For those who’re currently looking for a nice new device: shown are (from Top Left to Right):
- NovaCustom (NL)
- Star Labs (UK)
- System76 (US)
- Juno Computers (US)
- UbuntuShop (BE)
- Slimbook (ES)
- Tuxedo Computers (DE)
- Entroware (UK)
- MiniFree (UK)
- Nitrokey (DE)
- Laptops with Linux (NL)
- Purism (US)
Not mentioned but also selling Ready-to-use Linux computer:
- Dell
- Lenovo
Framework deserves a spot in that meme
My SOs system76 had intermittent graphics issues and their tech support had hour-long calls with me over several weeks and additional emails correspondence where we did some very in-depth testing and monitoring of the machine. I think most of the testing was that their team genuinely wanted to know if it was a hardware or software issue and fix it right.
In the end they replaced the entire motherboard under warranty because they pointed out in another month and it wouldn’t be covered and it might fix it. It did.
I suspect it was just a bad Nvidia GPU. It sucks that it had the problem and that it was difficult to track down but all laptops break.
I challenge anyone to find that level of support from a Windows manufacturer without having a corporate account.
Dell’s accidental warranty used to be solid AF. I installed Eve OL beta and my graphics card cooked. (even had stripes in the bios) They replaced the entire laptop with a late model P4 of equivalent value to what I paid.
Those days are long gone, though.
Its kinda funny that when I read “hour-long wait calls” I initially thought you were complaining about being on hold for too long. I just couldn’t imagine a scenario where they were helping you the entire time and it was positive lol
Nope, no waiting, sitting on the call with me while we try multiple things and waiting through reboots while he bounced ideas off I believe an internal slack discussion or something. no trying to get off the call or hand me off to meet some arbitrary call time quota.
You even threw the word “wait” in there independently because of your preconceptions of customer support calls
Running Debian 12 on a $300 no-name chinese laptop from before the tariffs. Formatted over Windows ofc.
It rules!
Minifree! ❤
Lenovo allows now. U can opt out of windows 11 and save money. I believe they installed Ubuntu. U can reinstall with Linux mint or Pop OS if u like the feel of windows.
Apparently either Ubuntu or Fedora. Given you even save money it’s quite a good offering; although you may get better repairability or hotline support with one of the others.
I currently have a system76 (not happy, story for another time) and am in the market for a new gaming laptop this time specifically looking for amd cpu / gpu - any recommendations? I prefer Kubuntu should drivers be an issue.
If you are in the US, I’m very happy with the ROG G-series. The cooling is overengineered, they have a good community built around them (see https://gitlab.com/asus-linux/asusctl), and now they’re even offering some Strix Halo stuff, which is really awesome.
Framework is great, but I wouldn’t buy one for heavy dGPU use since the cooling is… not the best. At least not until they offer Strix Halo laptops too.
Unfortunately I’m only seeing nvidia gpu’s on those (or at least that’s only option on the US eshop filters)
Bit pricey but the Framework 16 is always a great option for the more tech inclined.
Doesn’t come with Linux by default but they support it very well and have people on staff for Linux support. You will have to install it yourself though
Thanks this looks like a great option and actually cheaper than my system76 for similar specs
Missing Framework?
Not selling with Linux preinstalled.
Framework:
Also Pine64
I just got a Zenbook Duo for work because I haul around a second monitor all the time. Debian 12 is not happy, feels like the early 2Ks as I try out mainline and other methods to get the wifi card and displays recognized. Every laptop I’ve used up to this one worked out of the box. That being said, Ubuntu may, but I’m trying to avoid the snap machine.
I think the answer is yes. Last time I did a survey of options a lot of them seemed highly unreliable. Framework was one exception but… unfortunately I think you kinda just have to like the framework idea. The massive premium you pay there just doesn’t make financial sense unless you actively (ab)use your hardware such that it might really fail within the useful lifetime of the processor. (Ie I can buy two laptops for the price of one framework, so…why not just do that if the first fails?)
They’re all shitty clevo laptops
That’s not true! Some of them are Tongfang devices. 🥴
It’s true those companies have to overwhelmingly work with ODMs, doesn’t necessarily make the devices shitty though.
Starlabs design their own.
They’re also insanely expensive
Because they design their own, yes. That’s how economy of scale works.
To benefit from it you either need to sell an absurd amount of stuff or buy from those who do.
Obviously they have their reasons but few people are willing to pay a ton of money for a laptop with designs that while custom arent groundbreaking or particularly unique
I beg to differ, i have bought clevo w650sj back in the day when it was produced, it works great to this day, just added ssd and ram and it works great with opensuse tumbleweed and windows 11 dualboot, i use windows in dual boot because i need adobe and flashing software for obscure chinese phones and flashing software to revive bricked usb sticks
Well, the quality of most laptops fell enough in the last decade, that the clevos are decent now. Also, fuck thinkpad part rejection, I’m definitely not buying a (edit: new) TP.
would you mind elaborating on the part rejection? i am not sure what is meant by that
ThinkPads refuse to work with non-Lenovo batteries.
i wasn’t aware of that. thank you! is this a recent development?
I can’t find an exact date, but there is a YouTube tutorial from 2018 on removing the battery whitelist, so it’s been at least 7 years.
And different wwan cards. How are you supposed to add mobile broadband? Buy the same as OEM card?
PSA: My Starbook MK V has great specs but feels cheap and loses charge when closed, so it’s always empty when I need it.
(Tried all firmware updates and different distros, without success and their support isn’t of any help either. Won’t be ordering from them again.)
Also Framework.
I think OP means “just work” as in the OS is preinstalled. Framework do support Linux but they don’t preinstall a distro for you.
Having said that, I’ve got a Framework 16 and it’s very nice.
I wouldn’t expect folks working on Linux to be discouraged by the sweat equity of something as small as running the installer for an OS. I definitely read “just work” to mean having all components supported by the OS, regular updates available, etc.
Years ago it was literally impossible to get a laptop without OS. It’s a good enough option compared to what we had to suffer before.
When I checked out during purchasing my 16 I seem to remember the options being “no OS (bring your own), Fedora, Ubuntu, and Windows.” I chose no OS because I was planning on installing FedoraKDE with FDE which wasn’t an option, but, I assumed that by choosing Fedora as my option it would come preinstalled, or does it come with an install USB to do it yourself?
Bought one very recently, the options are
- buy a prebuilt and it will come with windows pre-installed
- buy a DIY edition and the SSD will be new in box with nothing installed on it
- you can opt for a windows license, but it is just a digital download for the installer
Damn, I preordered mine, and definitely remember the option despite not choosing it. I wonder why they took it off. If I had a guess it’s because anyone ordering a framework probably wanted to install the OS themselves for encryption like me or whatever other reason, so almost nobody chose that probably lol.
Came here to say this. I really like mine.
Tbh I would rather a desktop and build that myself. If I wanted a laptop I would most likely be looking for very low specs and cheap, so second hand. Got a laptop with a 2011 pentium CPU somewhere and it works perfectly fine on Linux, even got a few games on it.
Drox Operative 2 runs at 60FPS, kinda makes me wish we had more 2D games these days as they can run on pretty much anything.
I’ve got a cheap refurbished ThinkPad L390 Yoga. (€180) It’s plenty powerful and the touchscreen is awesome with KDE Plasma (but only with Wayland - X11 is not built for touchscreens, it only does mouse emulation).
