I’m looking for a new work laptop and I’d like to jump to Linux at the same time. I was hoping to get some input from here because I’m still undecided!
Maybe some context first : the switch is not urgent. My current machine still works. I’d like to change it because of a few quirks and problems (for me) it has, it will find a happy owner afterwards. As for the job, I’m a dev (mostly Java and web). I need something that can run a few docker containers, multiple instances of intellij, but that’s pretty much it and it’s not a complicated requirement to fill. Also, I’m in Europe.
I’ve been looking mostly at Tuxedo and Framework, with a preference for the later 16 inch model.
Does anybody have experience with Linux support on the framework 16? With, for example, Fedora? Other than that, any recommendation / thing to pay attention to? I have some experience with Linux but it’s been a while since I’ve run it as a desktop os, and my knowledge has never been in depth, so any help will be greatly appreciated :)
I highly recommend Framework laptops for Linux. I have not used the Framework 16, but I can attest that Linux support for the Framework 13 (intel 11th & 12th gen) is excellent. I have used Fedora on the Intel 11th gen and Intel 12th gen, everything worked immediately on a fresh install without any workarounds or issues. Other distros might require a few package installs, but Fedora, Ubuntu, and Ubuntu derivatives should work out-of-the-box without any additional configuration. The Arch Wiki article for the Framework covers pretty much everything you might need to know to have an optimized Linux experience with any distro.
Aside from Framework’s excellent Linux support, I really have to stress how cool and unique it is as a laptop for developers and tinkerers. This thing is literally designed to be opened up, repaired, and modded. All of the internal components are clearly labeled and easily accessible, there’s even a little spot inside the laptop chassis just for spare screws in case a screw ever gets lost! Another awesome obscure feature of this laptop is the ability to use a Storage Expansion Card for dual booting. I just plug in the expansion card to boot into Windows, then unplug it and I’m back in Linux. It is absolute bliss compared to Windows and Linux sharing a bootloader.
I know I’m rambling, but I really could keep going on and on about Frameworks. They truly are unlike any other laptop, in all the right ways.
Yeah the proposition of Framework is what draws me to it. Price-wise it’s more expensive than any other alternative, but it’s still quite unique, and it ticks a lot of boxes that other don’t (open-source firmware keyboard on a laptop ? whaaaaa) Your dual boot setup is interesting! How did you manage to get this setup? Is it just a matter of installing windows on the external storage and selecting it as priority when booting? It would be nice to have the option.