I am new and need suggest for a laptop

English Hardware
1

Hello everyone!

I am new to learning linux and i decided i would like to use opensuse. I kind of did some research and still would prefer some suggestion.

I want to get a laptop, my budget is 3 to 4 hundreds dollar. If I have too, I am willing to spend little bit more. I want to get an affordable laptop which i can install the linux. I would get chromebook since it was compatible to linux specs. I want to see what is everyone suggestion and what they would recommend.

I am using for mostly learning and hopefully get into developing.

Hope to hear everyone respond. thanks!

2

I am using a cheap acer aspire laptop with 4gb memory, removed windows 8.1 completely, and installed leap. It runs like a dream.

3

Hi
What are you planning to do with the laptop? Surf the internet, write documents, write/compile code, play games etc?

Some details of your intended use will enable a better call on what to suggest with respect the the hardware.

4

I have found Acer, Lenovo, and Toshiba laptops I have worked on to run very well under openSUSE.

But, check for expansion abilities, such as what is the maximum RAM it can use.

Also, disappointing, most laptops no longer come with a CD/DVD drive. Check that what looks like a CD/DVD tray is not just a dummy tray. If there is such a drive there, check that it is not just a CD/DVD-ROM, but that it is actually a CD/DVD Writer. For a few years, the latter was pretty much the standard, but it is no longer that way.

You may have to adjust your budget to allow you to add that drive, so keep that in mind when you buy.

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On Wed 09 Dec 2015 04:46:01 AM CST, Fraser Bell wrote:

I have found Acer, Lenovo, and Toshiba laptops I have worked on to run
very well under openSUSE.

But, check for expansion abilities, such as what is the maximum RAM it
can use.

Also, disappointing, most laptops no longer come with a CD/DVD drive.
Check that what looks like a CD/DVD tray is not just a dummy tray. If
there is such a drive there, check that it is not just a CD/DVD-ROM, but
that it is actually a CD/DVD Writer. For a few years, the latter was
pretty much the standard, but it is no longer that way.

You may have to adjust your budget to allow you to add that drive, so
keep that in mind when you buy.

Hi
I hardly ever use them these days, on this machine I replaced with a
hdd caddy and run an extra SSD :wink: I have a USB external cd/dvd to use
if required.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° LFCS, SUSE Knowledge Partner (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 | GNOME 3.10.1 | 3.12.51-52.31-default
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6

Yep, there are more solutions to this drawback, as you point out.

However, each of those solutions still requires an adjustment to the budget.:wink:

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Lenovo E531 ThinkPad Edge
If you can get hold of one

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Definitely, this one runs like a charm.:slight_smile:

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i’m planning on going to school for network security and programming if this helps

10

Is there any other laptop beside chromebook that everyone would suggest?

I read something about how some wireless card would not work with linux and i am afraid that i would struggle to get it to install.

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On Wed 09 Dec 2015 11:56:01 AM CST, octobernights wrote:

Is there any other laptop beside chromebook that everyone would suggest?

I read something about how some wireless card would not work with linux
and i am afraid that i would struggle to get it to install.

Hi
My preference is HP ProBook’s, but I get them second hand from the
local Pawn shop (may be worth a visit?).

HP 15’s or Dell Inspiron should be fine, grab an openSUSE LiveCD (eg
13.2) and pop that on a USB device and go and try it out on the
hardware your looking at, if 13.2 works, then you should be fine.

Maybe go look at laptops and report back here the exact models your
interested in?

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° LFCS, SUSE Knowledge Partner (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 | GNOME 3.10.1 | 3.12.51-52.31-default
If you find this post helpful and are logged into the web interface,
please show your appreciation and click on the star below… Thanks!

12

I didn’t recommend a chromebook
Wireless can be an issue, but seldom. And not with my recommendation

13

If you decide to buy a laptop with AMD discrete GPU and plan to use it with fglrx (proprietary) driver, DON’T BUY A LAPTOP WITH INTEL/AMD POWERXPRESS!!! *

*However, Acer Aspire E1-572G should work.