Hello i’m searching for buy a laptop, i want to set a Linux OS but i didn’t chose yet if you want u can recommend SO also, but i want a rolling release one, what i want is a laptop to carry practically everywhere, my budget is 500€ but if i like it too much it could go up to 1100, I need minimun of 16GB because when i work i don’t close the tabs, once i’ve stacked up to 258, i would like a minimun of 512 gb of space, and i’ll use the laptop to programming (currently im studing programation), i would like also do my own thinks such a web server, stream server, minecraft server and maybe a casual game such minecraft CS2 or The Binding of Isaac. The keyboard is important ,for me atleast, the Lenovo keyboards i hate them, i like LG or Asus/Acer, all of these i would like to dont open/modify the base laptop, I dont like to open the pc. I know the budget is impossible to catch something with all that but these are orientative objectives, and as I said it can go up to 1100€, one i’ve seen and i liked very much is these https://frame.work/es/en/products/laptop-13-gen-amd/configuration/new the 1600€ but is so expensive for me, but i like it very much even the concept
I would second any Thinkpad that has USB C charging. That’s what I’m looking to get next. Renewed ones are <$300
https://frame.work/es/en/products/laptop-13-gen-amd/configuration/new the 1600€ but is so expensive for me, but i like it very much even the concept
Have you looked at the DYI option instead of the pre built one? Assembling this laptop is doable in 5 minutes for a 3 years old kid ;) You can even find step by step guides videos and that will bring the price down to your higher limit of 1000 euro. That may be a good option if you like the concept so much. I’m personaly looking to get one of those for my next machine.
Also, this discussion may help you. It’s on the framework forum but comments are not only all positive which reflects liberty of speech. Another plus in my view. Finally, always remember to compare apples to apples and take longevity in consideration. Not all processors with similar specs are the same for example.
Can second this, OP. The DYI option saved me like $350 over the pre built and it took like ten minutes in between being amazed at the packaging. They even supply the only tool you’ll need for it!
As for Linux, Fedora 39+ fully supports every aspect of the laptop OOTB. It’s a wonderful experience.
I forgot about the distro. Any should work I think but Arch is fully supported if you’re interested.
I tried that first, but the wifi was broken on Arch. That was several months ago though, so it might be good now, but when I first got it back in January it was not. I can vouch for Fedora though (as well as Ubuntu), since Framework endorses it (them). It’s pretty flawless.
Buy a second hand ebay Thinkpad and install Pop! OS on it.
Laptop
I’m personally a fan of NovaCustom; not as upgradable as Framework, however 7 years of parts are definitely nice to have. They also offer video tutorials on how to replace parts. Good stuff.
But, like any vendor targeting Linux, its devices can be more expensive than what you’d expect from Asus, Lenovo etc.
Perhaps the most important questions that need answering are the following:
- How much computation power is required? I.e. do 10th generation Intel chips suffice or not?
- Are you okay with buying devices second hand?
- How much explicit Linux support do you require from the vendor?
- Do you live in Europe or in USA (or close enough) to buy from Linux-first vendors and not be deprived from sending and receiving the devices (for reparations and what not) due to associated costs and time?
Distro
As for distro, it all comes down to personal taste.
- Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition if you require a popular, reliable and beginner-friendly base.
- If you don’t like how Cinnamon (the Desktop Environment) looks and/or feels, perhaps consider Pop!_OS, Tuxedo OS or Zorin OS instead.
- However, if you prefer minimalism, then the likes of Debian and openSUSE Leap have to be mentioned.
All of the previously mentioned distros are known to ship older versions of software. This is excellent if you require stability above all, but what if you want a distro built on more up to date software? Well, consider the following then:
- Fedora; software found here is at max six months old. Relatively minimal. However, it may require you to fiddle with codecs and what not on first boot. Thankfully, there’s a lot of documentation out there to help you with this. Just ensure that the documentation is written relatively recently.
- If you like what you see from Fedora, but would rather prefer a distro that’s properly setup right from the get-go; then perhaps consider one of uBlue’s images instead. These are known to provide the most stability out of the (relatively) up to date distros. Please ensure to thoroughly read through its documentation, though. The uBlue images are excellent, but their inner workings can be different from other distros. Hence, you should rely on its own documentation first. And only after you’ve determined that it’s not found within should you consider consulting other sources.
Perhaps, you might prefer software updates as soon as they’re available. Hence, Fedora (and derivatives) didn’t quite cut it. Then, you should consider so-called rolling release distros. However, take note; every update comes with the risk of potentially breakage; i.e. something will misbehave that didn’t before. The chance of this is relatively small; probs in the order of 1%. This chance persists; regardless of the chosen distro. Hence, with distros that update more often, it’s more likely that some breakage will occur at some point.
With that out of the way, we should mention noteworthy rolling release distros:
- openSUSE Tumbleweed is for those that absolutely require a rolling release, but desire as much stability as possible. Both openSUSE’s testing as well as built-in Btrfs + Snapper work hard to ensure a smooth ride.
- EndeavourOS or Garuda Linux are the entries from the lineage of the (in)famous Arch (btw). EndeavourOS is primarily known for its easy installation towards a minimal Arch system. Garuda Linux, on the other hand, is more opinionated and therefore comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a distro oriented towards gamers. Still, it comes with Btrfs + Snapper built-in. Which is exactly why it’s mentioned here. Note that you can setup Btrfs + Snapper yourself on EndeavourOS.
I am pretty sure having 250 tabs open at once would require a very wide screen. ;) I installed Linux Mint on a Lenovo, but I looked very closely at Tuxedo machines at the same time.
