Well supported ultrabook?

Hey all,

Looking to make the switch from OS X to Linux on my main work PC, which is currently a MacBook Pro. I'm looking for something in the ultrabook form factor similar to the MacBook Air but comparatively priced. I do web/java programming so at least i5/8GB RAM would be nice.

I looked a long time at the Dell XPS 13 Dev Edition but the $1500 seems a bit much too me.

Anyone using an ultrabook with Linux successfully for their day-to-day work? Any recommendations?

 

maybe this can help http://forum.notebookreview.com/son...owners-lounge-svp11-2013-a-2.html#post9258926

 

UX32a and it's ilk are supported pretty well. There are probably better supported ultrabooks, but I don't have one. Anyway, see here.

 

First generation Series 9 900X3A works flawlessly here, months of uptime in a row and I don't go easy on it. Topcase and power supply connection is weak, though. Unsold stock new machines should go for peanuts on ebay or themsuch.

For the newer gen S9s, I'm seeing reports of big struggles with ACPI power management. AFAICT still not properly fixed up on 3.10 even, so look into that, if buying newer S9s.

 

You can consider ZaReason's UltraLap 430, which they can configure with a variety of different Linux distros for you. System76 has a similar offering in their Galago UltraPro, but they only offer to configure it with Ubuntu, (I would assume that would include variants like Kubuntu, etc.). The System76 Galago UltraPro is actually Clevo's W740SU, which can be bought in a "whitebook", build your own configuration, from various resellers, like Mythlogic, as their Callisto 1413. I'm looking into getting mine there, since I use Gentoo.

Good Luck..

 

Thanks for all the help, I'll go check this stuff out. Appreciate it!

 

You should look at the system76 website. They have some thin laptops and all ready with ubuntu installed.

 

This machine looks really nice, however I can't say if the build quality is good, but from what I can read it should be OK.

4th Generation Intel Core i7-4750HQ Processor ( 2.0GHz 6MB L3 Cache - 4 Cores plus Hyperthreading )
14.1" 1080p Full High Definition LED Backlit IPS Display with Matte Finish (1920 x 1080)
Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 with 128 MB eDRAM
Up to 16 GB 204 pin Dual Channel DDR3 @ 1600 MHz
Multitouch Clickpad with two finger scrolling
13.26" x 9.90" x 0.75" (WxDxH)
3.80 lbs. (1.72 kg.)

LINK

Besides that I just mentioned a few nce notebooks in another thread:

Thinkpad T430s (14") is a lot lighter than the T430 and from what I can see Linux should run great on it.

Thinkpad X230 (12") is also a nice machine:

Thinkpad X1 (13") If you rally want to spend some cash on a nice real ultrabook.

The three above machines can all be found on Thinkwiki.org for more info regarding running Linux on them.

 

Not exactly an ultrabook but my 12.5" HP 2570p runs Ubuntu 13.04 like a champ! Blazing fast, stable, cool, you name it. Highly recommended!

 

You aren't the only one. I've looked and continue to look at it but couldn't pull the trigger myself. I'm most interested in the:

MYTHLOGIC :: Configure Your System

...mentioned in an earlier post above but I can't find a single review on the company itself or that specific ultra. The thought of having purpose built hardware, my way, and having Windows never touch it in incredibly appealing but I need to see some highres pics and specs before that. They also have a 13.3:

MYTHLOGIC :: Configure Your System

at 1920x1080! (Again no reviews that I can find.)

I've looked at the S76 rigs but never pulled the trigger. Something has always bothered me. I don't know if it's the website or the emails I've exchanged but.

I wish these Linux vendors would have a refurbished or clearance section. I'd happily take a scuffed or returned one.

 

Sager N7330 is the one with 13" size. You can read its linux review here. I am looking forward to getting one for myself as well.

Keep in mind though, it is not an ultrabook, its a full fledged 13" laptop

 

Anyone own a good Linux laptop? : linux

 

Hello, fellow Seattle-ite!
I'm in the same boat, have been looking into buying an Ultrabook (or light laptop) for a while now and run Ubuntu on it, but decided to wait for Haswell.
I agree that $ 1500 are not peanuts, but don't forget that this machine comes with a 256 GB SSD (and it's a Samsung, too), 8 GB RAM and a great FullHD screen. So it's not like you're not getting anything for your money.

For all of you looking at the System76 Galago UltraPro (which, as stated in an earlier post, is a re-branded Clevo W740SU, also sold by Mythlogic as Callisto 1413): I've been waiting for reviews of this machine, since it looked very interesting, both feature-wise and price-wise (the only thing bothering me is that the keyboard doesn't have a backlight). Now that the first ones finally started shipping, it seems like many people are complaining about the keyboard being bad.
System76 apparently acknowledged the issue and is sending keyboard-replacement to people who already have their Galago UltraPro (but you have to replace it yourself, it seems) and new orders ship with the new (supposedly better) keyboard.

Sources:

- David Pollak's review part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 and part 5.

- Nick Kasprak's review (he wrote later on Twitter that his laptop did in fact already have the new keyboard out of the box)

- Jason Holtzapple's review

Personally, I've decided to wait for a Haswell-refresh of Dell's Ubuntu Ultrabook. If it's as good as the current XPS 13 Dev Edition, then that will be perfect for me.

 

I'm counting on Dell Latitude E7440, which is rather new and not yet available in many places. But it really looks promising, just like an old Thinkpad with full trackpoint, backlit keyboard and Haswell CPU.

 

If you're doing programming solely and not gaming, etc, then you can look into the MacBook Air as a linux ultrabook.

I have a MacBook Pro 15" that's my primary work machine these days running Arch Linux. I also have a MacBook Air that's now my wife's and it also runs Arch Linux pretty great. I only boot into OS X to use iWork, since our company templates are made in Pages.

I have everything working except for one thing, which could be a deal breaker for some, suspend to ram does not work using EFI boot. Since I have SSDs its no big deal to shutdown every time.

The Lenovo ThinkPad ultrabooks make great linux machines as well.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

I recently purchased from Amazon Marketplace an ACER Aspire S3-391-6616, its a 13.3" with an Intel Core i3 1.6Ghz, 4Gb RAM, and 320Gb HDD + 20Gb SSD, SD Card reader, and bluetooth as well and I wiped out and installed Linux Mint 15 "Olivia" 64bit. Running great, no lag, and with 5+ hrs battery life. I found a seller that had new leftover stock and purchased for under $400. It is very thin, almost like an apple macbook air, lightweight and comfortable keyboard and bright display. May not be an over the top system, but it sure handles well at such a modest price. There are many versions of this laptop, ACER made them with 3 different colors shells; Silver, Champagne, and Graphite as well as some more robust processors. It does not have a built in dvdrw drive, I use an external USB 3.0 slotloading drive and also does not have an etherent port, you will have to purchase a USB one. I found the Anker USB 3.0 to 1Gbps dongle which works perfectly on any LINUX system once you download the drivers for it.

I use this laptop all the time as it is lightweight, runs fast, and has great battery life for everyday browsing and communications as well as network support as an IT Consultant I am always on the gp. To protect it since it is out of the bag a lot I found a snap-on cover from iPearl on Amazon, its similar to those made for macbooks, they come in many colors and virtually does not add to the thickness and weight of the laptop itself, even has kickstands to tilt the laptop higher making it comforable to see and type.