Linux compatibility of our Neptun Wave Fall 18 devices

For this semester’s offers from Projekt Neptun we, TheAlternative, have again tested the line-up for Linux compatibility. As our test distribution we used the current Ubuntu LTS release with kernel version 4.15. The following sections are our findings, with a somewhat positive result overall. If you wish to learn more about Linux and attend some of our free courses, please visit our website!

Lenovo

Lenovo has a good track record when it comes to Linux compatibility. Their ThinkPad line has been a favorite of Linux enthusiasts for a long time. The current generation is no exception: The T480, X1 Carbon and X380 Yoga work very well with Linux. The only thing that (as per usual) does not work is the fingerprint reader: their manufacturer just won't support Linux. Apart from this small issue, the devices work just fine.

One exception is the P52: With the hybrid graphics enabled, Linux won't boot. The only solution is to turn off hybrid graphics in the BIOS, which somewhat defeats the purpose of the device, which is having high graphics performance for CAD applications.

HP

HP's current devices are a mixed bag: Some work great with Linux, while some still have problems. The EliteBook x360 1030 G3 and 840 G5 have very good support, with no significant problems.

The EliteBook 735 G5, equipped with an AMD CPU and graphics unit, was unable to boot Linux in our testing. While Linux support will likely improve in the future, it dubious right now.

The big workstation devices ZBook Studio G5 and EliteBook 1050 G1 have dedicated graphics chips, which often means that Linux support is not quite as good. However, using the proprietary NVIDIA driver works fine for both devices. One problem they have is that the we could not get the touchpad working for our test. This is likely due to the devices being very new and not perfectly supported yet. It is expected these issues will be resolved at some point in the future, but right now it is still a problem.

The fingerprint readers do not work on the HPs, just like what we have seen with the Lenovos.

Apple & Microsoft

If you plan on using Linux on an Apple MacBook or a Microsoft Surface, we can only wish you "good luck". These devices were never supposed to run anything other than MacOS or Microsoft Windows, respectively. While Linux can be installed with some level of success, it is cumbersome and will require a lot of troubleshooting. There will be features that just don't work. Unless you are already an expert in Linux and want to tinker with your system, we cannot recommend Microsoft's or Apple's devices for use with Linux.