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Ask Slashdot: Linux Distro For Hybrid Laptop?

Posted by Soulskill on from the half-man-half-penguin dept.

Steve Parrish writes: I needed a new laptop and found a great deal on an Asus Transformer TP500L. It's one of the laptops where you can flip the screen back and use it as a tablet. I'd like to replace Windows 8.1, and I'm having a difficult time finding a Linux distro that will work on it. I'm familiar with Mint, SolydX, and older Ubuntu versions. I tried the latest Ubuntu with Unity and didn't like it, but the OS installed with only a few minor issues. Has anyone tried any other distros on a hybrid laptop with a touchscreen? I've used Linux for several years, but I'm no guru -- I'm not comfortable with the command line or other advanced workings. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

4 of 210 comments (clear)

  1. Touchscreen + Linux... by __aardcx5948 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Put Android on it (seriously), or Ubuntu, or a distro with KDE4 geared towards tablets.

    The Linux userland support for tablets is really abysmal.

    1. Re:Touchscreen + Linux... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You can download all the Google services. Google doesn't seem to care if consumers download and install, it's only when manufacturers distribute them on devices without either joining the Open Handset Alliance or signing a custom agreement with Google that there's issues.

      So you're right, they don't come with AOSP, but they're easy to find.

  2. Re: nope by Threni · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Yeah, big Linux fan but they all suck for one reason or another. I'd actually rather like a windows xp/7 interface over Linux. But really I'd take anything stable and where all the apps look sane under it.

  3. Re:Advanced Workings.... by theshowmecanuck · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Exactly... it all depends on the audience. Early on the audience was a bunch of uber geeks who enjoyed playing with low level code and devices. Now the Linux audience are people who have everyday jobs to do and want an operating system and bundle of programs to help them do that. They don't care about building tools, just using them. And it gives them an option from MS and Apple products. Server or Desktop.

    --
    -- I ignore anonymous replies to my comments and postings.