Are linux laptops tested?

[llama]

Hello! I currently have a laptop with linux mint installed (no windows on it). I bought it in 2014 but now I would like to change it with a brand new one.

When I configure the laptop I see I have the choice either to buy windows 10 home (£96), windows professional (£125) or to select "no operative system required".

After the laptop is assembled I guess PcSpecialist runs the majority of tests though windows before shipping the laptop to see if everything is working correctly (I guess the time to install windows and test it is included in the £96 or £125 windows price).

I am now deciding on the model and configuration (linux only / windows only / windows and linux in dual boot/ linux now and if I need it I buy a legit windows key at a later date), so essentially if to add windows in the configuration or not.

The question is: if I buy the laptop without windows is the laptop fully tested by PcSpecialist anyway? This is to be sure that when the laptop arrives everything is working fine. But also that if I decide to install windows at a later date everything will work fine.

Any feedback/suggestion would be really appreciated. Many thanks.

 

[ubuysa]

PCS will install a Windows system to test the laptop even if you buy it with no OS. It will still have that (unactivated) Windows system on there when you get it. You thus have three choices...

1. Buy a Windows key and activate the copy on there.

2. Buy a Windows key and do a clean install of Windows

3. Erase the drive and install Linux

In your case option 3 is probably your best one.

 

[Oussebon]

It's fully tested as above.

Also you can see some users' experiences of Linux on various laptops here:

Linux Laptop Compatibility

The questions "Will X laptop run Linux?" or "What issues does X laptop have with Linux?" come up quite a lot, so I thought I'd make a list of a few posts with info about people's experiences on Linux with PCS laptops. Although PCS don't officially support Linux on these, most chassis seem to...

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

 

[llama]

Thank you very much Ubuysa and oussebon! You have been lighting fast to reply!

This is very good because I can order the laptop and then decide what to do as I have several options on the table.

If I go with the "no operative system required" do you know if the laptop comes with windows 10 home or 10 pro unactivated version? Or if I can ask to install the unactivated pro version of windows.

This is just so that if I decide to have windows as well I can purchase the proper version, which would save me the time to reinstall the o.s.

Alternatively if the laptop comes with windows 10 home unactivated maybe there is a way to install a 10 pro key and upgrade to 10 pro.

Thanks a lot for the support.

 

[Stephen M]

If you post the spec of the laptop you are getting we can advise if there are any know 'nix issues. I have put a variety of distros on about six PCS machines over the years and not had any major headaches, although there are a few minor things. Often the backlit keyboard cannot be changed and there have been trackpad issues, although most of those seem to have been fixed.

One issue I have had on a couple of machines is with GPU drivers, they may need changing/upgrading after the instal. This is not serious but can be a bit fiddly as one issue cause a log in loop where you keep going back to the log in screen after entering the password, although it is simple to open a tty terminal, purge the Nvidia drivers and then try others from the repository.

 

[ubuysa]

If I go with the "no operative system required" do you know if the laptop comes with windows 10 home or 10 pro unactivated version? Or if I can ask to install the unactivated pro version of windows.

This is just so that if I decide to have windows as well I can purchase the proper version, which would save me the time to reinstall the o.s.

Alternatively if the laptop comes with windows 10 home unactivated maybe there is a way to install a 10 pro key and upgrade to 10 pro

Most probably Home, but TBH I would very strongly advise clean installing whichever Windows version you want in any case. Although the Windows system PCS install is the full system it's been installed purely for testing - because you didn't buy an OS with it - so you can never be totally sure that it's completely suitable for your needs. You can easily download the Windows 10 install media using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool, all you need to buy then is the product key.

 

[llama]

Thanks a lot for the information Have a nice Sunday!