Choose the most suitable laptop - a headache for me

[andymx]

I plan to change my laptop with a new one, but I'm finding it extremely difficult to choose what I need.

My requirements are for a 32 GB RAM laptop with a 1 TB SSD. I want to run VM on it. It will be used with Plex media server so that I'll be able to watch videos on my smart TV. I don't anticipate anything else that could be demanding on the laptop.
I did some research on the Internet including the Arch wiki which has a lot of information on laptops. I also looked at https://nanoreview.net/ which provides a comparison of laptops and gives a score.

For practical reasons and according to research on the Internet I narrowed down my choices to either a Dell XPS 13 Plus (9320) or a Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 11) configured as described above. Going for a non-mainstream model may not suit me and these two brands and the particular models appear to be frequently in the lists of "best laptops for Linux".

Neither of them is perfect. Dell officially supports only Ubuntu. I looked in the Forum and there has been some problem with the Dell laptop as mentioned in viewtopic.php?p=688192#p688192. There are mentions about Lenovo X1 here too, but nothing about the more recent models.

My plea-request is to have any useful information about choosing a laptop for MX Linux, preferably related to the above models. As always, thank you for any suggestions.

[MXRobo]

You've likely encountered these sites, but I'll link them anyway.
mc2greg recommends trying the device before purchasing, seems like a good suggestion.
https://linux-hardware.org/
https://ubuntu.com/certified
https://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=hardware

I usually just get the best deal, and install later.

P.S. Don't get a silver colored keyboard.

[CharlesV]

Personally, I think lenovo gear is better. (And I really dont like Dell - however THAT dell is pretty tight!)

Couple of thoughts and questions you might consider...
- With the exception of sound issues, I have had 100% good luck with HP's. ( but sound IS an issue on later models!)

- Do you *need* a laptop?
__ For always running, a desktop unit is better, imo, and you can build to what you want too.

- Do you need 'new' (or 'latest')?
__ Fast is fast, but latest can be trickier in working it all out.

I have had REALLY good luck with the little lenovo tiny machines. ( Lenovo M90Q's. ) I typically purchase a little older unit or a renewed one and have yet to have a problem with MX on them. They are tight little units and yo can pick them up *very* cheap this way. ( I have 19 in use under windows and 12 under use in MX as appliances and desktops.)

[j2mcgreg]

You should also look into which brand has the best warranty repair turn around time. IE if a warranty repair is required, how long can you afford to be without the computer?

[andymx]

You've likely encountered these sites, but I'll link them anyway.
mc2greg recommends trying the device before purchasing, seems like a good suggestion.
https://linux-hardware.org/
https://ubuntu.com/certified
https://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=hardware

It's not feasible for me to try a device before purchasing. Hence my difficulty finding a product that would be sure to work.
Thank you for the links. I spent some time checking the first one. I felt the way one feels after reading a medicine information leaflet. I felt more sick than before because I couldn't find a single laptop that was totally fine working with Linux!

Your comment about the silver colored keyboard is duly noted.

[andymx]

Personally, I think lenovo gear is better. (And I really dont like Dell - however THAT dell is pretty tight!)

Couple of thoughts and questions you might consider...
- With the exception of sound issues, I have had 100% good luck with HP's. ( but sound IS an issue on later models!)

- Do you *need* a laptop?
__ For always running, a desktop unit is better, imo, and you can build to what you want too.

- Do you need 'new' (or 'latest')?
__ Fast is fast, but latest can be trickier in working it all out.

I've been changing my mind between Dell and Lenovo all the time, depending on what I read!

On the Ubuntu compatibility page it says that the Dell notebook is "Pre-installed in some regions with a custom Ubuntu image that takes advantage of the system’s hardware features and may include additional software. Standard images of Ubuntu may not work well, or at all." That's no good at all. I don't want to be bound to "a custom ... image". If I wanted that, then I would have stayed with Windows.

Thank you for the heads up about HP. As regards a desktop unit, I would agree that it's better, but I was hoping to get a laptop because it's more compact.

The question about new or the latest can be answered by my policy to buy a computer and use it until it stops working. I don't have any good opportunity to sell a computer in the second-hand market and therefore I prefer the latest so that it will hopefully last me the longest. Then of course I'll have to face the problem of getting the latest to work with Linux.

[andymx]

You should also look into which brand has the best warranty repair turn around time. IE if a warranty repair is required, how long can you afford to be without the computer?

I'm lucky in that I only use the computer at home. If a repair is necessary, I'll fall back to my old PC which is good for the basics (email and browsing).

[jonnken]

I've had no problems with the Dell business class lines: Optiplex and Latitude. Quite pleased in fact.

[chrispop99]

I've installed MX Linux on several generations of XPS 13 machines, including one with a touch screen, and they have all had zero issues.

My personal laptop is a Dell XPS 15, which I absolutely love, and that also works perfectly with MX Linux.

Chris

[MXRobo]

I promise, I don't get any commission!

Not sure what country you're in.

But these sites(prices) seem OK: viewtopic.php?p=730180#p730180
Yes, CharlesV, I bookmarked the site, then had to search the forum for "featuremarketing" to find your post.

And Black Friday is coming soon, so here is a link with deals, some not so good, I like the first one "slickdeals.net" the best, and a few others are OK.
https://www.userquote.com/

These are obvious, but occasionally bestbuy outlet:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpage ... Categories


Included BF deals
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpage ... Categories

I'm sure you know that memory is dirt cheap now.

Good Luck