| Buying a preinstalled Linux desktop or laptop |
Aug. 07, 2006
Analysis -- So you want to run Linux, but you really would rather have it preinstalled? Good idea. It's for those users that longtime LXer.com reader cyber_rigger started putting together his "Companies selling preinstalled Linux and no-OS" listing.
It may be fun installing a Linux distro and getting it to fit you like a glove, but sometimes even the most techie of us just want to sit down with a new box, turn it on, and get it to work without worrying about whether we need to download a WiFi driver.
Cyber_rigger's new list is for everyone who wants a low-end Linux desktop or laptop that just works. In other words, it's for home users.
It's the most impressive list of this type that I've seen. While the formatting is on the rough side, by using his links you can find many, if not all, of the smaller OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and resellers that will be happy to sell you a fully-functional Linux desktop for under $1,000, or a laptop for under $2,000.
The list is set up so that you can easily find your favorite distribution.
This is a work in progress, so there are some holes. For example, the list doesn't include the three companies that will sell you MEPIS-powered systems -- Technologist Inc., Carver Computers, and Britt Systems.
Still, if I wanted to buy a Linux-powered PC today, rigger's list is where I'd start my hunt.
But, what exactly should you be hunting for? While the big companies like Lenovo are finally starting to offer Linux-powered systems, and business Linux system providers like Penguin Computing Inc. are well-known, chances are you haven't heard of many of the smaller companies that support Linux.
Some buying tips
For my money, I'd first look to see if the company is an official partner of its Linux distributor. If I'm going to buy a SUSE Linux-powered computer, for example, I'd rather get it from someone who's a Novell partner rather than someone whose only connection to Novell is that they downloaded a copy of openSUSE 10.1.
Next, I'd look for a company that's been in the Linux business for a while. I'd want to know that if I have a technical problem, the first thing that the tech support crew suggests when I call isn't going to be to reinstall Windows.
When going over exactly what system I want to buy, I'm a big believer in the theory that's there's no such thing as too much RAM. If my budget is tight, I'd rather get more RAM than a faster processor or bigger hard drive any day of the week. In all my years of beating on PCs in tests, I've always found that the single easiest way to get more performance is to add more memory.
I'd also want to check online in LUGs (Linux user groups), Linux sites, and so on, to see what other people have to say about a particular vendor. If several people tell horror stories of shoddy construction or unsupported components, I'll know to steer clear of that seller
This may just be me, but I'm still a big fan of buying locally. Given an equal choice between two companies, I'll go with the local one every time. Of course, there is a practical side to this as well. If I have trouble with a machine I got from a near-by vendor, I can always just carry it in for repair or replacement.
Finally: always, always buy with a credit card. Many cards come with some kind of buyer's protection. If you pay with a debt card, a check, or cash, you may have no recourse in the unlikely chance that your new PC goes up in smoke.
That last event, however, is very unlikely. The chances are excellent that if you buy a new Linux-powered PC, you're going to enjoy using it for years to come without any problems.
-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
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