Ubuntu hardware compatibility check before purchase

[zoubidoo]

Short version:

We are losing users to Windows and Mac because PC buyers can't tell if the machine in the shops is fully compatible with Ubuntu. And if there is a way of checking then it's not publicised enough.


Long version:

Recently, a friend asked for my advice on buying a new laptop. I encouraged him to buy one with ubuntu pre-installed (without Windows) but he didn't like any of those on offer (there's a much smaller choice here in Belgium and Dell hasn't started selling Ubuntu machines yet).

So I found myself in the uncomfortable position that if I recommended a particular laptop and offered to install ubuntu for him, I might run into hardware compatibility problems. This could cost me lots of time to fix (if possible at all) and would make both me and Ubuntu look bad. Not a good outcome.

So what are the other options? I know about using a livecd in the shop, but this is not always possible - often retailers don't like this.

My experience is we are losing potential Ubuntu users because of the pre-purchase compatibility check. If there is another way of checking if a machine in the shops is fully compatible with Ubuntu, then it needs a much higher profile.

Just my 2 cents.
Z.

[Keyper7]

Eh... Google?

Before I bought my current lappy, five minutes of googling were enough for me to find out about Ubuntu's compatibility with its specs.

Sure, you cannot always Google for info inside a store, but you can write down the model and specs and research at home. I think something important and expensive as a laptop deserves this effort.

[Sef]

Moved to Community Cafe.

[fatality_uk]

You could use sites like:
http://www.linuxhardware.org/
http://www.linux.org/hardware/
http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/
And plenty of others to check for compatibility.

[Jim!]

Just get the model of the laptop, do a google search and find out what hardware the laptop has (unless you choose to right down the hardware while in a store) and then search google to find out if the hardware is compatible (and well supported).

[hyper_ch]

or go into a shop where they have that notebook/desktop and boot a live cd

[zoubidoo]

Many thanks for the suggestions.

I was hoping for a better solution than just googling and following up all the components. You have to admit that it is time-consuming and non-trivial to determine if a machine will be 100% compatible; it's certainly way beyond a layman's ability.


Also found:
http://www.ubuntuhcl.org/
http://hwdb.ubuntu.com/ (not sure how to use this)
https://wiki.ubuntu.com//HardwareSupport

There seems to be a fair bit of interest in making compatibility checking easier.
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/40/

Thanks again for your replies,
Cheers,
Z.

[Tomosaur]

Anyone ever seen those 'will my PC be able to use X?' programs? I think there was a program for XP right before Vista was released which could tell you whether Vista would be ok with your current hardware / specs, and I'm sure I've seen a few things related to games along these lines.

Since Ubuntu already collects hardware information, and there are some third parties doing the same, why don't we already have a tool which users can download for their own computer (ie: Windows or Mac), which scans the hardware connected to the computer and compares it with the information already available.

Obviously, some distros do not support some hardware while others do, but I think just getting this tool working for Ubuntu would be a start, at least. Even if the tool reported back that some piece of hardware doesn't work out of the box on Ubuntu, it could check whether some other distro does support it, or whether there are notes about how to get it working. If potential users had confidence that Ubuntu would 'just work' for them with their current PC, I think we'd see a lot more users.

[madjr]

and don't be afraid of asking the sales person.

maybe someone asked him this in the past.

if not you can tell him/her your needs and they will be better prepared next time.

Tell them they should have some with linux pre-installed (lenovo's, hp's, Dell's, etc)

you use linux not windows and that they should let you test it or give you all the hardware details.

if am going to spend my $$$ they will hear me with smiles in their faces.

[madjr]

Anyone ever seen those 'will my PC be able to use X?' programs? I think there was a program for XP right before Vista was released which could tell you whether Vista would be ok with your current hardware / specs, and I'm sure I've seen a few things related to games along these lines.

Since Ubuntu already collects hardware information, and there are some third parties doing the same, why don't we already have a tool which users can download for their own computer (ie: Windows or Mac), which scans the hardware connected to the computer and compares it with the information already available.

Obviously, some distros do not support some hardware while others do, but I think just getting this tool working for Ubuntu would be a start, at least. Even if the tool reported back that some piece of hardware doesn't work out of the box on Ubuntu, it could check whether some other distro does support it, or whether there are notes about how to get it working. If potential users had confidence that Ubuntu would 'just work' for them with their current PC, I think we'd see a lot more users.

+1

a small HW detection program that runs on windows (no install requiered)

or

a mini-ubuntu-virtual-image that runs inside windows too.

no need to reboot the PC/laptop at the store and boot from a live-CD or USB (the vendors may find it suspicious or wont allow it)

but they will let you try windows

[Canis familiaris]

+1

a small HW detection program that runs on windows (no install requiered)

or

a mini-ubuntu-virtual-image that runs inside windows too.

no need to reboot the PC/laptop at the store and boot from a live-CD or USB (the vendors may find it suspicious or wont allow it)

but they will let you try windows

Dont VMs use virtualized hardware? I mean it would only test the virtualized hardware, not the actual hardware.
Correct me if I am wrong.

[miggols99]

You could use sites like:
http://www.linuxhardware.org/
http://www.linux.org/hardware/
http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/
And plenty of others to check for compatibility.
Ahh! So ugly! Someone really needs to make a decent one of these that isn't outdated. Noticed that part of linux.org was last updated 1-2 years ago? And linux-on-laptops.com has people testing them with SUSE 10 and Ubuntu 6.06...really. The Linux world moves a lot faster than that. What is linuxhardware.org? I don't like that. Where can I see which hardware works? Impossible to navigate :/

[gn2]

Does it have an Intel CPU?
Does it have an Intel or Nvidia GPU?
Does it have an Intel Chipset?
Does it have an Intel Wireless adapter?

If yes to all of the above chances are it will work just fine.

[aaaantoine]

Does it have an Intel CPU?

Last time someone said this, I asked why, and their explanation was that AMD processors tend to pair with Broadcom wireless adapters.


Does it have an Intel or Nvidia GPU?

These days, it's more like "Does it have an Intel or ATI GPU?" Especially since AMD released all that GPU documentation.


If yes to all of the above chances are it will work just fine.

Don't forget webcams.

[Tomosaur]

+1
a small HW detection program that runs on windows (no install requiered)


D'oh - that's what I was meaning to say - it'd be pretty useless if the user had to install Ubuntu first! :P Thanks for clarifying :)

[gn2]

Don't forget webcams.

What's a webcam?

Never used one, not once ever.

And Nvidia still wins my vote over ATI (A Thousand Irritations)