My wife is looking for a portable device primarily for modeling in Blender and optionally for drawing in Krita. So we looking for something with a GNU/Linux support from manufacturer.

We considered https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/TUXEDO-InfinityFlex-14-Gen1, it looks nice, but maybe you have other suggestions? Do you have experience with convertibles, how convenient is to draw on them?

We also considered https://earth.starlabs.systems/pages/starlite for drawing and a separate device for Blender, but having two devices might not be convenient…

  • Eugenia
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    1 month ago

    Laptops from over 5 years ago are well supported by Linux (for the most part). However, the very modern laptops have bits and pieces that aren’t supported, from fan profiles, to the new intel webcams etc. They will run Linux, but you might fry them if your fans don’t work properly. So your best bet would be to get either an old one (I got a Macbook Air from 2015 with 8GB RAM, works great), or get a Tuxedo, or a System76 one, or a couple more Linux-specific ones. And it’s not because suddenly Linux does worse job supporting hardware, but it’s because these machines are. getting more complex and they need drivers for every little thing. Back in the day, things were more generic (e.g. the fans) and worked with a single driver.

    • narc0tic_bird@lemm.ee
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      1 month ago

      They will run Linux, but you might fry them if your fans don’t work properly.

      The EFI will control the fans just fine.

      • Eugenia
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        1 month ago

        Not the case with all laptops, e.g. some asus ones, and not even the tuxedo ones that require drivers.

    • ShaturOP
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      1 month ago

      Agree! That’s why we are looking for something for a manufacturer support. We don’t consider used market only because thinking about something powerful.

      I have a SteamDeck and very satisfied with how GNU/Linux runs on it. Windows even run worse on it 😅