I'm looking for a cheap laptop to run Linux.

[Kerwin]

I've realised I won't be able to do what I want to do on my Apple MBA and need a dedicated laptop to run Linux (OpenSUSE Tumbleweed). Before I push it into production, I'll use it to test virtual machines and code on Linux. Can someone recommend a decent laptop for less than £1k with a minimum of 16GB of RAM and a decent-sized storage SSD?

 

[WESH.UK]

Hi Kerwin

We'd always recommend Dell; they are both reliable and have excellent compatibility with Linux OS's. All of the Cyber Labs I've been to use Dell kit, including MOD Cyber labs and I've had many Dell laptops with Linux distro's on them and had zero problems.

You can pick off your own spec here:

Laptop Computers | Dell UK

Dell Laptops: Dell Pro, Plus, Latitude, Inspiron, Precision, 2 in 1, AI ready & more. Buy Now Pay Later: Klarna & PayPal. Price Match Guarantee!

www.dell.com

Even pick by price too.

If you want a better deal, find one you want then go back a generation or 2 and you can save a lot of cash.

Hope that helps

 

[Nico Albrecht]

Have a look at the Huawei matebook 16". Value for money is spot on. There is nothing on the market at that price with similar specs. The screen on this one is excellent. Quite powerful cpu amd and Intel and relative quite.

Had Ubuntu running on it no problem driver wise but with pretty much any Linux Districto battery life is not well optimised.

As a side note stay away from newer dell xps laptops. The failure rate is very high in comparison to other devices in that price class on xps. We get a lot in recently under 6 months old for data recovery. Also forums can confirm xps are shit latest gens.

 

[Kerwin]

Thank you both.

I saw someone selling a Dell XPS 17 9700 for £1,300 + postage. Does that sound like a good deal to you? The specs have been bumped up to 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD, so it should be able to run plenty of virtual machines and other development software.

 

[eionmac]

Dell OUTLOOK UK will sell refurbished Dell laptops at about 20% below list price. Their 'Latitude' business class laptops work well with Linux. I have used about 7 of them over the years to a) Keep Windows on internal hard disk and b) install openSUSE on an external hard disk for all normal purposes. All our computers run on openSUSE on external USB hard discs. This allows the machine to remain as a 'virgini nternal Windows laptop' which you update regularly and can be sold second hand when finished withit as a Windows laptop.

 

[Nico Albrecht]

Does that sound like a good deal to you?

it sounds to me like a bad deal. 9700 Could be over 2 years old and SSD is the cheap SKHynix or Samsung OEM both are heavily worn out after 2 years. So add another 120 - 200 for new SSD, Also £1300 seems a lot of money for a device that can blow up tomorrow.

Would need a long proper warranty to make it worth the £1300

 

[Kerwin]

it sounds to me like a bad deal. 9700 Could be over 2 years old and SSD is the cheap SKHynix or Samsung OEM both are heavily worn out after 2 years. So add another 120 - 200 for new SSD, Also £1300 seems a lot of money for a device that can blow up tomorrow.

Would need a long proper warranty to make it worth the £1300

Thank you. That makes sense. I'll keep looking.