I have a Lenovo IdeaPad that's about six years old and use it for creating artwork and project assets, so touchscreen and pen input are important to me. Since Windows 10 support is ending, I'm considering switching the laptop to Linux rather than replacing it, but I'm concerned that the touchscreen might stop working. The system has an Intel Core i5-1035G1, 8 GB of RAM, Intel UHD graphics, a 64-bit processor, and a 10-point touchscreen with pen support. Is there a Linux distribution likely to retain those features, and what should I test before installing?
4 Answers
The touchscreen may work immediately after installation, but don’t forget to verify your art software too. Check whether the programs and plugins you rely on run natively on Linux or through a compatibility layer, and test suitable alternatives before replacing Windows.
Linux Mint and other mainstream distributions have worked well for touchscreen laptops, but hardware support can differ even between similar models. Try a reasonably up-to-date distribution first, and keep a backup of your files in case you decide to return to Windows.
Several people use touchscreen Lenovo and other convertible laptops with Linux successfully. GNOME tends to provide a particularly comfortable touchscreen experience, although the exact results can vary by model. A live USB is the best way to check your specific hardware before committing.
Touchscreens and styluses are generally supported by the Linux kernel, so there’s a good chance it will work. The safest approach is to create a bootable USB for a current distribution, such as Fedora or Linux Mint, and select the live-session option without installing. Test finger input, the stylus, pressure sensitivity, rotation, and any buttons you use for drawing.
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