I've been using various Linux distros on an older computer that originally came with Windows, often dual-booting or completely switching to Linux. Now, I'm getting a new laptop that comes with Ubuntu preinstalled, and I'm excited to try out Fedora. However, I'm curious about whether these Linux laptops come with manufacturer-specific drivers or software, similar to how Windows systems often do. Is there anything important I should know about my Lenovo laptop before I wipe Ubuntu and install Fedora? Can I just go straight to the installation, or should I check anything first?
5 Answers
I haven't personally used Lenovo, but from my experience with Dell's Linux laptops, they usually come with just the essentials to run Linux and little else. You won't find much bloat on them, which is actually nice since you get a clean system to start with. I wiped Ubuntu and installed Fedora without any hardware issues—everything worked fine post-installation!
You'll be just fine flipping to Fedora, no worries! Just remember, if you're feeling adventurous, dual-booting is also an option. That said, if you're new to this, maybe try out installing a different desktop environment before you make the full switch. You can play around with various environments on Ubuntu or Fedora without the hassle of reinstalling everything, which can be a pain with dual-booting. If you're not sure what that means, Ubuntu is often the more user-friendly choice for beginners!
If you’re looking to experiment a bit more with different distributions, I'd recommend checking out VirtualBox to see how different ones operate before fully switching or installing. It's an easy way to test things out without messing up your main system!
You do get some software bundled with Ubuntu, but it's pretty similar with Fedora too. If you're a fan of lighter desktop environments, you might want to go with the Xfce version of Fedora, which you can easily install. Lenovo laptops are generally well-supported in the Linux community, so I’m confident your model will work out of the box with Fedora. Which model did you get, by the way?
Typically, laptops pre-installed with Ubuntu will come with a tailored kernel and repository to help ensure compatibility. So, while they might have some specific configurations, it shouldn't be a huge problem. Just give Ubuntu a thorough test run to ensure all components are working well before you make the jump to Fedora. That way, you'll know what's expected to function after the switch.
I got a ThinkPad T14 Gen 6 with an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU! I grabbed a deal that was just too good to pass up, which is why I didn't have a choice in the preinstalled distro.