The "To Keep Up" Wiki

The goal is to buy a laptop that is powerful enough to perform video editing. Without MS Windows if that can save money.

Target Specs

Dell has sold Linux laptops for a long time. For example they offer Ubuntu distribution on many of their machines as an explicitly Windows alternative. For example: https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/dell-laptops-and-notebooks/new-xps-13-developer-edition/spd/xps-13-9310-laptop/ctox139w10p2c3000u

• RESEARCH: Unfortunately the Dell machine costs $60 to $240 cheaper if it comes with Windows instead of Linux!

Then there is the Chromebook world where all the machines are Linux to start. See: https://www.zdnet.com/article/all-chromebooks-will-also-be-linux-laptops-going-forward/

• RESULTS OF RESEARCH: pending

Sounds like you might be a good candidate for a custom-built machine. They do that at Micro Center: https://www.microcenter.com/site/service/instore-service-complete-build.aspx

They claim their custom built machines start at $150 (for pretty stripped down, I’m sure), so what you’re looking for (moderately high-end HW, no OS) may be competitively priced there.

• RESULTS OF RESEARCH: pending

You could consider an Intel NUC kit. You can buy it as a kit (no memory, no storage) or as a complete PC. It comes w/o an operating system. You can pick a range of CPU's, and the graphics are generally integrated unless you buy the top of the range. I'm running Linux Mint 20.2. Bob Primak also has one. https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/12/03/home-showcase-lexingtons-meriam-hill-beauty/#:~:text=Address%3A-,6%20Hayes%20Ave.,-%2C%20Lexington

• RESULTS OF RESEARCH: pending

You can try Alienware from Dell. These are gaming machines. Not sure though if they come without Windows.

• RESULTS OF RESEARCH: pending

This site may be of help:

https://www.cyberciti.biz/hardware/laptop-computers-with-linux-installed-or-preloaded/

Or maybe not.

• RESULTS OF RESEARCH: pending

I just [20211204] talked to Liz deMarco who used to have a pretty nice Linux laptop called “pangolin” which she bought specifically as a Linux machine.

She told me it came from https://system76.com

If you go to their site, you will find a number of systems which you can configure to your specific needs as far as processor speed, memory, storage, etc.

Based upon what I saw on their web site, their machines use AMD's ryzen processors and rather than Intel. I don't know if this matters to you. Here is a comparison of the ryzen vs the Intel I7.

They System76 machines are not inexpensive, but she says their quality is excellent and the company specifically works with people wanting a Linux based product.

• RESULTS OF RESEARCH: pending

my wife gets custom laptops from this firm.. no idea whether they do ones without windows but they are an ofher source besides microcenter .. but on line only

Eluktronics

• RESULTS OF RESEARCH: pending

A few folks recommended that I try a frame.work (Framework) laptop. I'll write more about it soon but I put the “kit” together in about a half hour (most of the time struggling with the tiny wifi antenna wires). Easily installed Ubuntu Linux. Now I'm in the process of moving my stuff over from my mac. First impressions are that it's a great little machine with replaceable parts from reputable manufacturers. Fits together nicely.

Mine's kind of insanely tricked out: 64G RAM, 4T SSD. $2636.

• RESULTS OF RESEARCH: pending

Keep in mind that OEMs pay between $15 and $50 for the OEM Windows license, so the markup for the consumer is negligible in most cases. Framework looks very good, though it's currently only Intel CPUs and a little more expensive (but upgradeable, which might make it worth the upfront cost).

At the moment, I think AMD Ryzen is top of the heap for non-Apple options (at least until Intel Alder Lake). I bought an ASUS Zephyrus G14 (40GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Ryzen 9 5900HS, RTX 3060) earlier this year in anticipation of chip shortages making a later upgrade potentially impractical. I'm running Fedora 35 on it and the only thing not working in Linux is the fingerprint reader.

With regard to Linux compatibility, the model matters, since compatibility quirks can get in the way. Off the top of my head, Lenovo Legion series and ASUS ROG have decent support.

-Rich