list of vendors that sell hardware ready for Linux

[Skaperen]

i'm trying to get a sense of possible PC brands to get. or i may just go with having some small vendor build it under my guidance for parts (did that with my last server and it worked out great). i'd like to get feedback of computer buying experience where some models just can't run Linux, out of the box. that means the instali/live image won't boot/run or what it installs won't boot/run without some changes like adding a driver. brands that make these i want to strike off my list, even if everything else works with Linux (unless they specifically label which work with Linux in their marketing).

[mastablasta]

system76 will put together something per your specs. you need power in a small box (work station laptop). the only issue is motherbaord and GPU. if you use intel or AMD GPU they shouldn't be a problem.

but even Dells most expensive workstation uses 2666 Mhz RAM. and max is usually 64GB. there is lenovo thinkpad p52: http://blog.lenovo.com/en/blog/the-new-thinkpad-p52/

the problem with laptops is heating up or rather small confined space. if i had some calculation to do that didn't need GPU i would just setup a headless server and jam it with multiple processors, added ECC RAM modules and SSD drivers. many companies offer server machines that include better components than consumer modes (at a higher cost). they all support linux out of the box.

also bear in mind that the stronger the CPU and GPU the shorter the battery life

[Skaperen]

and the more RAM the shorter the battery life. i'm sure that faster RAM does so, too, as well as more ram channels. these things can also result in a lighter weight wallet.

[CatKiller]

and the more RAM the shorter the battery life. i'm sure that faster RAM does so, too, as well as more ram channels. these things can also result in a lighter weight wallet.

Kind of. More pressingly, the low-power memory specification LPDDR doesn't always have the larger modules and higher speeds available that the DDR specification can use. The two specifications are limited by the same technological levels, but are developed in parallel.

Using a laptop for its form factor to access another machine elsewhere that contains lots of RAM for those tasks that require it will be a lot easier to source, and probably considerably cheaper, than trying to stuff it all into that laptop form factor.

[Skaperen]

Using a laptop for its form factor to access another machine elsewhere that contains lots of RAM for those tasks that require it will be a lot easier to source, and probably considerably cheaper, than trying to stuff it all into that laptop form factor.

right. that's what i'm looking at cloud costs for. paying for a big 16 core machine for the time i need to run this using only 1 core might well be worth it, depending on how often i need it ... compared to owning that much hardware. getting it out of here is a plus since i really don't have a good place for a server. the house design i made never got built and now never will. it had a utility room that had its own cooling and space for servers.

[EuclideanCoffee]

I know a lot of users throw around System76. I was a desktop system administrator for ~20 System76 PCs. The machines rarely broke down, but the driver support was infuriating with the older models. Their fans are loud. I had bought a System76 model myself, and eventually it stopped working. I've replaced every single component on the board. And their lack of support for older models with firmware annoys me. We've moved to Dell Latitude laptops and find them to work much better; however, if you want better support for Nvidia on your laptop, go with System76. Buying a "engineering" laptop is a waste of time from Dell, especially for Ubuntu.

I would like to try Purism and Think Penguin.

Actually, Think Penguin appears to sell what galp3 is on their store. https://www.thinkpenguin.com/gnu-lin...nulinux-laptop

But I've found that HP AMD computers and Dell Latitudes work the best for Ubuntu.

[Skaperen]

still, i need lots of RAM. i periodically login as many as 20 virtual users at the same time. i usually have 10 of them logged in. currently i have 17 (a few are idle). this is on 16GB and 4GB of swap is used and it gets sluggish sometimes (even affecting the mouse pointer). i want to get 32 GB absolute minimum and considering 64GB. if i were to get a desktop, i might even go for 128GB.

[CatKiller]

if i were to get a desktop, i might even go for 128GB.

With Epyc you could have 2 TB of RAM. Bit pricey, though.

[him610]

I find laptops to not be ergonomic.
The screen is too small, and two low when on table or desk.
....
I prefer to build my own desktop.
Then I can select the components I want. And can often upgrade any component that I want.

Agree mostly with OldFred's sentiments. I have had a few personal laptops in the past, had a few issued by employers. My spouse uses a System76 purchased a few years ago. Laptops are kind of handy to use as a travel machine; I switched over to using a Chromebook when traveling a few years ago; however, I don't travel much anymore. I use it when we go to Wegman's while I wait for my spouse to shop. Going to the casino down in West Virginia tomorrow, will take my Chromebook with me.

[mastablasta]

still, i need lots of RAM. i periodically login as many as 20 virtual users at the same time. i usually have 10 of them logged in. currently i have 17 (a few are idle). this is on 16GB and 4GB of swap is used and it gets sluggish sometimes (even affecting the mouse pointer). i want to get 32 GB absolute minimum and considering 64GB. if i were to get a desktop, i might even go for 128GB.

then you would probably benefit from RAM being as fast as possible. If you go with desktop it shouldn't be an issue.

we had a guy giving presentation on an ERP enhancement and they used a small ITX machine. not sure was it one of those small imacs or something else (intel NUC?!). anyway they had Ubuntu on it with various virtual machines running concurrently and then the used that to give the presentation, tutoring and demos. along that they had a small laptop to connect to it and where the power point presentation was. the whole setup was very small. and i guess i would just add a keyboard to it. or one of those small ones you can hold in one hand. the NUCs support 64 GB ram: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us...intel-nuc.html

the do run Ubuntu out out of the box. So if portability is an issuse this could also be a solution. hard to suggest sinc ewe don't know exactly what is being needed here. otherwise desktops have no issue supporting 64GB or 128 GB.