Ask HN: Ultrabook with linux
Hi Linux hackers,
I need to change my laptop, as its aging.. Would like ultrabook for mobility, Full HD display, possibly touch screen with SSD and intel GPU, since radeon graphics had been too hot for my previous laptop in linux (Bad drivers though).
Also I would love some great brand, such as Dell, Lenovo, Hp, MSI and so on...
Would like it work out of box, and I heard Dell xps 13 is having this Sputnik project behind, which sounds great. Whats the expirience there?
please advice
12 comments
If you're okay with it, I'd actually suggest buying a MacBook Air and running Linux on it. My experience in the rest of the "ultrabook" world is that they just weigh far too much.
On the flip side, I'm also using a System76, which I've come to love. If you're interested, I wrote a review on my blog (http://www.lyricalsoftware.com/blog/system76-galago-review/)
On the flip side, I'm also using a System76, which I've come to love. If you're interested, I wrote a review on my blog (http://www.lyricalsoftware.com/blog/system76-galago-review/)
That's a pretty nice review. I hadn't heard of System76 before. Looks like they make some solid hardware.
I had similar touch pad issues with a HP where the sensitivity was either too much or not enough. When I ran Xubuntu, I saw the same issues and could never get it dialed in where I wanted it. I eventually jumped over to using CrunchBang (uses OpenBox for the DE, built on Debian) and my touchpad was pretty much dialed in from the get go. Makes me wonder if the sensitivity issues may be with the touchpad drivers that Ubuntu provides, granted it they are different than what's packaged with Debian.
I had similar touch pad issues with a HP where the sensitivity was either too much or not enough. When I ran Xubuntu, I saw the same issues and could never get it dialed in where I wanted it. I eventually jumped over to using CrunchBang (uses OpenBox for the DE, built on Debian) and my touchpad was pretty much dialed in from the get go. Makes me wonder if the sensitivity issues may be with the touchpad drivers that Ubuntu provides, granted it they are different than what's packaged with Debian.
thumbs up for review, I had no idea about these guys...
MacBook is used by Linus as well, I think :-).
I highly recommend the Acer Aspire S7. It is a pain to get Linux onto, but once you do get it on there, it's an absolute pleasure to work with in Ubuntu. The keyboard will take some getting used to. I have literally written tens of thousands of lines of code on this device and can't imagine using another laptop anymore.
To get the thing to run Linux properly, you have to disable some bios settings, create a software raid device, and play some games with a recovery CD to get the installation to boot properly. It took me a week to figure it out. I wish it weren't so painful, but the hardware is so light and thin that it was worth the pain.
Highly recommend!
To get the thing to run Linux properly, you have to disable some bios settings, create a software raid device, and play some games with a recovery CD to get the installation to boot properly. It took me a week to figure it out. I wish it weren't so painful, but the hardware is so light and thin that it was worth the pain.
Highly recommend!
I've had the best luck with laptops which are "pure" Intel based, including graphics. For most non-hardcore gaming uses, Intel integrated graphics is fast enough, and it seems well supported on most of the traditional Linux desktops (meaning it uses hardware for compositing, windowing effects and similar).
It's true that Nvidia and AMD has better raw performance numbers, but for some reason - despite all the years gone by since both Nvidia and AMD pledged support - both Nvidia and AMD drivers still suck IMHO. Nvidia seems more stable than AMD, but overall less stable than the standard Intel drivers. It seems there's always something that does not work properly with either of the drivers, being trouble waking up from suspend/hybernate, glitches/hangs (which destroys any notion of "fluidness") and occasional total driver breakage with new laptops, new linux releases or similar.
The only annoying thing is that even though the intel driver works nicely, there are still many things it does not support. If you're using Chrome, type in "chrome://gpu" in your browser and count the number of colored lines in the first section. On my f* up Nvidia Optimus system (yeah, current office standard, oh the number of hours I've wasted on that computer) I get 5 greens, 3 greenorangy and 3 reds. For comparison, my Macbook Air Pro running OSX I get 11 green and 1 greenorangy. I do not have my pure Intel laptop handy, but if I remember correctly it has very few if any greens at all. That means Chrome is doing all the heavy lifting without much hardware support. That often means it's the same for most apps, possibly except the desktop environments themselves who seems to do a decent job on linux desktops already.
Anyway, here's hoping that there will be decent Intel drivers for Linux laptops sometimes in the near future, so Chrome and other apps can get more greens and comparable general graphics performance as Nvidia and AMD on OSX and Windows.
It's true that Nvidia and AMD has better raw performance numbers, but for some reason - despite all the years gone by since both Nvidia and AMD pledged support - both Nvidia and AMD drivers still suck IMHO. Nvidia seems more stable than AMD, but overall less stable than the standard Intel drivers. It seems there's always something that does not work properly with either of the drivers, being trouble waking up from suspend/hybernate, glitches/hangs (which destroys any notion of "fluidness") and occasional total driver breakage with new laptops, new linux releases or similar.
The only annoying thing is that even though the intel driver works nicely, there are still many things it does not support. If you're using Chrome, type in "chrome://gpu" in your browser and count the number of colored lines in the first section. On my f* up Nvidia Optimus system (yeah, current office standard, oh the number of hours I've wasted on that computer) I get 5 greens, 3 greenorangy and 3 reds. For comparison, my Macbook Air Pro running OSX I get 11 green and 1 greenorangy. I do not have my pure Intel laptop handy, but if I remember correctly it has very few if any greens at all. That means Chrome is doing all the heavy lifting without much hardware support. That often means it's the same for most apps, possibly except the desktop environments themselves who seems to do a decent job on linux desktops already.
Anyway, here's hoping that there will be decent Intel drivers for Linux laptops sometimes in the near future, so Chrome and other apps can get more greens and comparable general graphics performance as Nvidia and AMD on OSX and Windows.
I had so many problems with nvidia mobile and its was getting too much heat out of the fan BOX, while comparing other laptops with Intels GPU it was completely different story.
I had to install nvidia drivers as I had to have external display support.
As a developer with just a few graphical requests in total, I don't need nvidia or amd ati... ;-)
Also, I have no time to tweak it up and make it work, I would like something that works out of box, I think thats normal request, right :)
Yes. It also means you should definitively go for a pure Intel-based laptop (with Intel HD graphics of some sorts) whatever choice you end up with. Good luck!
thanks mate, so far I am in between xps 13 and xps 12... I really like how they look and feel, even the price is not advantage though :)
I had been looking for an ultrabook for linux not long ago.
Here's my experience, I ran Arch on a MacBook Air and it went by okay until the SSD died and I returned it to Apple for a refund (if you buy apple products during the holidays they have a very relaxed return policy). Had a Dell XPS 13 for about 3 days, returned it due some hardware and configuration issues. Borrowed a Toshiba Kirabook for some time, however running Arch on it was, wow, much pain.
I was using a System76 panp5 for sometime before, most System76 laptops are at a great price point for the hardware as compared to many other brands, it got me by but the build quality was poor. Clevo chassis are just generally not good. I decided to downgrade to a netbook and upgrade my linode plan. Depending on your needs, buying a cheap and upgradable Asus/Acer netbook, maxing the RAM and putting in an SSD in, then using linode or the like for any heavy lifting might be something to consider.
I was using a System76 panp5 for sometime before, most System76 laptops are at a great price point for the hardware as compared to many other brands, it got me by but the build quality was poor. Clevo chassis are just generally not good. I decided to downgrade to a netbook and upgrade my linode plan. Depending on your needs, buying a cheap and upgradable Asus/Acer netbook, maxing the RAM and putting in an SSD in, then using linode or the like for any heavy lifting might be something to consider.
I have a XPS13, the current 9333 model. It's nice, but it makes an annoying noise, and it seems Dell aren't going to fix it, so I'm going to have to return it. It seems this only effects people with good hearing, and work in quiet environments, though.
More info:
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/t/...
I also wasn't impressed with the Ubuntu installation, it didn't work too well out of the box for me (sorry I can't remember specifics, so take this with a pinch of salt). I spent some time installing and configuring the latest Ubuntu, got to something usable but it was some work.
I tried the chromebook pixel before, but installing linux was problematic, and the specs are impractical. A shame as I liked the screen.
I will probably get a T series thinkpad now.
I also wasn't impressed with the Ubuntu installation, it didn't work too well out of the box for me (sorry I can't remember specifics, so take this with a pinch of salt). I spent some time installing and configuring the latest Ubuntu, got to something usable but it was some work.
I tried the chromebook pixel before, but installing linux was problematic, and the specs are impractical. A shame as I liked the screen.
I will probably get a T series thinkpad now.
thats so sad... thanks for feedback, this is really disappointing.
Which thinkpad you have in mind, is there some with my requirements list and normal price which would support linux?!
Does it stops the noise if you turn off keyboard lid?!
Does it stops the noise if you turn off keyboard lid?!
I just got a Asus UX31a-DH71. It has an 256SSD, i7 processor with 4M cache. Long battery life. Great screen, 1920x1080. Keyboard stays cool. Suspend/resume work great. Got touchpad working with multitouch scrolling and clicking. About 2 pounds total weight.
I am running Linux Mint 16 with Cinnamon. Almost everything worked out of the box. Install required turning off secure boot but other than that was easy.
I looked at the other ultrabooks and most top end models, including the newer asus 301x, were selling for around 1800. You can get the UX31a on amazon, from asus, for around 1,000.00.
I am running Linux Mint 16 with Cinnamon. Almost everything worked out of the box. Install required turning off secure boot but other than that was easy.
I looked at the other ultrabooks and most top end models, including the newer asus 301x, were selling for around 1800. You can get the UX31a on amazon, from asus, for around 1,000.00.
My friend has the Dell XPS 13, he too complains about the keyboard backlight noise. (They supposedly even make more noise when off..)
He installed Fedora on it, the kernels are always struggling with identifying the touch screen properly. Sometimes it thinks the screen is the touch pad and ignores the real one.
After downgrading a few times, he finally found one that worked well enough and froze it to that.
He installed Fedora on it, the kernels are always struggling with identifying the touch screen properly. Sometimes it thinks the screen is the touch pad and ignores the real one.
After downgrading a few times, he finally found one that worked well enough and froze it to that.
did not get it, is the sound gone finally?
Besides XPS 13, I really like xps 12 flip thing, which is great to have maybe once in three months, but its nice to have :D...
I am not sure are xps 13 repositories playable for xp13 as well?!
What about lenovo?
What about lenovo?
I have an XPS12 (the first generation though, core i7, 8Gb RAM). Wonderful little powerhouse : I don't use my desktop computer anymore beside games.
The battery life is not very good (especially the moment I listen to music or watch videos while working) and the screen, while very pleasant to work on, sometimes has some "shading" going on (my emacs has a dark grey background and if I look carefully, I can slightly see where my code was a few seconds ago -- I think this is common on touchscreens). It's not annoying by any means and I've heard the new generation has a better battery life and is running cooler.
And the flip option is sturdy and really fun to use. I don't use it as much as I though I would though : it makes a heavy tablet.
The battery life is not very good (especially the moment I listen to music or watch videos while working) and the screen, while very pleasant to work on, sometimes has some "shading" going on (my emacs has a dark grey background and if I look carefully, I can slightly see where my code was a few seconds ago -- I think this is common on touchscreens). It's not annoying by any means and I've heard the new generation has a better battery life and is running cooler.
And the flip option is sturdy and really fun to use. I don't use it as much as I though I would though : it makes a heavy tablet.
I've always thought a Lenovo X1 Carbon would be good for this, but I've never seen one in real life (I live in AK).
Does anyone have an X1? Is it a worthwhile investment?
its extremely expensive. Usually small laptop is not your main computer, so I guess you don't want to spend fortune on it.