Hi Linux nerds,
I’ve started up classes recently, and with being a recent convert and all, was a little curious to hear if anyone had any recommendations for a tablet capable of handling the workload of a student and that runs linux. I’m a bit of a neophyte when it comes to hardware (especially tablets, I’ve never had one in my life), though I’ve got enough experience to run Fedora on my PC.
My needs are pretty simple, I just need to be able to run libreoffice and take notes on the machine during lectures. Any insights as to where I should be looking?
https://itsfoss.com/linux-tablets/
This list is pretty good
Surprisingly Microsoft surface with GNOME disto what models works better u can find here https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Supported-Devices-and-Features#feature-matrix
I can second this. I’ve got a Surface Go 2 that I’ve been using for a couple of years now and have fully transitioned to Kubuntu a year and a half ago or so. Been working pretty much flawlessly. My cameras don’t work, but I don’t need them regardless, the pen and the keyboard cover work out of the box, so does the touchscreen. You might want to make a few changes here and there to adjust for missing functions, but it’s been a pretty good experience so far. The Surface’s battery also lasts a lot longer and the Surface itself doesn’t get too warm anymore either, compared to Windows 11
+1 for the Surface Go 2. I use on of these with NixOS GNOME, and it’s lovely. For Pen use I like Rnote. You could also use Plasma Mobile on it. The Go 3 is not really better, so don’t get it unless it is in the same price range, and avoid the 64 GB eMMC model.
The surface pro 5 is the most supported surface. I have been using it for a few years and it is pretty awesome. Pair it with a brydge keyboard and you have a hell of a laptop. I understand though brydge discontinued their surface keyboard
say no to apartheid tech
I agree, but this comment would hit much harder if you were to provide an alternative solution.
ms surface is great for linux usage
If convertibles would work for you, the new Framework 12 looks really nice. It’s not the best machine for the money, but very repairable. I have a Framework 13 and I love it.
I’ve got a 12. I really like it.
Get a DIY one and put your own memory and SSD in it. You’ll save £$\€ over the framework prices for those. I paid about £750 total for my maxed out 48GB/2TB one. Then slap something like Fedora on it and you’re good to go.
I got a Lenovo slim pen 2 as the framework stylus isn’t out yet. Pairing required holding the buttons for ages, but works great after that.
The only reason I can’t really buy one is that my job requires a really color accurate display, and the display on it is only like 66% sRGB. I’m hoping they release one with a better screen, cause other than that, it looks so awesome!
A side note. Tablets are good if you like to handwrite or take notes on slides or documents. If that’s your plan, some software like xournal++ is probably the best, instead of LibreOffice. Otherwise, if you plan to still mostly if not only write via keyboard, consider sticking to a normal laptop. They are often cheaper and you’ll write way faster than you can with a tablet.
Dell latitude 5285 is a very robust tablet, its old af but has an x86 intel cpu (i5 or i7 7th gen, rather slow, but fast enough for office and yt) and its easily repaireable (screws on the back) so new battery is no problem.
Refurbished they are sometimes available for ~200€ in germany
Only real issue i found was: volume buttons only work in x11 not in wayland
Star Labs StarLite might be a good choice. I don’t personally have one so I don’t have 1st hands experience but I know somebody who does, and he’s happy with it.
Plus one for Star Labs. I have one of their laptops and it’s a really nice bit of kit.
I installed grapheneOS on a pixel tablet and it works really well.
pixel tab is still overpriced though. it really needs a price drop
If you have money to spend, look for a Microsoft Surface. It’s amazing how good they work with Linux, despite being a Microsoft device designed to run Windows.
Their build quality is really good, too.
Agreed as I’m using a Surface Go 1 with typecover (keyboard) as a daily driver with Fedora.
I’d get a used one to avoid giving money to Microsoft.
What you’re looking for is PostmarketOS. On their website you can also see what tablet devices it runs on more or less perfectly and on which ones some of the features are missing.
I think their website answers all of your questions.
Maybe the Volla tablet
Look at 2-in-1 laptops instead of pure tablets. I use a Thinkpad X1 Yoga gen 4 primarily for note taking, Xournal++ is my favorite note taking application.
Been using the PineTab 2 by Pine64 regularly since it’'s out, even bringing it on holiday, and it’s been good. Some minor problems (e.g. no WiFi initially but now working, still no integrated BT for now but dongles working, etc) but honestly for that price ~$200 from Hong-Kong or ~400EUR from EU store with warranty) I think it’s excellent value for money for a tinkerer.
Searching for “tablet PC” or “Windows tablet” instead of just “tablet” will probably help in your search. Most computers with x86_64 CPUs (Intel or AMD) should be able to run Linux distros fine.
But tablets don’t seem to be a common form factor for PCs. It seems like the term has really been narrowed down to mean one that runs Android or iOS. Very frustrating.
If you can’t find anything that doesn’t have an ARM SoC, you can try postmarketOS, but it will require more work and risk than a “PC” that is a tablet. https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Devices
How is the user experience with Linux?
I’m a Linux /Android/occasional Windows user who after 4 generations of Android tablets, finally gave up and got an iPad (first and only Apple device in decades), because it’s leagues ahead in user experience.
Well, I have a Chuwi Hi8 that I recently managed to get to mostly run on Linux (The hardware is a bit on the strange side: It’s meant to be more an Android tablet than a PC, and outdated as hell). Gnome works pretty well, but scrolling can be a pain if the app isn’t really meant for touchscreens. But it’s good enough for browsing at least…
