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After a two week survey period, Phoronix has published the results from their inaugural Linux Laptop Survey. There were 30,171 responses and while there may be some additional follow-up articles in the days/weeks ahead, the initial review has been published. One goal of the survey was to gather feedback about the current state of GNU/Linux hardware compatibility. Overall the situation is better than it was even a few years ago, but there are still many problems here and there. The situation is summed up in two pages, complete with diagrams, over at Phoronix.
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2017 Phoronix Linux Laptop Survey Results
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Two is not equal to three, even for large values of two.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by aim on Sunday July 09 2017, @10:27AM (5 children)
After RTFA, I'm somewhat surprised that more than 10% of those surveyed got their Linux distro preloaded. At least where I live, it's pretty much impossible to find such a thing other than maybe online. It's been a challenge to find one that at least came without MS Windows.
My still current machine is now 2 1/2 years old, I chose it without OS, but it came with FreeDOS and OpenGEM on there - amazing how fast a rather current PC can be with such a classic OS, how modern OSs (and I do include Linux there) put on the brakes. I did quickly wipe the original installation in favour of Kubuntu. My only recurring issue is with the alx driver (built-in Ethernet) that's buggy and generates lots of debug logs, to the point of filling the SSD (besides losing network connectivity). Otherwise, no complaints.
Oh and yes, I've also got a dual-boot - I did end up occasionally needing that MS Windows after all, for specialized software I don't find decent alternatives for. [Yes, it's legal, I reused a license from a previous box, which is fine around here, possible EULA saying otherwise notwithstanding]
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Sunday July 09 2017, @02:25PM
I think survey respondents were kind of self-selecting, which will affect the results quite a lot. I responded, and my main laptop is a 17" System76 machine that I'm pretty happy with. Having Linux pre-loaded helps a lot in ensuring that you won't run into any problems with hardware. I have laptops from Acer and Lenovo as well, and while they both have very good Linux support, I know there are other manufacturers that will actually vary hardware on occasion even within a specific model (wifi, etc). It makes things difficult sometimes. Really, the only hardware I've every really had trouble with is fussing around with the NVidia/Intel dual video machines, and the nightmare of support that is RaLink wifi cards. Those things are a "toss and replace" item these days.
I've got to give a thumbs up for my System76 machine. Four years later with pretty heavy daily use for browsing, software development, and gaming, I haven't even thought about replacing it. Still solid, still fast. I think it's actually a rebranded Clevo laptop, which is one of the ones on the list in the survey.
(Score: 2) by moondrake on Sunday July 09 2017, @03:38PM (2 children)
Of course the results are skewed to linux users, so perhaps 10% is not too bad. Doesn't Dell off their XPS series everywhere?
But I was annoyed at the limited amount of choices in the survey. For example: I do not care at all for a default linux installed on my machines, but I heavily prefer it comes without windows (I am not going to use it anyway). So I always try to find either something with linux installed, or no-os/freedos as you say.
This has proven to be not that hard as my favorite laptops are easy to get without OS (thinkpads, even though Lenovo has not really been a positive effect [a square powerconnector on the *side*? Keyboard layouts, trackpad buttons, serviceability, etc etc], I think the hardware is still better than the competition, and linux support is generally good).
(Score: 2) by Absolutely.Geek on Sunday July 09 2017, @07:49PM (1 child)
While the XPS series is available in NZ you cannot get it pre-loaded with Linux; because f*%$ you thats why! For absolutely no reason XPS dev edition doesn't ship to NZ.
Don't trust the police or the government - Shihad: My mind's sedate.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Absolutely.Geek on Sunday July 09 2017, @07:54PM
Further to the above; there are no laptops available in NZ with "no-OS" as an option.
So I ordered a System 76 Oryx Pro earlier this year. Great machine and support; but had to import it and pay extra taxes and expensive shipping....
Don't trust the police or the government - Shihad: My mind's sedate.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 09 2017, @05:17PM
"At least where I live, it's pretty much impossible to find such a thing other than maybe online."
what kind of morlock buys their computer from a brick and mortar? welcome to the 21rst century.