I'm on the hunt for a laptop to run Linux exclusively, and I've got a budget of around $1,000. I'd really appreciate some recommendations or advice from anyone who's been there!
2 Answers
Honestly, you can't go wrong with most laptops. Just a few things to watch out for:
- Some have annoying UEFI setups that prioritize Windows booting.
- Be cautious about onboard audio quality; I had a terrible experience with my first laptop.
- Sometimes, the WiFi drivers might have bugs, but that's rare these days.
I usually go for whatever I can find locally. Laptops without OS pre-installed tend to be cheaper, and I’ve had good luck with Lenovo and Dell. I’ve had some bad experiences with HP and Toshiba, but that might just be my luck. Hybrid graphics (like NVIDIA) can be tricky with Linux, but they seem to be getting better with newer drivers.
If you want a guarantee that your laptop will play nice with Linux, look for one that comes with it pre-installed. Companies like Dell, Lenovo, and System76 often sell machines this way, ensuring compatibility. That's where I usually buy mine!
Can you recommend specific Lenovo models?