Scheduled Maintenance: We are aware of an issue with Google, AOL, and Yahoo services as email providers which are blocking new registrations. We are trying to fix the issue and we have several internal and external support tickets in process to resolve the issue. Please see: viewtopic.php?t=158230

 

 

 

Shoud i buy a Linux Laptop to save some money?

Off-Topic discussions about science, technology, and non Debian specific topics.
Message
Author
User avatar
HuangLao
Posts: 485
Joined: 2015-01-27 01:31
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Shoud i buy a Linux Laptop to save some money?

#16 Post by HuangLao »

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:I saved £79 on my last laptop by ordering it without an operating system :)

https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/

It came with a trial version of Windows 7 that lasted all of 3 hours before being replaced with Arch :twisted:

3 hours...HOA, I'm surprised it was that long. :lol: :lol:

User avatar
RU55EL
Posts: 546
Joined: 2014-04-07 03:42
Location: /home/russel

Re: Shoud i buy a Linux Laptop to save some money?

#17 Post by RU55EL »

I know it is not a notebook computer, but I've become quite fond of the Intel NUC. Assembled with a Wifi card from thinkpenguin.com, non-free firmware isn't required. You install your own operating system (it doesn't come with an OS) and it can be mounted on the back of your flat screen monitor with the vesa mount that comes in the box.

User avatar
qyron
Posts: 206
Joined: 2008-07-21 20:47

Re: Shoud i buy a Linux Laptop to save some money?

#18 Post by qyron »

edbarx wrote: Originally, I tended to share your opinion, but forum members like Head_on_a_Stick gave me enough information to be more positive thinking about UEFI. Debian, Ubuntu and obviously Red Hat can boot in UEFI secure boot. Do you know what that means? It means, anyone can boot those kernels which in turn may be made to run a bootloader in the worst case scenario.

Since the mentioned three Linux distributions can boot under Secure Boot, I find it difficult to digest any claims claiming that UEFI is another way to suppress Linux's freedom.
I don't go against your opinion and sincerely I'm glad to know that.

I'll put Debian up front and ignore Ubuntu, because the later depends on the first, and follow with RedHat. Aren't these distros based (engineered? built towards/upon? what's the most correct term?) on systemd? Can I assume it's because of systemd they pass the secure boot demands? If I can, read on, if not, I'm just going to be speaking gibberish and you can safely ignore it.

I don't have anything against systemd, personally speaking. On a 1 to 7 scale of tech-fu I'll rate myself as a humble 3; I can't code to save my life and besides being "smart enough" to get my system up and running I'm really limited, although I admit I'm always eager to learn something new.
That's why I'm gathering enough guts to get myself into LFS... Just leaving the link for someone who doesn't know about it; I'll assume most forum dwellers here know about it.

systemd is under heavy attack lately because its a breakaway on the core fundamentals of the GNU/Linux system: freedom of choice. Can all alternatives to systemd put up the necessary requirements to met secure boot? If not, even if only one, it's a lock out.
If, eventually, all alternatives to systemd can evolve to meet secure boot demands, great. Another punch in the eye of the barons.
Stop hitting me with anvils!|Parem de me bater com bigornas!
Willie E. Coyote

Running Debian 9.2

User avatar
qyron
Posts: 206
Joined: 2008-07-21 20:47

Re: Shoud i buy a Linux Laptop to save some money?

#19 Post by qyron »

dasein wrote: That's not what the EULA actually says, nor is it anywhere close. Read for yourself in the portion you pasted:
I did. Oh so many times have I did so...
dasein wrote: Translation: it's up to the vendor's whim. The EULA does not require them to refund the Windows license fee. (Which, as stevepusser noted, is not the same as full retail price).
That is what is there.

But, again, I can only speak from my own experience and in my country hardware vendors have been trampled over. The hardware and the software are understood as separate identities and not tied against each other. This came from the moment people started installing machines with Linux and then had to send those machines to support because some component croaked and the vendor immediately tried refused warranties because of the OS switch/add on. Add a consumer rights association to the mix and a few law suits and some really dirty boots were going up some asses.

HP in my country as issued an unofficial memorandum to their support line staff (call center) stating the moment someone calling them regarding turning a license in they have to do deny in any way that possibility and if met with insistence, force written to headquarters. I'm still waiting a reply on such a question I've made them. :)
Dell forces you to send, at your expense, your machines abroad, to get the OS removed. Can you take a guess on what also gets done to the machine, especially if you have been adamant about taking out the OS?
dasein wrote: Then too, the notion that one can save money by buying Linux preloaded is pure BS. Profit margins on hardware are tiny, so Linux-preload vendors invariably have to charge more for the same hardware, because their sales volume is at best one-50th of the Windows OEMs.
Hold that thought.
Hardware profit margins can be slim but a smart company will invest in developing a relation with their customers providing services. Windows excels at this in the tragic way: I know people taking their machine to the shop for virus clean and OS update/reinstall every 3 or 4 months.
Linux vendors can get this same money providing support for users. I can't see a Linux box demanding that much attention but I can definitely see a user requiring training or support.
Stop hitting me with anvils!|Parem de me bater com bigornas!
Willie E. Coyote

Running Debian 9.2

User avatar
phenest
Posts: 1702
Joined: 2010-03-09 09:38
Location: The Matrix

Re: Shoud i buy a Linux Laptop to save some money?

#20 Post by phenest »

I bought a Dell XPS 17 L702X. I then carefully removed the COA label, bundled it with the OS/driver discs, etc, and sold it on eBay for £40 GBP.
ASRock H77 Pro4-M i7 3770K - 32GB RAM - Pioneer BDR-209D

milomak
Posts: 2158
Joined: 2009-06-09 22:20
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Shoud i buy a Linux Laptop to save some money?

#21 Post by milomak »

i always buy a windows laptop that suits my pocket.

the only real issue i have faced is that i have to install debian with the ethernet cable plugged in before i can get wifi working properly
Desktop: A320M-A PRO MAX, AMD Ryzen 5 3600, GALAX GeForce RTX™ 2060 Super EX (1-Click OC) - Sid, Win10, Arch Linux, Gentoo, Solus
Laptop: hp 250 G8 i3 11th Gen - Sid
Kodi: AMD Athlon 5150 APU w/Radeon HD 8400 - Sid

User avatar
stevepusser
Posts: 12930
Joined: 2009-10-06 05:53
Has thanked: 41 times
Been thanked: 71 times

Re: Shoud i buy a Linux Laptop to save some money?

#22 Post by stevepusser »

phenest wrote:I bought a Dell XPS 17 L702X. I then carefully removed the COA label, bundled it with the OS/driver discs, etc, and sold it on eBay for £40 GBP.
Was that a full Windows installer, or an OEM one that would only work for the model of computer?
MX Linux packager and developer

milomak
Posts: 2158
Joined: 2009-06-09 22:20
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Shoud i buy a Linux Laptop to save some money?

#23 Post by milomak »

stevepusser wrote:
phenest wrote:I bought a Dell XPS 17 L702X. I then carefully removed the COA label, bundled it with the OS/driver discs, etc, and sold it on eBay for £40 GBP.
Was that a full Windows installer, or an OEM one that would only work for the model of computer?
Or was the buyer just stupid?

Why would you buy a Windows license from anyone who has seen it and had time to take a photo copy of it?

edit - this applies to most (if not all) items which have some code
Desktop: A320M-A PRO MAX, AMD Ryzen 5 3600, GALAX GeForce RTX™ 2060 Super EX (1-Click OC) - Sid, Win10, Arch Linux, Gentoo, Solus
Laptop: hp 250 G8 i3 11th Gen - Sid
Kodi: AMD Athlon 5150 APU w/Radeon HD 8400 - Sid

User avatar
phenest
Posts: 1702
Joined: 2010-03-09 09:38
Location: The Matrix

Re: Shoud i buy a Linux Laptop to save some money?

#24 Post by phenest »

stevepusser wrote:
phenest wrote:I bought a Dell XPS 17 L702X. I then carefully removed the COA label, bundled it with the OS/driver discs, etc, and sold it on eBay for £40 GBP.
Was that a full Windows installer, or an OEM one that would only work for the model of computer?
It's OEM but exactly the same as a Windows Retail with the exception that it has a Dell Product Code included. It can be installed on any make/model, but if it's not a Dell, it will require activation.
ASRock H77 Pro4-M i7 3770K - 32GB RAM - Pioneer BDR-209D

Post Reply