6/29/2013 Show Notes

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LINUX TOPIC FOR THE MONTH:

“How to buy Linux pre-installed”

 

Talking Points

  • Many Linux users run Linux on older Windows and Mac hardware to extend their lives – perfect!

  • If you are buying a Mac, you buy one with the MacOS pre-installed

  • If you are buying a Windows PC, you buy one with Windows 8 pre-installed

  • If you are buying a Chromebook, you buy one with the ChromeOS pre-installed

  • It only makes sense that if you buy a computer to run Linux, that you buy one with Linux pre-installed.

  • It used to be that the reason to buy Linux pre-installed was because Linux had a limited list of hardware it supported

    • Hardware compatibility on Linux is not the problem it was 10 (or even 5) years ago

    • Wifi network adapters and video drivers used to be the worst

    • Most everything is plug-and play, with drivers “baked-in” to the Linux kernel

    • Unless your hardware is 5 or 10 years old, most modern computer hardware and accessories will work with Linux

    • The newest hardware might require an additional driver to access the newest features, but often the drivers already in the kernel will run the basic functions

 

Links we discussed in the show:

 

System76: https://www.system76.com

US-based. Ubuntu only. Linux-optimized hardware. “System76 has manufactured Ubuntu pre-installed laptops, desktops, and servers since 2005. We believe that each one of our products define System76 as a company. We carefully craft our product line to demanding standards using only the highest quality materials and components. We then backup our products with leading support and customer service to provide an experience unlike any other.”

 

ZaReason: http://zareason.com

US-based. Choose from several distributions or specify your own. Linux-optimized hardware. “We have come a long way since we opened for business in February 2007. Somehow, probably by sheer luck, we managed to attract the coolest customer base, i.e. the developers, programmers, thinkers, small business owners, research labs, and even the government.”

 

Emperor Linux: http://emperorlinux.com/

US-based. Choose from several distributions. High-end brand name PC hardware. “We are an official Lenovo Business Partner, a Dell Registered Partner, a ToughBook Premier Partner Program (TP3) Reseller, a Sony Solutions Provider, a Fujitsu Channel Partner, and a Sharp Value Added Reseller. These manufacturers are aware that we put Linux on their laptops. You have the full manufacturers’ hardware warranty when you purchase an EmperorLinux system.”

 

ThinkPenguin: http://www.thinkpenguin.com/

US-based. Linux-optimized hardware. Choose from several distributions. Free (as in freedom) proponents

 

Telikin: http://www.telikin.com/

US-based. Linux-optimized MSI hardware. Telikin safe touch screen computers for seniors of all ages.

 

Raspberry Pi: http://www.raspberrypi.org/

UK-based. A basic hobby and learning computer for $25. Add your own case and peripherals.

 

Compulab: http://www.fit-pc.com/web/

 

Linux pre-loaded (including outside the US): http://linuxpreloaded.com/

 

Point Linux: http://pointlinux.org

 

Ultimate Edition is based on the original Ubuntu 12.04 BEFORE it had the UEFI installer. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI