Advice: buying a labtop with Linux already installed?

English Hardware
1

Hoping to get some advice.
Want to buy a new labtop. Mine is about 8 years old.
Thinking of getting one with Linux already installed. The website below says openSUSE is the best Linux labtop “distribution”, whatever a distribution is.
https://www.linux.com/learn/docs/ldp/282996-choosing-the-best-linux-distributions-for-you

I’m not very knowledgeable computer-wise. I can use one, but installing an operating system, ect: not so sure about that. For instance, how could you even operate a computer in order to install openSUSE if the computer did not already have an operating system? And, where do you get a computer without an operating system? And, if I bought a computer with an operating system, it seems like I would have payed a lot of money for something I don’t want. Clearly, I’m misssing something.
Hoping someone can help.
Want a new labtop computer (or is it laptop? Heck if I know). Want Linux. Want help to make it happen.

Thanks!

Jason

2

The main benefit of getting one with linux already installed, is that you will know that the hardware is compatible with linux.

From what I have seen, most places that sell a system with preinstalled linux will have installed Ubuntu. But it isn’t too hard to install a different distro.

The computer will already have a BIOS that is capable of booting an operating system. You use a CD or DVD to install. The computer boots from the operating system installed on that CD or DVD.

Installing linux is usually not hard. The difficult part is when you have a computer that comes with Windows using the entire disk, and you want to keep Windows while installing linux. It’s a lot easier if you are installing on a clean disk.

I’m pretty sure that Dell sells computer with linux pre-installed, though you might have to order over the Internet. Other vendors probably also will sell one with linux installed, again over the internet. If you have a local computer store (not one of the big chains), you might be able to get a custom built and installed system. I’m not sure if that will cost more.

3

Thanks for the reply. That was very helpful.
I found a site that sells linux friendly machines: preinstalled and not.
PCs For Everyone : Linux Notebooks and Desktops : Custom Computers with Linux Preinstalled or No OS
They list three linux distributions for personal use: Ubuntu, Fedora and openSUSE.

I’ll probably be back with more questions.

4
  1. You don’t have to be computer-wise to start using Linux. That’s the most frequent prejudice, that one has to be a genius to use Linux. False.
  2. openSUSE is not afraid of loneliness, though it can get along quite well with other OS on the same laptop :slight_smile:
  3. You can get computers without OS preinstalled, I don’t know exactly where, but there still are many computer shops selling them like that, blank.