Re: [Hampshire] How to get a laptop with Linux?
On 3 November 2016 at 17:58, Peter Alefounder via Hampshire < hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk> wrote: > What is the best way to acquire a laptop running Linux these > days? Various web searches haven't helped me much. Some sites say > it's better to get one running Windows, then install Linux. > However, I get the impression that it can be difficult to have > all the hardware working properly, because of a lack of Linux > drivers. Other web sites list various laptops with Linux, but > they turn out to be either extremely expensive, or very low-end, > or currently out of stock. It appears that building one is not > feasible as, unlike desktop machines, hardware is not standard. > > I understand that people do have laptops running Linux, so how is > it done? I would be grateful for any advice. > > Peter Alefounder. > Pretty much everything works in Linux now days, so the problems with drivers should have mostly disappeared now. If you are really caucious, get a USB stick or CD with the latest Ubuntu on it. Find a friend or a shop with the Laptop your are interestest in, that will let you boot the USB Stick or CD into Ubuntu, see it actually working. Things to check are: 1) Does it boot up and display the desktop. 2) Does the wifi work and does it see access points. 3) Note the output (take a pic of the screen with your phone) of "lspci -n" and "lspci" and then google to check all the devices are supported. Some manufactures do actually sell laptops with Linux on them, I think Dell sell some, but in general, get any laptop, and then install Linux over the top of Windows. (I removed the HDD with windows on it, and replaced it with an SSD with Linux on for my laptop) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] How to get a laptop with Linux?
On Thursday 03 Nov 2016 17:58:26 Peter Alefounder via Hampshire wrote: > What is the best way to acquire a laptop running Linux these > days? Various web searches haven't helped me much. https://www.entroware.com/store/laptops I haven't used them, but they've been mentioned on the Ubuntu Podcast a few times. -- Be seeing you,Games: http://www.glendale.org.uk/ Sam. Posts: http://www.google.com/+SamuelPenn -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] How to get a laptop with Linux?
System76 do a range of laptops with Ubuntu; they're US based, but ship internationally: https://system76.com/laptops Dell sell a few laptops with Ubuntu installed. The UK site usually seems to say they're unavailable, but maybe a phone call would have better results. The XPS 13 in particular is a pretty nice laptop. http://www.dell.com/learn/uk/en/ukbsdt1/campaigns/dell-linux-ubuntu-en?c=uk=en=bsd I think people mostly still buy Windows laptops and install Linux themselves. It's generally pretty smooth, but it's worth planning before you buy. Things I know to look out for: - Stick to Intel graphics unless you're keen to play games on it. Nvidia and AMD graphics do mostly work OK with their proprietary drivers, but it's a bit of extra hassle. - Try to find out what wifi chipset it uses and check what Linux support is like. Again, you can make just about anything work with some fiddling, but some are easier than others. Thomas On Thu, Nov 3, 2016, at 05:58 PM, Peter Alefounder via Hampshire wrote: > What is the best way to acquire a laptop running Linux these > days? Various web searches haven't helped me much. Some sites say > it's better to get one running Windows, then install Linux. > However, I get the impression that it can be difficult to have > all the hardware working properly, because of a lack of Linux > drivers. Other web sites list various laptops with Linux, but > they turn out to be either extremely expensive, or very low-end, > or currently out of stock. It appears that building one is not > feasible as, unlike desktop machines, hardware is not standard. > > I understand that people do have laptops running Linux, so how is > it done? I would be grateful for any advice. > > Peter Alefounder. > > -- > Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk > Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire > LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk > -- -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] How to get a laptop with Linux?
On Thu, 3 Nov 2016 17:58:26 + (UTC), Peter Alefounder via Hampshire wrote: >What is the best way to acquire a laptop running Linux these >days? Various web searches haven't helped me much. Some sites say >it's better to get one running Windows, then install Linux. >However, I get the impression that it can be difficult to have >all the hardware working properly, because of a lack of Linux >drivers. Other web sites list various laptops with Linux, but >they turn out to be either extremely expensive, or very low-end, >or currently out of stock. It appears that building one is not >feasible as, unlike desktop machines, hardware is not standard. > >I understand that people do have laptops running Linux, so how is >it done? I would be grateful for any advice. > >Peter Alefounder. > I recently acquired a no-OS Lafité 13.3 from https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk (i5, 8GB, 120GB SSD, 1920x1080) and it's gorgeous, £516 IIRC. Everything works (wifi, bt, suspend /resume, key backlight / function keys etc). Great service, my only connection being a happy customer. -jonathan -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] How to get a laptop with Linux?
I used Jamies Computers. I had to do the install, but they tested my Latitude laptop with a live CD to make sure it all worked. These are reconditioned machines, but they upgraded the RAM and the hard-drive, and the advantage of having a slightly older machine is the hardware is more likely to have fully working drivers. These days the actual install seems pretty easy, using a downloaded disk image or a CD / DVD from a magazine. I'm very happy to have an excellent machine at a budget price, around about £100. When I've got stuck people on this list have always been helpful. Owain On 03/11/16 17:58, Peter Alefounder via Hampshire wrote: What is the best way to acquire a laptop running Linux these days? Various web searches haven't helped me much. Some sites say it's better to get one running Windows, then install Linux. However, I get the impression that it can be difficult to have all the hardware working properly, because of a lack of Linux drivers. Other web sites list various laptops with Linux, but they turn out to be either extremely expensive, or very low-end, or currently out of stock. It appears that building one is not feasible as, unlike desktop machines, hardware is not standard. I understand that people do have laptops running Linux, so how is it done? I would be grateful for any advice. Peter Alefounder. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] How to get a laptop with Linux?
What is the best way to acquire a laptop running Linux these days? Various web searches haven't helped me much. Some sites say it's better to get one running Windows, then install Linux. However, I get the impression that it can be difficult to have all the hardware working properly, because of a lack of Linux drivers. Other web sites list various laptops with Linux, but they turn out to be either extremely expensive, or very low-end, or currently out of stock. It appears that building one is not feasible as, unlike desktop machines, hardware is not standard. I understand that people do have laptops running Linux, so how is it done? I would be grateful for any advice. Peter Alefounder. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] Speakers wanted
We (PLUG) are in need of volunteers for speakers. Come on, some of you must have something you could/would like to share! ;-) Any length of talk welcomed: full length talks are great, but so are two minute demonstrations. In particular, has anyone got anything fun for our December meeting? Last year we had a robot arm or two. Helicopter drones anyone? Anyone for November? (19th) Thanks in anticipation, Lisi -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
