this post was submitted on 04 Sep 2023
68 points (98.6% liked)

Linux

48200 readers
894 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Just putting out feelers, anyone here run Linux on a surface pro 4 or 5? What distro did you use, and how did it go?

Edit: I've pulled the trigger on a Surface Pro 4. I'll make a new post in a week with my early impressions, which distro I've gone with, etc etc etc.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] PerogiBoi@lemmy.ca 20 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

A thread made just for me.

I have a i5 256gb Surface Pro 5 running Pop_OS. Prior to that, I ran Ubuntu and prior to that I ran Fedora for a year or so.

Battery life is much worse than with Windows thanks to Windows keeping secrets about suspended sleep or something. I’m not a wizard I just follow guides and fart so that’s the most technical explanation you’ll get on that.

Webcam doesn’t work on any of the distros, you’ll want to install the Linux Surface kernel after installation to enable touchscreen and pen support. Not an issue for me but could be if you use it a lot.

After all that though, Linux of most flavours works very well. I fully removed Windows as I was getting issues with GRUB bootloader forgetting that Windows was installed. Fedora never had that issue but Ubuntu and it’s flavours were mean n rude on me.

Pen support is really good but Linux treats it as a mouse. That said, booting up Krita and drawing is a pretty good experience. Not as flawless as on Windows but very similar.

Fedora installation worked pretty flawlessly with a dualboot into Windows so I’d recommend that if you still want to keep Windows.

[–] Flaky@iusearchlinux.fyi 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nobara, a Fedora-based distro, has the Surface patches in its kernel, iirc. Said kernel also has an AUR package.

[–] PerogiBoi@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

Very cool! I’ll have to check this out.

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sweeeeet! Yeah, I've found a good deal on a pro 4, just negotiating with the seller.
Thanks for your input my dude!

[–] PerogiBoi@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago

I'll be making a post in a week or so to talk about my experience with it.

Also, pierogi fucking rock.