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View Full Version : How does this laptop look for Linux compatability?



kevin11951
May 15th, 2011, 03:47 AM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115984

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/34-115-984-Z01?$S300W$

I am looking for a low powered college/work computer...

How does this look when it comes to compatibility with Ubuntu/Linux?

kaldor
May 15th, 2011, 04:27 AM
Why not just order from System76?

Also from your previous posts, I thought you were working on some open source consulting stuff? My point being, why buy a Windows preinstall to remove Windows?

Edit:

Assume you've checked here (http://www.system76.com/index.php?cPath=28) and here? (http://zareason.com/shop/Laptops/)

Bandit
May 15th, 2011, 04:37 AM
.....

Assume you've checked here (http://www.system76.com/index.php?cPath=28) and here? (http://zareason.com/shop/Laptops/)
I love ZaReasons website where it says "Your Choice of Operating System" and none of the options are Windows.. LOL..

kevin11951
May 15th, 2011, 04:54 AM
Why not just order from System76?

Also from your previous posts, I thought you were working on some open source consulting stuff? My point being, why buy a Windows preinstall to remove Windows?

Edit:

Assume you've checked here (http://www.system76.com/index.php?cPath=28) and here? (http://zareason.com/shop/Laptops/)

System76 and ZaReason are a little expensive...

kevin11951
May 15th, 2011, 04:57 AM
System76 and ZaReason are a little expensive...

For example, when configured as close as possible:

Acer: $579.99

ZaReason: $926.00

System76 does not have any normal sized laptops with Intel cards, and I am very keen on both!

jerenept
May 15th, 2011, 05:06 AM
Looks fine to me.

kaldor
May 15th, 2011, 05:18 AM
For example, when configured as close as possible:

Acer: $579.99

ZaReason: $926.00

System76 does not have any normal sized laptops with Intel cards, and I am very keen on both!

Ouch.

Yeah, may as well get the Acer then.

NightwishFan
May 15th, 2011, 05:25 AM
The machine you posted seems similar to my Asus laptop only with a newer cpu. The exception is that I have 256mb of graphics memory, I believe that one was reported to only have 128. It should run well though since it is an i5. (Even a machine I tested with an i3 was snappy on Ubuntu 10.04)

My advice is do some research on some of the potentially troublesome components such as wifi cards first though.

smellyman
May 15th, 2011, 05:32 AM
The machine you posted seems similar to my Asus laptop only with a newer cpu. The exception is that I have 256mb of graphics memory, I believe that one was reported to only have 128. It should run well though since it is an i5. (Even a machine I tested with an i3 was snappy on Ubuntu 10.04)

My advice is do some research on some of the potentially troublesome components such as wifi cards first though.

128 megs of system memory too. However, my lenovo with Intel graphics is similar to that laptop and performance is great.

Oxwivi
May 15th, 2011, 05:45 AM
How does this look when it comes to compatibility with Ubuntu/Linux?
As NightwishFan said, from the mentioned details, it's perfectly compatible. But the manufacturer of the WiFi chip is missing - if it's Broadcom, watch out!

Bart_D
May 15th, 2011, 05:46 AM
....why buy a Windows preinstall to remove Windows?....

My 123 cents:

It would be better the purchase hardware that is KNOWN to be compatible with both Linux and Windows so that IF the original poster requires Wndows for some specialty application(a HIGHLY probable scenario) then he has that option to fall back on uptodate hardware....rather than hardware that is compatible with Linux BUT 2-3 years old due to lack of driver support.

themarker0
May 15th, 2011, 06:03 AM
Acer's download page list both broadcom and Aethors.

linuxforartists
May 15th, 2011, 06:08 AM
As NightwishFan said, from the mentioned details, it's perfectly compatible. But the manufacturer of the WiFi chip is missing - if it's Broadcom, watch out!

My impression is the best bet for Linux comptability is to go Intel everything: processor, wireless Internet card, and graphics card. You don't sound like you're going to do a lot of gaming, so you can live with a lower-powered graphics card.

On NewEgg, there were 2 Acer laptops that both had a 1GB VRAM graphics card. One model had an AMD/ATI combo, the other was an Intel/Nvidia combo. So tempted! I went with an Intel HD card in the end. My computer usage doesn't require that kind of firepower.

Oxwivi
May 15th, 2011, 06:17 AM
My impression is the best bet for Linux comptability is to go Intel everything: processor, wireless Internet card, and graphics card.
++

leviathan8
May 15th, 2011, 08:42 AM
I have no idea if you will have any graphics related issue, but I personally fear the Intel HD Graphics card. I have it on my laptop, and it crashed a lot while having compiz enabled. And since natty defaults it and you're unable to change it, I'd recommend that you stick to LTS with settings set to none.
But this is just in my case, if it works for you, please respond with your experience. :popcorn:

Oxwivi
May 15th, 2011, 08:49 AM
Well, my Intel card never failed me, I still recommend getting Intel graphic card.

Starks
May 15th, 2011, 09:04 AM
Don't be afraid to get an ATI or Nvidia GPU.

ATI added PowerXpress to their drivers and Nvidia's Optimus has been figured out by the bumblebee solution.

Oxwivi
May 15th, 2011, 09:09 AM
Don't be afraid to get an ATI or Nvidia GPU.

ATI added PowerXpress to their drivers and Nvidia's Optimus has been figured out by the bumblebee solution.
There's really no need to mess with them when he only needs to use it for college/office as he mentions in the intro post.

mikewhatever
May 15th, 2011, 10:19 AM
There is really no way of telling reliably without the specs of the networking and audio hardware. Be ready to tinker with it.

el_koraco
May 15th, 2011, 10:56 AM
I have an Emachines laptop, that line is built pretty simmilar to this one, just with AMD components (CPU, GPU). Everything has been working OOTB, I just wish I didn't get an ATI GPU, cuz it's more trouble than it's worth.

kevin11951
May 15th, 2011, 10:19 PM
Why not just order from System76?

Also from your previous posts, I thought you were working on some open source consulting stuff? My point being, why buy a Windows preinstall to remove Windows?

Edit:

Assume you've checked here (http://www.system76.com/index.php?cPath=28) and here? (http://zareason.com/shop/Laptops/)

I forgot to mention... I will be keeping Windows on any computer I buy and setting up a dual boot. All my home computers run Linux only, but my work/mobile workstations run Linux and Windows for emergencies...

NormanFLinux
May 15th, 2011, 11:08 PM
I have a Lenovo x120e. Its a "tweener." Since has a dual core processor, someday I could run 64 bit Ubuntu on it.

screaminj3sus
May 16th, 2011, 01:18 AM
The machine you posted seems similar to my Asus laptop only with a newer cpu. The exception is that I have 256mb of graphics memory, I believe that one was reported to only have 128. It should run well though since it is an i5. (Even a machine I tested with an i3 was snappy on Ubuntu 10.04)

My advice is do some research on some of the potentially troublesome components such as wifi cards first though.

Looks similar to my asus as well (same specs except mine has the i5 460m) mine has a few issues (suspend and sound) but both were easily solved. I'd say it will probably work, but you may or may not have to do a little tweaking. The intel graphics work great out of the box :)

timZZ
May 16th, 2011, 01:28 AM
Everything seems fine.

Just check the Wi-fi ... It's not so much "Could it work" the answer is yes but it might need a lot of your time.

Acer is very "Cutting edge" which can cause strange complications.

linuxforartists
May 16th, 2011, 10:15 AM
Don't be afraid to get an ATI or Nvidia GPU.

ATI added PowerXpress to their drivers and Nvidia's Optimus has been figured out by the bumblebee solution.

I'm kinda off-topic, but I'm glad to read this news. I avoided buying some sweet laptops because they had Nvidia Optimus. Thought it still wasn't being functional under Linux.

Here's a link:
Optimus on Linux problem solved (http://www.martin-juhl.dk/2011/05/optimus-on-linux-problem-solved/)

Oh well, maybe for my next laptop. So far, my Intel HD card has been fine for YouTube and watching movies.

sostentado
May 16th, 2011, 02:48 PM
Looks fine.