Been trying to find a good tablet for productivity and recreation. Something that can be used for programming (Not web), and something that can play DRM content.
Ideally, something under $1000.
I’ve already looked at the Librem 11 and am considering it, but I want to know other (ideally, cheaper) options available.
Some Microsoft surface models can run surface-linux pretty well
Surface Go 1 running Fedora for me. It runs perfectly even if booting from a USB to install Linux can be tricky and the Bluetooth is slow to puck up my mouse on startup.
It’s linked by usb-c to a monitor for when I’m home.
I threw Ubuntu LTS on an old Surface 3 and it worked without having to use the Surface-linux kernal.
My dads been using it for a year and Gnome works super well with the touchscreen.
Don’t know how these are now, but my buddy had a Surface Pro 4, and that thing made me regret buying what i had at the time. Ran like a dream, especially considering the form factor. Very unexpected
Have an SP4 now, running Nobara KDE, because I’m too lazy to install the surface Linux kernel on a different distro. It’s pretty great. I bought a cheap one, and it has some issues unrelated to Linux. In fact it runs a lot better and the hardware issues are alleviated slightly after removing windows.
Long story short, would highly recommend buying a not borked Surface and slapping Linux on it.Does Nobara have surface kernel built in?!?? This is news to me, might reinstall due to this.
Sure does pal! There’s a non-surface version, but as far as I know it’s the only distro that includes it stock. And on my SP4 it’s been absolutely butter smooth.
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One caution on older Surface Pros: They are generally not serviceable, and when the batteries eventually go, you will have to replace the device. The 9th gen and later may be better. I am dealing with this right now in a 2017/5th gen Surface Pro. While it’s nice hardware (as a user), apparently the battery is glued-in in such a way that you cannot replace it without destroying the tablet. I’m currently looking to replace it with either a Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachable or a Dell Latitude 7320 detachable, both of which are similar but (purportedly) much more repairable.
I have a Surface Pro 4 (I think from 2015) and the battery life now is awful. I might be able to get an hour or two depending on the performance mode, I usually just plug it in while using it now. If I forget to plug it in between uses, it will definitely be dead the next time I go to use it.
Plus it’s starting to feel pretty slow. I do still have Windows on it, perhaps installing Linux would help make it faster but it sounds like it takes some work to get everything working properly so I haven’t bothered.
That’s about where I am. If I’m doing really light duty stuff (web browsing, no video) I can get maybe an hour. Any more than that, the clock is ticking pretty fast.
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I’ve done several repairs and battery replacements on various tablets, but as an amateur, I won’t touch this one. I’m sure if you crack these things regularly you can get proficient at it, but given the complexity, I’m not sure it’s worth the labor.
imo android and iOS tablets are not even in the same league because they lack tiling WMs. I also think that transparent windows are a pretty important feature although I won’t be surprised if you could find some hacky solution on android. I guess my priorities are different then.
I wouldn’t get the Librem 11, I don’t trust purism after the librem 5.
It’s Linux-based hardware, so any OS could be installed easily if PureOS isn’t a good fit for OP. And, unlike the phone, it’s basically a computer, like one of their laptops (which have been fine).
If we are talking about Pinephone, Fairphone, Librem 5, etc. – they all suffer uniquely. Modems drop on all these devices often enough, battery life sucks based on tasks, app support is sundry, screens are left wanting, and more. Phones are hard to make.
I might class Linux-based hardware phones differently from Linux-based hardware tablets.
I bought a second hand Surface Pro 5 (2017), running Fedora gnome
I’ve started to write a review because I couldn’t really find one, and most of the comments are overly positive (as it often goes on Linux forums I’ve come to realize). It’s not done yet
But I can summarize it: as a tablet it’s not great but it mostly works. It’s certainly not for someone not ready to troubleshoot, and many problems have no, or no great solutions. Also gnome used with touch controls has a major bug (which, again, nobody ever mentions for some reason. It will be in my review)
As a 2 in 1 with little touch use it could be alright. The pen is quite good if you want to draw or write, even though there’s a small delay. The cover is okay, but you’d be better off with a quality laptop keyboard and big trackpad
I bought it mainly for reading, mostly European format comics (bandes dessinées). The resolution is great for that, and the size is good with a reader that removes white margins
Edit: to give you an idea I bought it for 190€ two months ago, with all accessories, good condition and good battery health (which does not mean battery life is good)
I am interested in this as well. I currently have an iPad Pro and while I won’t be upgrading right now, I have been looking in the space for the future. I’d prefer something more powerful than and M1/M2 iPad to even consider switching. I haven’t seen much in the tablet space that is not Apple orAndroid, but while being performant. I saw that Minisforum has announced the V3, but it isn’t out yet. Has an AMD 8840u, 14" 165hz display. Looks promising, but I’d be worried about battery life.
It’s not out yet, but there is a kickstarter from German company Volla, coming in the next few days for a 12" tablet running a Mediatek soc that will be capable of running Ubuntu Touch - for which you can use UT native apps, webapps, some Linux desktop apps via their “Libertine” container, and some Android apps via “Waydroid.” And Volla has an excellent track record of delivering on their product promises - in contrast to Purism.
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That thing looks like an MS surface.
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Have you taken a look at the pinetab? Its probably the most Dev oriented Linux tablet. Librem-11 might be the only Linux native x86 tabket but if you don’t mind flashing a new OS a refurbished/used microsoft surface would be cheap and powerful. (Need the linux-surface kernal for all functionality)
I wouldn’t recommend the Pinetab2 at this time. It isn’t fully functional.
If you don’t mind waiting a few months to get it delivered, the StarLite V sounds like it will be a great device (I’m currently waiting for mine).
I have a Surface Pro 9 and it runs like a charm. I would recommend it even if it is a little pricey
I purchased the Star Labs Starlite and am hyped. It holds long and is x86.
I wanted to have a convertable to also draw which makes it perfect for me and making me write this comment. Maybe its irrelevant to you. Starlabs also has a normal Laptop I think but I have no experience with both.
Currently with my chromebook duet 3 I can’t really code without making it freeze or unable to execute code because its ARM.
Well, I picked up a Lenovo Duet 3i for fairly cheap so I could run FreeCAD on a device in my wood shop. It’s an Intel machine, one of those that the keyboard snaps off of. I’ve got Fedora Gnome on it, and it’s not too bad. The biggest issue I have with it is sometimes it comes out of suspend in portrait mode, and there’s no getting it into landscape mode with the keyboard attached, so you have to detach it, tip it a couple times, and it’s back.
It’s an x86 laptop, software is pretty compatible. You might go for a Yoga rather than the Duet if you’re looking for programming; the tablet flop hinge plus kickstand is a bit more of an afterthought than I’d like for coding.
I develop on emacs with same PC config, run sql servers locally, maintain servers, office and mail stuff, all kind of communications, file operations, casting screen to a TV or projector, very good stylus and note taking abilities on my samsung tab 9 ultra dex mode with 4 days of battery life. You may think as an alternative
not sure for what purpose you want a tablet, but I had a fujitsu 2 in 1 in college that was pretty solid for linux support. no problems with pen drivers or anything. the screen swiveled around and it folded down into a tablet. it was pretty bulky compared to an android tablet or similar, but it worked well for taking noes and had a full keyboard when I wanted it
I bought a chuwi ubook x and it is nice. I installed endeavour os gnome on it.
