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Old 08-11-2013, 04:17 AM   #16
k3lt01
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc CPU View Post
you mean, they don't sell "clean", bare PCs everywhere?
No I don't mean that at all, what I do mean is in some markets they do not sell laptops (note I said laptops not PCs which could be construed as including desktops) without an OS.
 
Old 08-11-2013, 04:36 AM   #17
cascade9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc CPU View Post
you mean, they don't sell "clean", bare PCs everywhere? Well, I can't imagine. Software, usually including the OS, has always been an item to purchase separately. AFAIS, it's just a convenience (for the majority of end users, but also for MS) to include a copy of Windows in each packacge because "everybody needs it anyway". For about 90% (just a rough guess) that may be true.
You can find desktops without an OS everywhere I've looked, _if_ you are prepared to find a proper computer shop that biulds systems.

Finding even a desktop at the local 'we buy lots of big name systems and sell them to you' stores without an OS is a real challange.

Laptops are mostly 'big name' corporate systems. In some markets you will find them without an OS or even with a linux/bsd distro installed..and a lot of the time you'll pay just as much if not more for a no OS/linux laptop than you would for the same system with windows.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc CPU View Post
However, not offering clean PCs at all would be like selling subway tickets that also allow you to visit the local zoo, regardless of whether you're interested or not, and charging an increased price for them. Forcing people to pay for something they don't want is not how economy works, IMO.
If the subway has cut a deal with the zoo on the assumption that 'everyone travelling on the subway will be going to the zoo' there is little you can do about it. Apart from buy your systems from people that havent made those assumptions.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 273 View Post
I think it depends a little upon which country you are living in. In the UK we seem to have a lack of Linux machines on sale and I don't recall ever seeing a PC installed without an OS. I do notice that there is no saving when I do choose Linux over Windows when given the choice.
You wont see many desktops/laptops without an OS for sale 'on the high street', but they are around in the UK. The only name I know offhand is Novatech.

They sell novatech branded laptops and desktop systems without an OS. They are a fair bit cheaper that way as well, eg-

http://www.novatech.co.uk/laptop/ran...piren1719.html

£574.99 inc vat for no OS, £664.99 inc vat with Win7 Home.

Quote:
Originally Posted by TroN-0074 View Post
I think you are making a good decision however, everybody will have different point of view about your questions. I think if you will buy a new computer anyway why not buy something that was made to run Linux. That way you wont be having issues with compatibility or missing driver

Check out System76 and see if they offer something that is in your budged range here is their link
https://www.system76.com/

I think they will ship in USA, Canada, and UK. you can always check in their site for the area where you live.

Good luck to you
System 76 laptops (or desktops for that matter) are not 'made to run linux' really. They are just standard, 'big manufacturer' laptops. System 76 just picks the parts/spec that is a little more linux friendly than the semi-random stuff in a lot of laptops.


Quote:
Originally Posted by higher_primate View Post
Years ago I became anti-Windows and purchased a MacBook. I've finally decided it's time to man up and go with Linux. I am entirely new to Linux so I have a few questions about purchasing a laptop for Linux. I mainly use my computer to web browse, create documents, organize/store family photos, and download music/tvshows/movies, and keep a well organized music library.

Would you guys recommend buying a laptop with Linux already on it or getting a Windows laptop and doing it myself? What are some good systems to look at? I came across ThinkPenguin but haven't had time to truly research them.
Does it have to be a laptop? Photos, TV shows, movies and music can eat a lot of HDD sapce, dekstops have much more possible HDD space (and are cheaper) than laptops. Also its a lot easier to spec the parts and get exactly what you want.

If it must be a laptop, I'd get one with windows that is known to work well with linux.

There is a useful list of current laptops with good linux compatibility here-

http://www.linuxnow.com.au/nsintro.html
 
Old 08-11-2013, 04:43 AM   #18
Doc CPU
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Hi there,

Quote:
Originally Posted by k3lt01 View Post
No I don't mean that at all, what I do mean is in some markets they do not sell laptops (note I said laptops not PCs which could be construed as including desktops) without an OS.
actually, I've always understood the term "PC" as a generic term that includes desktop systems, laptops, and many more variants. So I didn't narrow it down, but instead meant to broaden the view.

[X] Doc CPU
 
Old 08-11-2013, 05:00 AM   #19
Doc CPU
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Hi there,

Quote:
Originally Posted by cascade9 View Post
Finding even a desktop at the local 'we buy lots of big name systems and sell them to you' stores without an OS is a real challange.
oh, of course I wouldn't look for them in one of the big stores on the street. They only sell boxes they acquire from wholesalers, often without really knowing what's in them. Neither would I buy one of the "big" brands directly, like DELL.

For the most part, I buy my stuff at companies like http://www.comtech.de/ (though they severely pissed me off recently), http://www.kmcomputer.de/ or http://www.pollin.de/ (a generic electronics dealer). The first two, comtech and K&M Computer, even have branch stores near the place where I live, so I don't order things via internet, but instead collect them in the store. The latter, Pollin, isn't specialized at all, but often has some jewels in its range of goods. I bought my latest desktop PC there, which turned out to be a real good deal. Without an OS included, of course. ;-)

I assume companies like that exist in other countries, too.

[X] Doc CPU
 
Old 08-11-2013, 05:49 AM   #20
k3lt01
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc CPU View Post
actually, I've always understood the term "PC" as a generic term that includes desktop systems, laptops, and many more variants. So I didn't narrow it down, but instead meant to broaden the view.
The OP said laptop, I was talking about laptops because the OP said laptop, you said I meant PC which is everything and your post (quoted here) even says that, in this instance you were wrong. "Broadening the view" is fine, telling someone they meant something different isn't.
 
Old 08-11-2013, 02:29 PM   #21
Doc CPU
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Generics vs. Specifics

Hi there,

Quote:
Originally Posted by k3lt01 View Post
The OP said laptop, I was talking about laptops because the OP said laptop, you said I meant PC which is everything and your post (quoted here) even says that, in this instance you were wrong. "Broadening the view" is fine, telling someone they meant something different isn't.
hold on, hold on.

I never told anybody what they mean, I just used a generic term that includes what the OP meant, because for such a generic subject (OS or no OS, which one) I see no point in distinguishing different builds of "PCs".
The only one who questioned the laptop thing is cascade9 ("Does it have to be a laptop?"), I always meant that variant included. It's just like I say "car" where others speak of vans, convertibles or limos, I say "people" where others speak of Russians, Italians, Australians or Germans. I use specific terms when it appears necessary in the context, and generic terms otherwise.

[X] Doc CPU
 
Old 08-11-2013, 07:24 PM   #22
arranskye
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Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by colorpurple21859 View Post
Be wary of laptops with duel/hybride graphic cards, they are not well supported and can be problematic.
Hi,
I tried 8 different distros via live DVD and all worked perfectly on both monitors using the extended display option. The only distro that failed to detect the 2nd monitor was Ubuntu 13.04. This was a driver issue soon resolved by installing
Code:
apt-get install nvidia-current
I run Ubuntu 13.04 and tried the various distros in my attempts to define and resolve the problem in Ubuntu and hopefully get the dual monitors running.

I am an absolute newbie to linux and much as I love it, sometimes its "oddities" are a little difficult to understand. For example: Ubuntu 12.04LTS & 12.10 both detected the dual monitors prior to installing the nvidia drivers but not 13.04. Weird!! but still the best OS ever. cheers
 
Old 08-11-2013, 08:30 PM   #23
colorpurple21859
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@ arranskye, How easy one can get duel/hybrid laptops to work depends on the distro being used and the video card setup on the laptop. The more problematic ones are the ati/intel, ati/ati, and optimus. My laptop has 6620/6700 ati hybrid graphics cards that work great straight out of the box with some distros, and had to do some major hacking with other distros. This why I said to be wary of them.

Last edited by colorpurple21859; 08-11-2013 at 08:32 PM.
 
Old 08-12-2013, 01:39 AM   #24
k3lt01
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc CPU View Post
hold on, hold on.

I never told anybody what they mean,
You said
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc CPU View Post
you mean, they don't sell "clean", bare PCs everywhere?
At best the question mark is a typo, at worst you are unaware that there should be a "Do" on front of your sentence to go with the question mark. Let's leave it at that, I really don't want to argue with you over it, there are people here who want assistance with Linux not to read an off-topic conversation between us about the English language and its usage.
 
Old 08-12-2013, 05:13 AM   #25
arranskye
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Hi Colorpurple. I am interested because I will soon be buying a new PC and i am currently researching the most linux compatible hardware as I hope to have one built.
Quote:
he more problematic ones are the ati/intel, ati/ati, and optimus. My laptop has 6620/6700 ati hybrid graphics cards that work great straight out of the box with some distros, and had to do some major hacking with other distros. This why I said to be wary of them.
Sorry I do apologise Im thinking desktop as opposed to laptop and I know getting stuff to work straight out of the box on a laptop can be much more difficult.
tried several distros on my laptop but cant get a wireless connection to work.

Thanks for your info.
 
  


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