Hey guys,

I'm about to start a new job and need to send them specs for a laptop. I've never used a laptop, so I'm very ignorant about what plays nicely with linux, and what doesn't.

I'm a software developer, so that's the sort of laptop I need.

Here are my requirements:

• ability to drive 3 monitors of 1920x1080+
• 32GB of ram. If I have to go with 16GB I will
• SSD. I don't know if this is possible in laptops, but a 2nd non-SSD drive option would be nice.
• USB3
• 100% plays nice with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. I've done enough driver hunting/kernel compiling in my lifetime that I'm over it I really prefer that every piece of the hardware works out of the box with a fresh install of Ubuntu.
• Virtual Machine friendly specs (CPU, and so forth). I'll be running Virtualbox.

I'll be doing most of my work docked so I don't really have a preference in terms of the screen, keyboard, trackpad, etc. I also don't have preferences in terms of CPU as long as it's going to run VM's well.

What I do want is quality. I don't want things breaking 6 months down the road, and so on. I don't care who the manufacturer is, as long as it's quality.

Also, if you have a recommendation on where to buy the laptop, I'd appreciate links as well.

Any laptop recommendations?

Have you checked out the Ubuntu Canonical Hardware website for laptop's that they recommend for Ubuntu?

https://certification.ubuntu.com/des...ategory=Laptop

1 members found this post helpful.

interesting, I wasn't aware that even existed, thanks for the link.

Dell sells some "developer edition" business laptops with Linux installed: https://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/555...inux-laptop_us You can get an NVMe solid state drive that is very fast. The Dell option would be my first choice, since most large employers know Dell and probably have an account with them already.

Purism is a small company that also sells laptops with Linux installed. Purism laptops have some nice unique security features, but they are expensive given the hardware specs.

At least you know everything is Linux compatible if you buy a laptop with Linux pre-installed. I've found that Linux can generally be made to work on just about any Windows laptop, However, each one has its unique quirks. My current laptop is a Lenovo Yoga running Debian Buster. It took me hours to figure out that I had to pass the kernel parameter "intel_idle.max_cstate=1" to get my Yoga display to work properly with Linux.

If you decide to buy a Windows laptop and install Linux yourself, Ubuntu or Mint is generally easier to get installed and working than a distribution not focused on desktop use (like Debian, Arch, Slackware, etc.).

Even if you buy a laptop with Linux installed, you might want to consider a re-install to control disk encryption. I think full disk encryption is a must have on a laptop that has anything valuable or proprietary on it.

i'm sure most thinkpads also fill these requirements.
they even have their own Linux-related wiki.

Dell Precision series laptops are available with Ubuntu pre-installed, 32gb of RAM, multiple SSD drives, and high-end GPU's.

To connect 3 monitors, you may need a docking station. What type of connectors do the monitors have? (HDMI, DVI, Displayport, etc.)

I also hear great things about the business-class Lenovo machines.

Some good suggestions on this site: https://certification.ubuntu.com/desktop/

If you're buying new, most all new laptops will use USB-C, which has display port technology built into it. Using a USB-C docking station (not a displaylink one), you will be able to use 3 monitors, although some of the lesser USB-C docks will do 2 external + the laptop instead of 3 external. IMO, that's the easiest way to do it. I use a Latitude 7490, Thinkpad A485, and Inspiron 7375 (and just got my work XPS 9370 which should work but haven't tested) and all work with an adequate USB-C dock, although I do normally only use it with 1 monitor (I don't have room on that desk for more). The laptops that have Thunderbolt 3 built into the USB-C will work even better, although Thunderbolt 3 docks are kinda pricey IMO.

1 members found this post helpful.

This is from a Windows perspective.. ymmv with Linux.

Avoid 'Dell' like the plague.... may initially seem like good specs for the price, BUT... a complete PITA to sort if anything goes wrong. 100% avoid.
HP/Compaq can sometimes be awkward but nowhere near as bad as Dell kit.
Acer; Asus... usually easy fix.
Even unbranded are usually an easier fix than Dell who seem to use (deliberately?) obscure proprietary components/drivers

I can say hand-on-heart that when someone skips up with "Hey, can you sort my <pc/lappy>.. it's a really good one.. it's a Dell!".. my heart sinks.. :-/

Whichever manf you go for... I would also add to go with an AMD chipset!

*I am not an expert on such matters, my opinion comes from 15yrs of sorting my own and mates' issues.

There is 1 huge factor in Dell. Latitude (business line) comes with Intel hardware and is almost always very linux friendly.


Inspiron & XPS lines came with linux unfriendly hardware. Although that's changing as they're actually shipping Ubuntu on the XPS nowadays.

1 members found this post helpful.

Yes, but there are LOTS better places to buy from than that spammer/scam site. That's why I reported your posts for deletion/modification.