Posted on 05/20/2019 11:26:18 AM PDT by ShadowAce
A couple of disclaimer/information before you see the list of shops offering computers with Linux preloaded.
Please make a purchase on your own decision. I am simply listing the Linux computer sellers here, I cannot vouch for their product quality, after sale service or other such things.
This is not a ranking list. The items listed here are in no particular order. The numbers are used for the purpose of counting the items, not ranking them.
Lets see from where you can get desktops and laptops with Linux preinstalled.
Dell has been offering Ubuntu laptops for several years now. Their flagship product XPS features a Developer Edition series that comes with Ubuntu preinstalled.
If you read my review of Dell XPS Ubuntu edition, you know that I loved this laptop. Its been more than two years and this laptop is still in great condition and performance has not deteriorated.
Dell XPS is an expensive device with a price tag of over $1000. If thats out of your budget, Dell also has inexpensive offering in its Inspiron laptop range.
Do note that Dell doesnt display the Ubuntu/Linux laptops on its website. Unless you already know that Linux laptops are offered by Dell, you wouldnt be able to find them.
So, go to Dells website and enter Ubuntu in its search box to see the products that ship with Ubuntu Linux preinstalled.
Availability: Most part of the world.
System76 is a prominent name in the Linux computers world. This US-based company specializes in high-end computing devices that run Linux. Their targeted user-base is software developers.
Initially, System76 used to offer Ubuntu on their machines. In 2017, they released their own Linux distribution Pop!_OS based on Ubuntu. Since then, Pop!_OS is the default OS on their machine with Ubuntu still available as a choice.
Apart from performance, System76 has put a great emphasis on the design of its computer. Their Thelio desktop series has a handcrafted wooden design.
You may check their Linux laptops offering here. They also offer Linux-based mini PCs and servers.
Did I mention that System76 manufactures its computers in America instead of the obvious choice of China and Taiwan? The products are on the expensive side, perhaps for this reason.
Availability: USA and 60 other countries. Extra custom duty may be applicable outside the US. More info here.
Purism is a US-based company that takes pride in creating products and services that help you secure your data and privacy. Thats the reason why Purism calls itself a Social Purpose Corporation.
Purism started with a crowdfunding campaign for creating a high-end open source laptop with (almost) no proprietary software. The successful $250,000 crowdfunding campaign gave birth to Librem 15 laptop in 2015.
Later Purism released a 13″ version called Librem 13. Purism also created a Linux distribution Pure OS keeping privacy and security in mind.
Pure OS can run on both desktop and mobile devices and it is the default choice of operating system on its Librem laptops and Librem 5 Linux phone.
Purism gets its components from China, Taiwan, Japan, and the United States and builds/assemble them in the US. All their devices have hardware kill switches to turn off the microphone/camera and wireless/bluetooth.
Availability: Worldwide with free international shipping. Custom duty may cost extra.
Slimbook is a Linux computer vendor based in Spain. Slimbook came to limelight after launching the first KDE branded laptop.
Their offering is not limited to just KDE Neon. They offer Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, Linux Mint and Spanish distributions like Lliurex and Max. You can also choose Windows at an additional cost or opt for no operating system at all.
Slimbook has a wide variety of Linux laptops, desktops and mini PCs available. An iMac like 24″ curved monitor that has in-built CPU is an awesome addition to their collection.
Want a liquid cooled Linux computer? Slimbooks Kymera Aqua is for you.
Availability: Worldwide but may cost extra in shipping and custom duty
Another European candidate in this list of Linux computer vendors. TUXEDO Computers is based out of Germany and mainly focuses on German users and then European users.
TUXEDO Computers only uses Linux and the computers are manufactured in Germany and come with 5 years of guarantee and lifetime support.
TUXEDO Computers has put up some real good effort in customizing its hardware to run on Linux. And if you ever run into trouble or want to start afresh, you have the system recovery option to restore factory settings automatically.
TUXEDO Computers has a number of Linux laptops, desktops, mini-PCs available. They have both Intel and AMD processors. Apart from the computers, TUXEDO Computers also has a range of Linux supported accessories like docking stations, DVD/Blue-Ray burners, power bank and other peripheral devices.
Availability: Free shipping in Germany and Europe (for orders above 150 Euro). Extra shipping charges and custom duty for non-EU countries. More info here.
Vikings is based in Germany (instead of Scandinavia :D). Certified by Free Software Foundation, Vikings focuses exclusively on Libre-friendly hardware.
The Linux laptops and desktops by Vikings come with coreboot or Libreboot instead of proprietary boot systems like BIOS and UEFI. You can also buy server hardware running no proprietary software.
Vikings also has other accessories like router, docking station etc. The products are assembled in Germany.
Availability: Worldwide (except North Korea). Non-EU countries may charge custom duty. More information here.
No! Its not the official Ubuntu Shop even though it has Ubuntu in its name. Ubuntushop is based in Belgium and originally started selling computers installed with Ubuntu.
Today, you can get laptops preloaded with Linux distributions like Mint, Manjaro, elementrayOS. You can also request a distribution of your choice to be installed on the system you buy.
One unique thing about Ubuntushop is that all of its computers come with default Tails OS live option. So even if it has a Linux distribution installed for regular use, you can always choose to boot into the Tails OS (without live USB). Tails OS is a Debian based distribution that deletes all traces of its use after logging out and it uses Tor network by default.
Unlike many other big players on this list, I feel that Ubuntushop is more of a domestic operation where someone manually assembles your computer and installs Linux on it. But they have done quite some job on providing options like easy re-install, own cloud server etc.
Got an old PC, send it to them while buying a new Linux computer and they will send it back to you after installing lightweight Linux on it so that the old computer is recycled and can still be put to some use.
Availability: Belgium and rest of Europe.
Minifree, short for Ministry of Freedom, is a company registered in England.
You can guess that Minifree focuses on the freedom. It provides secure and privacy-respcting computers that come with Libreboot instead of BIOS or UEFI.
Minifree devices are certified by Free Software Foundation which means that you can be sure that your computer adhere to guidelines and principals of Free and Open Source Software.
Unlike many other Linux laptops vendors on this list, computers from Minifree are not super-expensive. You can get a Libreboot Linux laptop running Trisquel GNU/Linux from 200 euro.
Apart from laptops, Minifree also has a range of accessories like a Libre Router, tablet, docking station, batteries, keyboard, mouse etc.
If you care to run only 100% free software like Richard Stallman, Minifree is for you.
Availability: Worldwide. Shipping information is available here.
Entroware is another UK-based vendor that specializes in Linux-based laptops, desktop and servers.
Like many others on the list, Entroware also has Ubuntu as its choice of Linux distribution. Ubuntu MATE is also available as a choice on Entroware Linux laptops.
Apart from laptops, desktop and servers, Entroware also has their mini-PC Aura and the iMac style monitor with built-in CPU Ares.
Availability: UK, Ireland France, Germany, Italy, Spain
This is a new Linux laptop vendor on our list. Juno Computers is also based in UK and offers computers preinstalled with Linux. elementary OS, Ubuntu and Solus OS are the choices of Linux distributions here.
Juno offers a range of laptops and a mini-PC called Olympia. Like almost all the mini-PCs offered by other vendors here, Olympia is also basically Intel NUC.
The main highlight from Juno Computers is a low-cost Chromebook alternative, Juve that costs £299. It runs a dual-booted system with Solus/elementray with an Android-based desktop operating system, Prime OS.
Availability: UK, USA, Canada, Mexico, Most part of South America and Europe, Australia, New Zealand, some part of Asia and Africa. More information here.
I have listed 10 places to get Linux computers but there are several other such shops available. I cannot include all of them in the main list and a couple of them seem to be out of stock for most products. However, I am going to mention them here so that you may check them on your own:
Other mainstream computer manufacturers like Acer, Lenovo etc may also have some Linux systems in their catalog so you may check their products as well.
I’ve also installed linux on machines that were purchased with windows installed.
It’s no problem and like you say sometimes the cost of the original system has been discounted to less than a machine with no OS.
VirtualBox VMs
I have a Lenovo Laptop T-420 that runs Fedora 29 just fine, I have NO reason to run WINDOZ or the proprietary Apple OS - BINHEX? LOL. I asked an Apple salesman why their computers are so expensive, he had the nerve to tell me that they have to recuperate design costs. LOL
$35
You can buy a Linux computer anywhere they sell computers.
It will probably come with Windows installed. Which will be handy, since you can use Windows to download a good Linux distribution from the internet (I like the Mint variety), and then replace the Microshaft system with Linux. It is actually quite simple to do so these days.
“Librem 5 Linux phone” — is there a topic about what Linux phones are available? That’s also interesting.
Plex is something I need to get started on.
Or... You could just make the one you have now a Linux PC for free. :)
Man... Too many folks intimidated by something that is actually much easier than it sounds. No longer do you have to be techy or a nerd to do it.
I’ll probably do that next, one of the two form factors, whatever appears to be the highest performance model.
https://www.explainingcomputers.com/sbc.html
https://www.youtube.com/user/explainingcomputers/videos?disable_polymer=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZejkWra-Mfc
It’s nice when it works. We started it when someone else on FR mentioned using the Raspberry Pi with it; but my husband decided not to use RPi.
We seem to get hung up in the middle of every movie; it may just be our system and it works well for others. I don’t understand it enough to know what the problem is.
Good job!
Bkmk
I just go to a local PC refurbisher, spend 50 bux for some good hardware in a lightly used Dell Optiplex with no OS and then load up Linux Mint. Been doing that for years. My next one will probably be a Precision Tower 5810.
I buy Dell refurbished no OS PCs from Dell’s auction site and load Windows 7, Windows 10 and Linux on them. Haven’t had one problem yet.
That's if you don't mind putting money in Microsoft's pocket. Many people get into Linux to avoid that, since much of it goes to liberal causes many here don't want to support.
I was just pointing out that if you want to use Linux, you don’t have to go to some specialized store to do it.
(or have to buy new hardware)
the dell?
No, sorry I meant #9 with the wood paneling. Needs a crowbar to come with.
And how much internal memory do you get with your $55? I assume there has to be a boot loader built-in to the mother board, that contains at least the lowest levels of H/W drivers in order to let the CPU access the USB devices. Are there slots for RAM expansion? Or do you just go with much slower "emulated RAM" sitting on a USB drive?
Yes. The OS goes on a 32gb micro sd that installs on the main board. The Pi comes with four USB-3 ports. One of those runs the keyboard and mouse. The other three are available for removable media that just mount like normal linux drives. I have one 246gb SanDisk in mine, which is fine for what I use it for. If I need more I’ll get an external ssd.
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