I think you will find this article both interesting and infuriating. It discusses various hardware-related issues when running Linux, covering numerous usage scenarios - 32-bit and 64-bit hardware and operating systems, Intel- and AMD-based processors, Intel, AMD and Nvidia graphics, network adapters from multiple vendors, Arch, Debian, Red Hat, and SUSE distributions, data and results from fifteen years worth of problems with connectivity, display, mouse, suspend and resume, power management and other issues on about as many laptop models, comparison to Windows, bug reporting and resolution mechanisms, and more. Have fun. https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/linux-hardware-conundrum.html Cheers, Mrk
Thank you for the article. I've read your articles over the years, and I knew there were issues, but I didn't realize there were so many issues, across so many different hardware, and with so many different distros. Recently, I had some issues upgrading Kubuntu 22.04 to 24.04 on my old desktop PC, but luckily, I was able to resolve those issues. It is rather scary that it comes to luck. If one wants to buy a new laptop, or build a new desktop PC, whether there will be issues and if the stuff keeps working is up to luck, that is scary, and yes, infuriating.
I know, people sometimes think I'm a grumpy old dinosaur curmudgeon. I mean, they are not wrong, but that does not mean I'm wrong, either. Ha! Besides, I'm eternal optimist, too. Mrk
I'm grateful that my experiences are vastly opposite. To some percent by luck (especially at the beginning when I didn't know which component vendors to avoid). Linux is changing are high pace, so of course there may be problems with combination of 10 year+ old hardware, recent Linux distribution and abandoned, closed source Nvidia drivers. There were laptop lines like HP DEV ONE that came with proper Gnu/Linux preinstalled and support for it or even vendors like System76. This is probably the best bet if you don't want to look at individual hardware components. I never had any of them yet still didn't encountered major problems. If you live in the EU then electronics bought online can be returned without providing any justification within 14 days. You can just try to boot live CD/live usb to see if it is working ok on i.e. 2 Linux distributions. If not, just return it.
Spot on Mark, your article as well as you being a grumpy old dinosaur curmudgeon. I found the same issue arises when choosing a software package to install on Linux. I have a desktop and a laptop, both from Lenovo that have the same version of Linux installed. I recently downloaded the deb stable package for Ubuntu/Mint for Vivaldi from the Vivaldi website and had absolutely no issues on the laptop. Same installer, same package installed on the desktop resulted in a whole different experience - the info from the 'welcome page' was darting in all directions on my screen, showing stuff to click on, but not accepting my clicks. I uninstalled it, tried again with terminal commands to no avail, so came to the conclusion it was hardware related. Searched Vivaldi and Mint forums, but nothing there helped. This particular desktop's hardware is determined to keep its secrets from me.
Thanks very much for the suggestions. It's good that one can try and return. Although, it always leaves me a bit worried that a product may have been tried by someone before me, and perhaps they damaged something that I don't notice in the first couple of weeks. Regarding HP Dev One, thanks. There are some other brands, as well, that offer laptops tailored to GNU/Linux. But I'm afraid they're over my budget for a laptop. My main system is a desktop PC. The laptop is secondary and must be rather low-priced. My current laptop was not too bad. I had to replace a defective cooler, but apart from that, I had no issues so far.
Good summary article. Disappointing, of course. I've been following your Linux saga for a while now, planning my own migration to Linux away from Windows. On my tablet (circa 2014) it's been working fine for what I need -- browsing. However, unlike Windows where I could go for days and days on sleep (without shutting down), I find I have to reboot Linux (Mint/Xfce) at least once a day because it loses network connectivity and can't reconnect. But, it has many more positives, like 1/10th the boot time (to full readiness), and more control over when I do updates. I've really been considering moving to Linux (from Win10) on my Thinkpad w530, my workhorse. I've been Libre Office quite successfully as an MS Office replacement, and already use OSS tools that are cross platform, so I'm fairly convinced that functionality won't be an issue, but I'm increasingly concerned ongoing compatibility will be. So, in light of your findings, where does that leave you in your migration efforts? Back to Windows? Or push on into Linux?
@Mrkvonic Thanks for your informative, useful, practical and interesting articles. I'm no great expert in some of these matters but enjoy your articles nevertheless. Exposing some of the Linux madness, blind spots and elitist developer hubris that has plagued us for decades, is like a breath of fresh air.
Thanks for the article, @Mrkvonic The problems I get running MX-21 on my Lenovo E580 laptop is when on battery power, the session will freeze solid when attempting to resume from sleep mode. All I can do is hard shut down and power back on to resolve the issue. The other issue is trying to connect to my bluetooth speaker with it. It stubbornly refuses.
Gnu/Linux is free and open source. It is not a secret, so there is nothing to "expose". In fact it is the very reason many people use it. Of course this will come with some trade offs, as most things in life. I don't understand a sentiment of adults with an entitled sense to use Linux effortlessly without contributing neither a line of code nor a penny to developer salary. Just like not every meal is a fast food, and some of them you need to cook yourselves, there are some OSes that are a little bit of DIY and need to be tailored before use.
If you are trying to be sarcastic with me, it mimics the attitude that many have experienced when asking questions or leaving comments or questions over many years in Linux forums. If you need to personify me as one who simply sits back on the sidelines and expects the world to turn for him, you are wrong. Just because someone is not a programmer or does not provide money does not mean that they have nothing to contribute or input into the development. I remember well that 'newbies' were despised on many of those 'arcane' Linux forums and it was almost a sport of the Linux 'insiders' to make beliittling, derogitory or snide comments and accusations and be as unhelpful as possible to any innocent who had the temerity to ask a simple question. The attitudes and actions of those 'entitled' snobs drove many away from Linux who were struggling to come to grips with it. To give credit where it is due, not everyone on those forums was outraged and spat venom at a simple request or question and some were very helpful to newcomers.
I've been using Linux, specifically Slackware Linux since it's very beginning. I've made a few forays over the years with other distributions. Guess I've been pretty lucking in the hardware compatibility department. In the beginning it was a bit shaky having to make some tweaks to recognize hardware. Always managed to figure it out. This primarily in the floppy days. My first CD install of Slackware (around 1993) gave me a few (SCSI) headaches. These days I've had good results with Slackware. Aside from the fact I use a legacy NVIDIA video card that requires patches for the driver to work with newer kernels. I have had problems in the past with printers and a stand alone scanner (both a while back). I have used Slackware on a variety laptops, Acer, Sony, Toshiba with out issues (excluding secure boot; which I simply turned off). A side from a Compaq I had several years ago my desktops have been all self built. I don't recall any issues. I look for hardware that will work with Linux. I have a Slackware Live USB that I used to test possible purchases. I am saving up for a beefier computer. This one is maxed out with 8GB of ram, the CPU is an MD Phenom II X4, just not enough. Still does the job though.
I intend to complete my migration to Linux, but I'll probably keep a Windows as a vm for compatibility stuff, and maybe buy a Mac book. Mrk
It is my honest opinion. I really think there is some entitlement in some of requests from Windows users. A lot of people don't acknowledge that GNU/Linux has its history, design decisions.The parts that are funded are funded by different bussiness model than Apple or M$ Windows. I would say it all sums into some sort of culture. And there are some users that come outside of that culture and just want it to to change to something resembling corporate product like Windows with all corporate crap that would inevitably follow... If you don't like Linux, don't use it. Don't try to change something that millions of users use, depend on and enjoy. Can you provide example?
@reasonablePrivacy I think user usage and criticism positive or negative has been very important and valuable in the direction, range, depth and momentum of development, of, for example, (in Windows), Shadow Defender, Sandboxie . Close relationships, almost symbiotic, mutual interests between developer and user via forums or meaningful accessibility have moulded and refined the software from 'rough' concept to refined fruition. The softwares that I mention would have never developed to the degree that they have if there was not user involvement. The same is also true for Linux 'relationships' and operating systems which 'evolve' into wide usage and understandable form and format through a software being used regularly, discussed, criticized' by enthusiasts and usership which feel that they have a legitimate and meaningful part in the process. Users feel that they are a part of what is going on. Introverted' development and attitude means that many Linux developments, have remained (after initial developer enthusiasm) static and frozen, a jewel only in the eye of their own developer/s. I've followed Linux from it's inception with interest but as many others have had to wait until recent times for it to be usable as a 'daily driver'. Many people will not touch Linux from times when they have been 'bitten' when trying to find a way forward. I believe that most of us in that category, are not trying to make Linux into Doze but would encourage an operating system that is not developed by an arcane 'club' . An operating system to be widely successful has be a system that meets the needs of a wide range of people with varying abilities. A newbie needs to be able to ask a question (as a newbie) and be met with respect and welcome for his/her interest. People that are new to complex and abstract will ask questions and often will put their questions in a hopeful, naive, tentative way, which can be easily characterized by those in an elite inward 'club' as stupid or ill researched. I've looked into Linux forums for many years and seen many new members and inquirers mocked and slighted by arrogant snobs for asking the most basic of questions. I understand @reasonablePrivacy what you say about a unique operating system in development retaining it core principles (if well thought out and widely discussed) without being distorted out of shape by popular un-invested public need for usability without responsibility. I was in the mid 1990s a Windows user from msdos and Windows 3.0 and prior to that used Unix systems and limited/limiting online networks without much expertise. I was always looking for something that would 'work' , that had a certain integrity regarding usership and usability. Within Unix, as I remember, users had a chance and a clue with the 'man' command and with no previous history of using Unix a person could navigate and get results. I don't like arcane or occulted 'arts' or elitists who lock doors on 'ordinary' understanding. Currently I use Linux on multiple PCs and although not an 'adept' or comfortable with the command line the computers and operating sytems are usable to me using the 'frontage' gui and I am growing, by increment, more able to do most of the things that I would do on other operating systems. I don't want the moon but the operating system being to some degree undestandable and usable on a daily basis without interruption from unnecessary 'upgrades', having a recognizable structure and infrastructure within the operating system and external support structure is important to me. My original post here was in support of Mrkvonic's attitude, direction and content in relation to his down to earth, wholesome and friendly approach to problems and considerations that many avoid, through political correct mores, 'hands off' sacred cows' attitudes.
I migrated a long time ago. I have one Windows 10 VirtualBox virtual machine that serves two purposes, my taxes and annoy me when I do updates. I'd like to own Mac Pro, just cannot justify the expense.
I was working on one "company", where i was an "ict assistant". Some laptops there were really slow, instead of brick them down and buy a new ones, i suggested that we can install Linux on them. So the first thing was: -usage of those laptops -basic surfing on the net, printing to a networked corporate printer (Konica-Minolta) Windows 10 was absolutely slow and horrible to use on those laptops. Even SSD installed, even it was dual core and 2 threads, but CPU l1/l2/l3 caches are so small...for Windows 10. So i decided to install Manjaro Linux on them. Why Manjaro? Because it uses btrfs as a filesystem and you can do Windows like "system restore" straight outta Grub menu. Of course the "big" problem was the networked Konica-Minolta printer. This is not Linux fault, but Konica-Minolta's driver fault. Installing it by "python install.py" did the trick...but no. I had to manually add (CUPS) punch unit model, finisher model etc to get it to work. Took about 3 hours and couple of ciggys to get it to work. Since then, it has worked flawlessly many years. So, they saves some money, instead of buying new laptops for "basic excel use and surfing". And yes, those very slow laptops are now...fast.
I will see if I can guilt my friends into buying me a Mac for birthday or something. One time, they gave me a 1.3-dollar (yes one point three) amazon gift certificate, so there's that. Mrk
I have to say I had a good experience on the linuxmint forum when I had questions installing Mint to my tablet. They were quite welcoming to someone coming to Linux from Windows for the first time, Though, I made sure to read and research first so I could figure out as much as I could before posting, and reference what I had discovered so far. I think that helps in any situation or media platform. There's nothing worse than someone coming to a forum and asking "how do I..." when a google search would provide the answer (sometimes easily, sometimes with a bit of work); pure laziness on their part. (I'm NOT implying anyone here does/did that, I'm just venting, as I still see this all the time)
