Linux - Laptop and NetbookHaving a problem installing or configuring Linux on your laptop? Need help running Linux on your netbook? This forum is for you. This forum is for any topics relating to Linux and either traditional laptops or netbooks (such as the Asus EEE PC, Everex CloudBook or MSI Wind).
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
So I am buying a new laptop soon. There are some things that I would like to get some advice on:
-I want to have a decent graphics card, which one is better AMD or nVidia in Linux? I guess all laptops come with hybrid graphics now so I also want to know which one is better when it comes to switching between discrete and integrated graphics.
-Is there a preferable brand when it comes to support for Linux? I really like Sony Vaio but if another brand is better I would choose that instead.
-Is there a distribution more suitable for laptops? I would prefer a debian or arch based distro.
-Are there any live USB distros that can be used to try hardware compatibility? Does any live USB/CD support hybrid graphics without installing so that it can be tested?
So I am buying a new laptop soon. There are some things that I would like to get some advice on:
- I want to have a decent graphics card, which one is better AMD or nVidia in Linux? I guess all laptops come with hybrid graphics now so I also want to know which one is better when it comes to switching between discrete and integrated graphics.
- Is there a preferable brand when it comes to support for Linux? I really like Sony Vaio but if another brand is better I would choose that instead.
Not all laptops come with hybrid graphics, and I've had very good luck with Vaio's over the years (using one right now). I've also had better luck with nVidia graphics in Linux, too. I've heard folks have problems with the hybrid graphics, and switching can be a chore, but take that for what it's worth. I've got the VPCF1 series with the integrated nVidia. Installing the official nVidia driver from there site was no problem at all, and when I did, it automatically picked up the HDMI output, and switches/detects when I've got another monitor/TV plugged in.
Quote:
Is there a distribution more suitable for laptops? I would prefer a debian or arch based distro.
Can't speak to that...I've used openSUSE for years, and I'm at 11.4 now, going to 12.2 when it comes out. Good support for all the built-in laptop gadgets, but I'm sure Deiban or Arch would work well too.
Quote:
Are there any live USB distros that can be used to try hardware compatibility? Does any live USB/CD support hybrid graphics without installing so that it can be tested?
openSUSE, Fedora, and Debian all have live distros you can test with.
about hybrid graphics... it's not yet supported.
i don't think you can use NVIDIA/ATI discrete graphics with these features.
mine have hybrid graphics with no MUX. meaning no physical button and multiplexer to switch between GPU's, this is the recent design (auto switching). only software switch can switch them. you may not be able to use the high powered graphics card. for now you can only switch the discrete ones off.
but yeah the first OS i installed here in my beloved laptop was Debian with no regret whatsoever.
make sure you upgrade your debian from stable to testing or unstable to get a more recent driver support for integrated graphics(the low power one).
note: you can still enjoy compiz with intel integrated GPU^^
Distribution: Linux Mint 21.1 Vera / Zorin Pro 6.2
Posts: 155
Rep:
My laptop is half a year old. And only has an Intel HD Graphics 3000 chip build into the SandyBridge i3 2.1 GHz CPU.
Running on Linux Mint 12 with KDE. And it works like a charm. Can use nearly all special effects which are build into KDE.
Now I'm not a die hard gamer on my laptop. I have a PC for that with Windows 7. But the games I've tested so far work fine
I know that you're looking for a laptop which has both. A lowpower chip and an ATI/NVIDIA chip as well. Just wished to point out that you can get pretty much all eyecandy with the on-dye Intel Graphics.
Distribution: This changes often, but currently Bodhi 2.2
Posts: 84
Rep:
Depends on Price
My reccomendation depends primarily on your price range. If money is not an issue, I reccomend System76. If price is important, I would reccomend either my own line which Launches in July, OR assumng you do not want to wait, InaTux. Their prices are relatively comparable to Windows machines. Plus, InaTux sell brands like Gateway, Acer & HP, not there own brand. That is a good thing as weell as a bad thing. On one hand, these are well known brands & models. On the other hand, thay are exactly the same machines you would by with Windows. No changes beyond the Windows being replaced by Linux. System76 manufactures its own line built for optimum performance with Linux. Syste76's one downfall in my view is that their prices are quite high. It is a great product, just overpriced. Oh, & as far as I know, theu will only sell them with Ubuntu Linux. If you want to use a different distro, you will need to install it yourself.
Like System76, the LPC+ TuxBook will be designed for optimum Linux performance, but will typically cost considerably less than System76 & you can have ANY Linux distro you want pre-installed!
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.