[Discuss] Linux on laptops

[Robert Krawitz]

On Thu, 12 Nov 2015 14:11:19 +0000, Edward Ned Harvey (blu) wrote:
> So far, all the good responses seem to say, basically, pay more money. The system76 and zareason (and base model Dell and Lenovo) laptops start around $700 minimum.
>
> What I really want is exactly this:
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=1TS-000X-000J1
>
> With a different OS.
>
> A few years ago, they sold laptops like these in Toys-R-Us, as laptops for kids, that you didn't have to worry about viruses. (Which is slightly misleading, but not entirely).
>
> So far, what I'm inclined to do, is go to a local store such as Microcenter or BestBuy, ask them what their return policy is, create a "dd" image of the internal hard drive before first power-on, and then simply blow it away with a linux installer. See what happens. 
>
> If I return one because I don't like it, I won't be in any trouble. If I return two, they might be suspicious. If I return three, they might give me a hard time.
>
> Depending on the store, sometimes you can say, "Can I buy 3 laptops, and then return 2 after I decide which one I like best?"

Another option is to buy a used laptop on eBay.
-- 
Robert Krawitz                                     <rlk at alum.mit.edu>

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