i.e. a numpad? It drives me nuts.
    - jethro_tell 12y ago
      The kind where they want the keyboard to be centered on the machine. I hate number pads on laptops because then the keyboard is off center. I can't really think of anything that would actually make it a feature worth the shift. Different strokes, I guess.
    - illicium 12y ago
      One that is not 13". This is meant to be a compact machine, not a desktop replacement.
    - rifung 12y ago
      What do you use the numpad for when developing? Just curious because I actually prefer keyboards that don't have it to save desk space
- jgrowl 12y ago
  I never use those keys personally. I guess because I use vi bindings wherever possible.
- tpeaton 12y ago
  I have an older xps 13, which has the same keyboard layout as the m3800. I actually really like stacking page up/down, home, and end on the arrow keys. I use keyboard shortcuts as much as possible and can hit these very quickly. The function key right next to the left control key in conjunction with these works very well for me. It took a few days to get used to, but I love it now. Certainly much better than some of the other more funky positioning of dedicated keys on some keyboards.
  - stormbrew 12y ago
    I've spent plenty of time on keyboards without them (largely macs) and I still hate it. My old Toshiba laptop (z830 -- a 14" laptop, no less) just has them in a straight line along the right edge of the keyboard and that works just fine and doesn't require me to use two hands to do something that should be one finger. Again, it's not like there's some lack of space on this and other 15" laptops. "It's not that hard to..." arguments are basically admitting defeat before the debate begins. I could probably get used to a 5 key chording keyboard if I tried, but I don't think it would enrich my life.
    - tpeaton 12y ago
      And I don't care for the independent keys on the top row. It's a stretch with how often I use them. My argument isn't "It's not that hard to...", it's "I prefer this." Different (key)strokes.
      - stormbrew 12y ago
        Not along the top row. As a column down the side. http://blog.laptopmag.com/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Toshiba-Portege-Z835_keyboard.jpg http://blog.laptopmag.com/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/... As for "different (key)strokes", I wouldn't have an issue if the choice to have these as independent keys were still around, but right now if you want that you have very limited choice. Hence my distaste for the trend.
- jeromenerf 12y ago
  Bizarre, I actually like the apple or hhk Fn-arrows way.
- shpx 12y ago
  because you can just press space/shift+space.
  - freehunter 12y ago
    Pressing space in a text editor tends to add a space. Pressing pgdn doesn't.
    - vq 12y ago
      C-v and M-v in Emacs and friends and CTRL+b and CTRL+d in vi and clones. EDIT: and if you were fine with reaching for PgDn then SHIFT+up, SHIFT+down in vim is probably a viable option as well.
      - stormbrew 12y ago
        Great. Now not only do I have to use two keys in everything to do it, it's a different pair of keys in everything! Man, what I've been missing all these years having separate keys for this. (Yes, I know fn+arrow does them the same in more or less everything as well)
- guelo 12y ago
  Because they're copying Apple's keyboard.
- aeflash 12y ago
  They are super-imposed over the arrow keys. Fn+Up = PgUp, Fn+Left = End, etc... I have the previous year's model and it did take some getting used to.
billconan 12y ago
looks like a good notebook. but I have lots of issues with nvidia gpu under linux. everytime the kernel gets updated, I get a black screen.
- jewel 12y ago
  I have three Desktops with an nvidia card that haven't had a problem. On Ubuntu DKMS recompiles the nvidia blob loader whenever the kernel is updated. What operating system are you on? Did you install the proprietary drivers by hand? Given what you've said, my guess is that you're on the proprietary driver but it isn't being recompiled properly.
  - billconan 12y ago
    desktop is a different story. the issue happens when you have both intel and nvidia gpus. see for example: https://devtalk.nvidia.com/default/topic/790089/linux/nvidia-on-ubuntu-14-04-1-64bit-black-blank-login-screen-not-freeze-/ https://devtalk.nvidia.com/default/topic/790089/linux/nvidia... http://askubuntu.com/questions/372686/after-installing-nvidia-drivers-i-boot-into-a-black-screen-13-10 http://askubuntu.com/questions/372686/after-installing-nvidi...
    - cpbotha 12y ago
      On Ubuntu this problem is caused by the gpu-manager that keeps on rewriting xorg.conf incorrectly for the Optimus NVIDIA / Intel setup. I analyse the problem and present a hacky work-around in this post: http://vxlabs.com/2015/02/05/solving-the-ubuntu-14-04-nvidia-346-nvidia-prime-black-screen-issue/ http://vxlabs.com/2015/02/05/solving-the-ubuntu-14-04-nvidia...
      - billconan 12y ago
        Thank you so much! has this issue been filed to ubuntu? I will do it if it hasn't.
  - mod 12y ago
shmerl 12y ago
I wish all manufacturers would just allow buying computers without an OS. I recently tried to check if Lenovo offers Windows refund for those who reject the EULA. No dice. They still claim Windows tax is mandatory even if you don't need Windows. What I never understood though is how can they legally do it. Doesn't it violate product tying laws?
- Mikeb85 12y ago
  When I bought my Thinkpad, they gave me a significant ($150) discount when I said I didn't want Windows. It still came with Windows, apparently doing the actual refund process is more difficult than just giving a discount code...
  - shmerl 12y ago
    Was country was that store in? Did you buy it straight from Lenovo or from some of their retail partners?
    - Mikeb85 12y ago
      Strait from Lenovo in Canada. You need to speak with a rep though. I didn't ask for the discount, just mentioned I didn't want Windows and asked about Linux options.
      - shmerl 12y ago
        Interesting. I wonder if Canada has some better laws about it. I can try ordering there if it's so. The rep I spoke to was in Lenovo chat though, it wasn't through the phone.
      - shmerl 12y ago
        Just spoke with the rep on the phone. She is claiming Lenovo isn't offering a refund for Windows and one has to contact legal department for any further questions. Is there a phone for calling the Canadian store?
- 12y ago
jgrowl 12y ago
I received mine a couple of weeks ago and have been pretty happy so far. Everything worked out of the box in ubuntu (camera, multimedia keys, trackpad, touchscreen, bluetooth, wifi, etc). My only complaints are: - The Glossy monitor is incredibly reflective. I wish there was a matte option. - I got the UHD screen option but there are still too many scaling issues in linux. Ubuntu looks fine with some minor tweaks but a lot of programs look horrible (ie. chrome). I ended up just lowering the resolution for now. - The power cable sticks out really far when it is plugged in. It also makes me worried I'll break it if I forget I'm attached because the input seems a little wobbly. - I like the keyboard for the most part but a few of the keys squeak occasionally. - The trackpad also is pretty good, but it feels overly sensitive and jumpy compared to my macbook air. - WIFI seems a little spotty. It might be that my wireless router isn't very good but my signal is much weaker than it is on my macbook. I need to play around with setting a little more before coming to a conclusion. - If you open it up on your lap you might pinch your legs! *edit: I used a 20% coupon I found online somewhere. Not sure how long it was good for: MXPX2T1N9HGH12
- AceJohnny2 12y ago
  > The Glossy monitor is incredibly reflective. I wish there was a matte option. What the hell. This is a subject I have a strong opinion on. A "developer"-oriented laptop must have a matte finish. I want no specular reflections distracting me from my low-contrast text. This simple issue makes it a dealbreaker for me. That said, maybe it can be mitigated. Quick googling tells me there exist anti-glare screen covers, maybe some exist that fit the M3800.
  - jgrowl 12y ago
    I actually tried getting a screen cover but I totally failed trying to put it on. Still though, I was able to tell it didn't really help the glare at all. I just threw it in the trash :(
- karlgrz 12y ago
  I've been using a Dell XPS 15 with the UHD touchscreen display since November and I love it! I also reduced to 1080p resolution, for the same annoying reasons (applications are just too hit/miss). For the touchpad, I tweaked the initial settings a bit using the following articles: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticsTouchpad https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticsTouchpad http://askubuntu.com/questions/483707/14-04-touchpad-is-too-sensitive http://askubuntu.com/questions/483707/14-04-touchpad-is-too-... I had a 2014 Retina Macbook Pro prior to this, and the touchpad, after these tweaks, is on par with that experience (although it is a bit more clicky but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯) Hope this helps!
nfoz 12y ago
Oh interesting, this is the M3800 which is Dell's beefy 15" Linux laptop. Glad to see it getting some light. If you're looking for something more portable, the New XPS 13 is in development and is supposed to launch soon. I follow the project lead's blog here: http://bartongeorge.net/ http://bartongeorge.net/ My hats off to the Dell team; they're very open about what they're doing, making better drivers etc. before launching the product. For now I'm trying out a 2015 Chromebook Pixel with Debian GNU/Linux install..ing. Still working on it. It has a lot of the same problems mentioned here: - Suuuper glossy screen (basically a mirror with a dark background) - Limited keyboard: no pageup/pagedown.. even more limited than the Dell, it doesn't have a DEL key, just Power in its place... much key remapping will be required to make this usable. - No physical trackpad buttons, and that's a huuuge problem, because even Google's touchpad driver fails some basic tests of operation as compared to a Mac (e.g. cursor stutters its motion if you click while moving the cursor). The lack of touchpad buttons across most laptops now is shocking. - Keys are a bit shallow
- bluedino 12y ago
  >> the M3800 which is Dell's beefy 15" Linux laptop. Actually, the 6.3lb M4800 is Dell's beefy laptop.
  - defective 12y ago
    The M3800 is Dell's beefy 15" Linux laptop.
  - hackmiester 12y ago
    Yep! Just got an m4800 and I love it. Linux isn't the easiest to use, though... and it looks like I currently have to run the nv binary driver to use my graphics card. :( So I definitely wouldn't classify it as a Linux laptop - even unofficially.
- tracker1 12y ago
  I have yet to use a touchpad that works as well as a macbook's... which is pretty sad at this point.. I understand they reduced the travel of the keys and touchpad in the late 2014 releases though... That and the display are the two main reasons I got an rMBP (right before the new models last year)... but may well go with something else in a couple years.
bluedino 12y ago
Dell has achieved feature parity with the Retina MacBook Pro, and has made huge improvements on their last 'MBP competitor', the XPS 15. However, looking at it objectively, the article pretty much sums it up: Thunderbolt port doesn't really work in Ubuntu Application-level 4k scaling issues are pretty much all over the place If all you're after is Linux on a laptop, you can do it for cheaper than the M3800's starting price I kind of hoped the Dell logo on the back would light up, but sadly it doesn't Battery life with the Nvidia GPU enabled is far too short for a day's worth of working Not quite a MacBook, but if you absolutely must have Linux instead of OS X, and don't want to fiddle with installing and tweaking it, it's very serviceable. But if you don't need the NVIDIA GPU there are cheaper options.
- stormbrew 12y ago
  Note that the first two would also be issues running linux on a macbook. Thunderbolt support on linux is extremely weak.
- mcantelon 12y ago
  I've got an Inspiron 15 7000 which has an Nvidia GPU, good specs, and was pretty cheap. Only 1080p resolution though.
- xorcist 12y ago
  The Nvidia GPU is a strange fit. Is it really that common to run 3D workloads on a Linux laptop? That binary blob is going to hold you back on software upgrades, sooner or later...
- darklajid 12y ago
  Find the weird item in the list? :-) My bet is on I kind of hoped the Dell logo on the back would light up, but sadly it doesn't The rest makes sense, of course. But really, is this particular point worth mentioning?
jamesblonde 12y ago
I have had the previous m3800, with 3.5K screen, and a 512GB SSD. I'm running dual-boot windows 8, but with Ubuntu 14.10 as my primary OS. The touchscreen and scaling of windows is great. On Ubuntu they are non-existant. I can't use my finger to scroll, but can launch apps with my finger. Using my fingers is something i'm really getting to like. Things like getting a putty connection to my server in 2 seconds works now with three quick touches. The big problem has been that suspened doesn't work now - both on windows and ubuntu. I "upgraded" to 15.04, still no joy. I assume it's a motherboard problem, but I don't time to leave it back. Killer for my productivity, though. Pity, as it ruins an otherwise nice laptop.
- karlgrz 12y ago
  If you open Google Chrome -with your finger- on Ubuntu 14.04 (and 14.10) it will allow you to use touch for scrolling. If you open it with the mouse...it won't. Weird.
- karlgrz 12y ago
  Also, suspend works perfectly on XPS 15 with Ubuntu 14.04 and 14.10, although I had to add a couple of statements to rc.local to prevent it from waking in my backpack: echo EHC1 > /proc/acpi/wakeup echo EHC2 > /proc/acpi/wakeup echo XHC > /proc/acpi/wakeup After this, the only two devices enabled in /proc/acpi/wakeup are power button and the lid (exactly what I want): cat /proc/acpi/wakeup | grep enabled PWRB S4 *enabled LID0 S4 *enabled Don't know if that helps...would probably need more detail on what isn't working with your model's suspend.
moron4hire 12y ago
How do these ones hold up over time? I haven't had a Dell PC of any kind, laptop or desktop, last longer than two years (and thanks to switching jobs a few times and being the family PC tech support, I've seen quite a few Dells). I had given up on the brand completely, but this is a very tempting piece of hardware. I hate how hard it is to find the specs I want in a laptop computer. Some sites will let you filter by specs, but sometimes I'd be willing to compromise on some specs if other specs hit certain thresholds. And then, it seems like some products get selected by the filter that should be, and others get filtered out that do match the specs, so I'm just back to reading pretty much every product page until I find what I want.
- Greed 12y ago
  http://notebookcheck.net http://notebookcheck.net is pretty good for this, they have a solid breakdown for laptops and a search function that allows you to filter on a more granular level than just price.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
lhl 12y ago
Sadly, the Sputnik version of the XPS 13, the one I was more interested in, still has issues/hasn't come out yet. This 3rd-party article/thread seems to be a good place for tracking those developments: https://major.io/2015/02/03/linux-support-dell-xps-13-9343-2015-model/ https://major.io/2015/02/03/linux-support-dell-xps-13-9343-2... Issues w/ the XPS 13 include keyboard repeat issues (fixed w/ BIOS A01 update), trackpad issues (kernel patches, switching from I2C to PS2 mode), sound (switching from I2S to HDA, requires ACPI jigger-pokery including another kernel patch since the BIOS breaks sound init when ACPI is sent properly https://lkml.org/lkml/2015/3/12/149 https://lkml.org/lkml/2015/3/12/149). Also the XPS 13 uses a somewhat flakey Broadcom wireless card as well. And people have reported some S3 sleep issues. My main goal was to replace my MBA11 w/ something about the same size w/ better battery-life (my Yosemite battery-life is pathetic, about 4hrs even just web browsing). The FHD XPS13 claims 15 hours, but I couldn't wait anymore and ended up going w/ the new Lenovo X250 - slightly less sexy but more or less equivalent and only a tiny bit larger, largely works OOTB w/ Linux, and has 20 hours claimed battery life w/ the 6-cell battery option.
harel 12y ago
That's all great, but I have a bundle of cold hard cash here waiting for the XPS 13 developer edition. All this time I see lovely things to spend it on but still I wait...
adamc 12y ago
I'll be interested to see how these work out. There were two issues that scared me away from the predecessor: Reported wifi issues and coil whine. If they can avoid significant issues, then it's a nice laptop, although the battery life could be better.
puppetmaster3 12y ago
https://system76.com/laptops https://system76.com/laptops
- joshuapants 12y ago
  Aren't these simply overpriced Clevo/Sager rebrands?
mjcohen 12y ago
How do you do a middle click on the pad?
- tpeaton 12y ago
  Three finger tap.
ChikkaChiChi 12y ago
Apple announced the 2880x1800 Retina display in June of 2012. It has been almost 3 years and only 2 of the 4 desktop operating systems have an interface that works reliably at pixel doubling resolutions: Apple OSX and Google Chrome OS.
likeclockwork 12y ago
I have an XPS 13 from 2012 that I run Fedora on. I sometimes wish for a larger/newer/faster laptop (even though I do most of my serious work at a desktop with 2x27" 1440p monitors).. I wish to be more comfortable when working in various places. I'm seriously eyeballing this one, because I love the feel of these contraptions. Aluminum upper, carbon fiber lower, shark dick interior..

120 points by martey 12y ago

Really disappointing that it only gets 5.5 hours of Wi-Fi browsing with a 91 watt-hour battery (on integrated graphics). The rMBP pushes 9-10 hours under those conditions.

dubya 12y ago
Running Linux or OS X?
- marinhero 12y ago
  both
Mandatum 12y ago
Denser displays use much more power.
- rayiner 12y ago
  It's only slightly denser: 235 versus 220 ppi.

stormbrew 12y ago

Why in god's name does a laptop that large not have independent home/end/pgup/pgdn keys. This trend drives me nuts.

dima55 12y ago
Or a second windows key. Or separate mouse buttons. Sigh
- slantyyz 12y ago
  >> Or separate mouse buttons. I find that part to be the most annoying part of touch pads on non-Mac laptops these days. I get that Apple has the reputation for having the best pads (which makes them an ideal source for copying ideas), but I've always hated the clicking mechanism on my Macbook Pro, especially when it came to right clicks. My Lenovo Y50 at least doesn't require a second finger to right click, but I would rather have had two discrete, tactile buttons for the pad.
  - stilldavid 12y ago
    > ... especially when it came to right clicks Just curious, do you have secondary click set to click with two fingers, or to click in bottom right corner?
    - slantyyz 12y ago
      I'm admittedly clumsy and imprecise with touch pads, so neither option works well for me. On my Mac, I had it set to the default, which was two fingers. On my Lenovo, it's set to click in the bottom right half. I keep missing (because I don't look down) and click the bottom left half by mistake.
- jgrowl 12y ago
  Why do people use a second windows button? I've never understood how it is useful.
  - slantyyz 12y ago
    >> Why do people use a second windows button? It's useful to people who prefer to (or are conditioned to) hit it with their right hand.
  - organsnyder 12y ago
    I like to remap those keys to AltGr and/or compose. Makes it much easier to type accents, proper punctuation…
mod 12y ago
That removes me from the market. I use those keys incessantly, browsing the web and coding both. I bought a very large Asus gaming laptop primarily for this reason, and I'm very fond of the placement, as well (above the numpad, can be easily found without looking). Other things that are important to me is a gap to be able to feel F5 without looking, and same for the arrow keys. So many keyboards put the arrow keys--which require a hand movement--inline with other keys without making them distinct. At the very least put a nub on the up key or something.
- smellf 12y ago
  > That removes me from the market. Same. And what kind of developer edition laptop doesn't have a full keyboard, i.e. a numpad? It drives me nuts.
  - jethro_tell 12y ago
    The kind where they want the keyboard to be centered on the machine. I hate number pads on laptops because then the keyboard is off center. I can't really think of anything that would actually make it a feature worth the shift. Different strokes, I guess.
  - illicium 12y ago
    One that is not 13". This is meant to be a compact machine, not a desktop replacement.
  - rifung 12y ago
    What do you use the numpad for when developing? Just curious because I actually prefer keyboards that don't have it to save desk space
jgrowl 12y ago
I never use those keys personally. I guess because I use vi bindings wherever possible.
tpeaton 12y ago
I have an older xps 13, which has the same keyboard layout as the m3800. I actually really like stacking page up/down, home, and end on the arrow keys. I use keyboard shortcuts as much as possible and can hit these very quickly. The function key right next to the left control key in conjunction with these works very well for me. It took a few days to get used to, but I love it now. Certainly much better than some of the other more funky positioning of dedicated keys on some keyboards.
- stormbrew 12y ago
  I've spent plenty of time on keyboards without them (largely macs) and I still hate it. My old Toshiba laptop (z830 -- a 14" laptop, no less) just has them in a straight line along the right edge of the keyboard and that works just fine and doesn't require me to use two hands to do something that should be one finger. Again, it's not like there's some lack of space on this and other 15" laptops. "It's not that hard to..." arguments are basically admitting defeat before the debate begins. I could probably get used to a 5 key chording keyboard if I tried, but I don't think it would enrich my life.
  - tpeaton 12y ago
    And I don't care for the independent keys on the top row. It's a stretch with how often I use them. My argument isn't "It's not that hard to...", it's "I prefer this." Different (key)strokes.
    - stormbrew 12y ago
      Not along the top row. As a column down the side. http://blog.laptopmag.com/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Toshiba-Portege-Z835_keyboard.jpg http://blog.laptopmag.com/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/... As for "different (key)strokes", I wouldn't have an issue if the choice to have these as independent keys were still around, but right now if you want that you have very limited choice. Hence my distaste for the trend.
jeromenerf 12y ago
Bizarre, I actually like the apple or hhk Fn-arrows way.
shpx 12y ago
because you can just press space/shift+space.
- freehunter 12y ago
  Pressing space in a text editor tends to add a space. Pressing pgdn doesn't.
  - vq 12y ago
    C-v and M-v in Emacs and friends and CTRL+b and CTRL+d in vi and clones. EDIT: and if you were fine with reaching for PgDn then SHIFT+up, SHIFT+down in vim is probably a viable option as well.
    - stormbrew 12y ago
      Great. Now not only do I have to use two keys in everything to do it, it's a different pair of keys in everything! Man, what I've been missing all these years having separate keys for this. (Yes, I know fn+arrow does them the same in more or less everything as well)
guelo 12y ago
Because they're copying Apple's keyboard.
aeflash 12y ago
They are super-imposed over the arrow keys. Fn+Up = PgUp, Fn+Left = End, etc... I have the previous year's model and it did take some getting used to.

billconan 12y ago

looks like a good notebook. but I have lots of issues with nvidia gpu under linux. everytime the kernel gets updated, I get a black screen.

jewel 12y ago
I have three Desktops with an nvidia card that haven't had a problem. On Ubuntu DKMS recompiles the nvidia blob loader whenever the kernel is updated. What operating system are you on? Did you install the proprietary drivers by hand? Given what you've said, my guess is that you're on the proprietary driver but it isn't being recompiled properly.
- billconan 12y ago
  desktop is a different story. the issue happens when you have both intel and nvidia gpus. see for example: https://devtalk.nvidia.com/default/topic/790089/linux/nvidia-on-ubuntu-14-04-1-64bit-black-blank-login-screen-not-freeze-/ https://devtalk.nvidia.com/default/topic/790089/linux/nvidia... http://askubuntu.com/questions/372686/after-installing-nvidia-drivers-i-boot-into-a-black-screen-13-10 http://askubuntu.com/questions/372686/after-installing-nvidi...
  - cpbotha 12y ago
    On Ubuntu this problem is caused by the gpu-manager that keeps on rewriting xorg.conf incorrectly for the Optimus NVIDIA / Intel setup. I analyse the problem and present a hacky work-around in this post: http://vxlabs.com/2015/02/05/solving-the-ubuntu-14-04-nvidia-346-nvidia-prime-black-screen-issue/ http://vxlabs.com/2015/02/05/solving-the-ubuntu-14-04-nvidia...
    - billconan 12y ago
      Thank you so much! has this issue been filed to ubuntu? I will do it if it hasn't.
- mod 12y ago

shmerl 12y ago

I wish all manufacturers would just allow buying computers without an OS. I recently tried to check if Lenovo offers Windows refund for those who reject the EULA. No dice. They still claim Windows tax is mandatory even if you don't need Windows. What I never understood though is how can they legally do it. Doesn't it violate product tying laws?

Mikeb85 12y ago
When I bought my Thinkpad, they gave me a significant ($150) discount when I said I didn't want Windows. It still came with Windows, apparently doing the actual refund process is more difficult than just giving a discount code...
- shmerl 12y ago
  Was country was that store in? Did you buy it straight from Lenovo or from some of their retail partners?
  - Mikeb85 12y ago
    Strait from Lenovo in Canada. You need to speak with a rep though. I didn't ask for the discount, just mentioned I didn't want Windows and asked about Linux options.
    - shmerl 12y ago
      Interesting. I wonder if Canada has some better laws about it. I can try ordering there if it's so. The rep I spoke to was in Lenovo chat though, it wasn't through the phone.
    - shmerl 12y ago
      Just spoke with the rep on the phone. She is claiming Lenovo isn't offering a refund for Windows and one has to contact legal department for any further questions. Is there a phone for calling the Canadian store?
12y ago

jgrowl 12y ago

I received mine a couple of weeks ago and have been pretty happy so far. Everything worked out of the box in ubuntu (camera, multimedia keys, trackpad, touchscreen, bluetooth, wifi, etc). My only complaints are: - The Glossy monitor is incredibly reflective. I wish there was a matte option. - I got the UHD screen option but there are still too many scaling issues in linux. Ubuntu looks fine with some minor tweaks but a lot of programs look horrible (ie. chrome). I ended up just lowering the resolution for now. - The power cable sticks out really far when it is plugged in. It also makes me worried I'll break it if I forget I'm attached because the input seems a little wobbly. - I like the keyboard for the most part but a few of the keys squeak occasionally. - The trackpad also is pretty good, but it feels overly sensitive and jumpy compared to my macbook air. - WIFI seems a little spotty. It might be that my wireless router isn't very good but my signal is much weaker than it is on my macbook. I need to play around with setting a little more before coming to a conclusion. - If you open it up on your lap you might pinch your legs! *edit: I used a 20% coupon I found online somewhere. Not sure how long it was good for: MXPX2T1N9HGH12

AceJohnny2 12y ago
> The Glossy monitor is incredibly reflective. I wish there was a matte option. What the hell. This is a subject I have a strong opinion on. A "developer"-oriented laptop must have a matte finish. I want no specular reflections distracting me from my low-contrast text. This simple issue makes it a dealbreaker for me. That said, maybe it can be mitigated. Quick googling tells me there exist anti-glare screen covers, maybe some exist that fit the M3800.
- jgrowl 12y ago
  I actually tried getting a screen cover but I totally failed trying to put it on. Still though, I was able to tell it didn't really help the glare at all. I just threw it in the trash :(
karlgrz 12y ago
I've been using a Dell XPS 15 with the UHD touchscreen display since November and I love it! I also reduced to 1080p resolution, for the same annoying reasons (applications are just too hit/miss). For the touchpad, I tweaked the initial settings a bit using the following articles: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticsTouchpad https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticsTouchpad http://askubuntu.com/questions/483707/14-04-touchpad-is-too-sensitive http://askubuntu.com/questions/483707/14-04-touchpad-is-too-... I had a 2014 Retina Macbook Pro prior to this, and the touchpad, after these tweaks, is on par with that experience (although it is a bit more clicky but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯) Hope this helps!

nfoz 12y ago

Oh interesting, this is the M3800 which is Dell's beefy 15" Linux laptop. Glad to see it getting some light. If you're looking for something more portable, the New XPS 13 is in development and is supposed to launch soon. I follow the project lead's blog here: http://bartongeorge.net/ http://bartongeorge.net/ My hats off to the Dell team; they're very open about what they're doing, making better drivers etc. before launching the product. For now I'm trying out a 2015 Chromebook Pixel with Debian GNU/Linux install..ing. Still working on it. It has a lot of the same problems mentioned here: - Suuuper glossy screen (basically a mirror with a dark background) - Limited keyboard: no pageup/pagedown.. even more limited than the Dell, it doesn't have a DEL key, just Power in its place... much key remapping will be required to make this usable. - No physical trackpad buttons, and that's a huuuge problem, because even Google's touchpad driver fails some basic tests of operation as compared to a Mac (e.g. cursor stutters its motion if you click while moving the cursor). The lack of touchpad buttons across most laptops now is shocking. - Keys are a bit shallow

bluedino 12y ago
>> the M3800 which is Dell's beefy 15" Linux laptop. Actually, the 6.3lb M4800 is Dell's beefy laptop.
- defective 12y ago
  The M3800 is Dell's beefy 15" Linux laptop.
- hackmiester 12y ago
  Yep! Just got an m4800 and I love it. Linux isn't the easiest to use, though... and it looks like I currently have to run the nv binary driver to use my graphics card. :( So I definitely wouldn't classify it as a Linux laptop - even unofficially.
tracker1 12y ago
I have yet to use a touchpad that works as well as a macbook's... which is pretty sad at this point.. I understand they reduced the travel of the keys and touchpad in the late 2014 releases though... That and the display are the two main reasons I got an rMBP (right before the new models last year)... but may well go with something else in a couple years.

bluedino 12y ago

Dell has achieved feature parity with the Retina MacBook Pro, and has made huge improvements on their last 'MBP competitor', the XPS 15. However, looking at it objectively, the article pretty much sums it up: Thunderbolt port doesn't really work in Ubuntu Application-level 4k scaling issues are pretty much all over the place If all you're after is Linux on a laptop, you can do it for cheaper than the M3800's starting price I kind of hoped the Dell logo on the back would light up, but sadly it doesn't Battery life with the Nvidia GPU enabled is far too short for a day's worth of working Not quite a MacBook, but if you absolutely must have Linux instead of OS X, and don't want to fiddle with installing and tweaking it, it's very serviceable. But if you don't need the NVIDIA GPU there are cheaper options.

stormbrew 12y ago
Note that the first two would also be issues running linux on a macbook. Thunderbolt support on linux is extremely weak.
mcantelon 12y ago
I've got an Inspiron 15 7000 which has an Nvidia GPU, good specs, and was pretty cheap. Only 1080p resolution though.
xorcist 12y ago
The Nvidia GPU is a strange fit. Is it really that common to run 3D workloads on a Linux laptop? That binary blob is going to hold you back on software upgrades, sooner or later...
darklajid 12y ago
Find the weird item in the list? :-) My bet is on I kind of hoped the Dell logo on the back would light up, but sadly it doesn't The rest makes sense, of course. But really, is this particular point worth mentioning?

jamesblonde 12y ago

I have had the previous m3800, with 3.5K screen, and a 512GB SSD. I'm running dual-boot windows 8, but with Ubuntu 14.10 as my primary OS. The touchscreen and scaling of windows is great. On Ubuntu they are non-existant. I can't use my finger to scroll, but can launch apps with my finger. Using my fingers is something i'm really getting to like. Things like getting a putty connection to my server in 2 seconds works now with three quick touches. The big problem has been that suspened doesn't work now - both on windows and ubuntu. I "upgraded" to 15.04, still no joy. I assume it's a motherboard problem, but I don't time to leave it back. Killer for my productivity, though. Pity, as it ruins an otherwise nice laptop.

karlgrz 12y ago
If you open Google Chrome -with your finger- on Ubuntu 14.04 (and 14.10) it will allow you to use touch for scrolling. If you open it with the mouse...it won't. Weird.
karlgrz 12y ago
Also, suspend works perfectly on XPS 15 with Ubuntu 14.04 and 14.10, although I had to add a couple of statements to rc.local to prevent it from waking in my backpack: echo EHC1 > /proc/acpi/wakeup echo EHC2 > /proc/acpi/wakeup echo XHC > /proc/acpi/wakeup After this, the only two devices enabled in /proc/acpi/wakeup are power button and the lid (exactly what I want): cat /proc/acpi/wakeup | grep enabled PWRB S4 *enabled LID0 S4 *enabled Don't know if that helps...would probably need more detail on what isn't working with your model's suspend.

moron4hire 12y ago

How do these ones hold up over time? I haven't had a Dell PC of any kind, laptop or desktop, last longer than two years (and thanks to switching jobs a few times and being the family PC tech support, I've seen quite a few Dells). I had given up on the brand completely, but this is a very tempting piece of hardware. I hate how hard it is to find the specs I want in a laptop computer. Some sites will let you filter by specs, but sometimes I'd be willing to compromise on some specs if other specs hit certain thresholds. And then, it seems like some products get selected by the filter that should be, and others get filtered out that do match the specs, so I'm just back to reading pretty much every product page until I find what I want.

Greed 12y ago
http://notebookcheck.net http://notebookcheck.net is pretty good for this, they have a solid breakdown for laptops and a search function that allows you to filter on a more granular level than just price.

deleted 12y ago

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lhl 12y ago

Sadly, the Sputnik version of the XPS 13, the one I was more interested in, still has issues/hasn't come out yet. This 3rd-party article/thread seems to be a good place for tracking those developments: https://major.io/2015/02/03/linux-support-dell-xps-13-9343-2015-model/ https://major.io/2015/02/03/linux-support-dell-xps-13-9343-2... Issues w/ the XPS 13 include keyboard repeat issues (fixed w/ BIOS A01 update), trackpad issues (kernel patches, switching from I2C to PS2 mode), sound (switching from I2S to HDA, requires ACPI jigger-pokery including another kernel patch since the BIOS breaks sound init when ACPI is sent properly https://lkml.org/lkml/2015/3/12/149 https://lkml.org/lkml/2015/3/12/149). Also the XPS 13 uses a somewhat flakey Broadcom wireless card as well. And people have reported some S3 sleep issues. My main goal was to replace my MBA11 w/ something about the same size w/ better battery-life (my Yosemite battery-life is pathetic, about 4hrs even just web browsing). The FHD XPS13 claims 15 hours, but I couldn't wait anymore and ended up going w/ the new Lenovo X250 - slightly less sexy but more or less equivalent and only a tiny bit larger, largely works OOTB w/ Linux, and has 20 hours claimed battery life w/ the 6-cell battery option.

harel 12y ago

That's all great, but I have a bundle of cold hard cash here waiting for the XPS 13 developer edition. All this time I see lovely things to spend it on but still I wait...

adamc 12y ago

I'll be interested to see how these work out. There were two issues that scared me away from the predecessor: Reported wifi issues and coil whine. If they can avoid significant issues, then it's a nice laptop, although the battery life could be better.

puppetmaster3 12y ago

https://system76.com/laptops https://system76.com/laptops

joshuapants 12y ago
Aren't these simply overpriced Clevo/Sager rebrands?

mjcohen 12y ago

How do you do a middle click on the pad?

tpeaton 12y ago
Three finger tap.

ChikkaChiChi 12y ago

Apple announced the 2880x1800 Retina display in June of 2012. It has been almost 3 years and only 2 of the 4 desktop operating systems have an interface that works reliably at pixel doubling resolutions: Apple OSX and Google Chrome OS.

likeclockwork 12y ago

I have an XPS 13 from 2012 that I run Fedora on. I sometimes wish for a larger/newer/faster laptop (even though I do most of my serious work at a desktop with 2x27" 1440p monitors).. I wish to be more comfortable when working in various places. I'm seriously eyeballing this one, because I love the feel of these contraptions. Aluminum upper, carbon fiber lower, shark dick interior..