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Thanks for that breakdown Nick! I think we may start with Ubuntu, but I'll need more input from teaching faculty on what they think. ________________________________ From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Nick Critser <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2019 9:45:51 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Linux preloaded laptops All, I don't have professional experience loaning linux laptops in a library setting. In fact my current gig uses windows as the dominant OS for both staff computers and loaner computers. But I have been using Linux as my home workstation OS for about 7 years now. I'd love to see more Linux in the public sphere. As such I'll share my laptop experience with distributions I've tried. Debian - a free software distro , can have issues where drivers must be installed via different repos but usually its a simple task. The installer can be more manual (and possibly confusing). Ubuntu - a corporate distro, and a great intro to linux distro. It is easy to install and has a huge community with a great user knowledge base. Also it benefits from all the Debian development, but also adds some usability features like an easy to use dual boot install path, and gui based everything. Redhat - another corporate distro. You can now get redhat developer licenses for free with sign up to their developer site. They also have an excellent knowledge base for admins and i have never had a single driver related issue with them on a laptop. Fedora - the development feeder branch for Redhat. Gives the benefit of the redhat development, without the Redhat licences requirement. Drawback is that is changes fast and can be hard to keep patched. Great for checking out features before they get into (Redhat or CentOS). CentOS ,the non-corporate supported REDHAT , gives the benefit of the redhat development, without the Redhat licences requirement. Linux Mint - supported by Corporate and Community sponsors. Based on Debian and Ubuntu, it has an easy to navigate UI and most things work out of the box without driver issues. Good community knowledge base and benefits from both Debian and Ubuntu development and tools. Very easy to use as a Linux novice, coming from Windows. Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. These comments have been based on my experience, so please consume with grains of salt. Nick Critser Systems Analyst/Programmer Arthur W. Diamond Law Library Columbia University [log in to unmask] 1(212)854 0405 GPG - Fingerprint 6A2C D078 DA48 C336 3FB3 894D 2623 D0E0 843D 4025 On 3/15/2019 6:08 AM, Ross Spencer wrote: > Hi Junior, > > This sounds like a great initiative. I follow an education technology person on Twitter: https://twitter.com/philshapiro they talk a lot about procuring laptops from eBay and then installing distributions such as Linux Mint on them to refresh them and loan them in their library. It might not be something every org has an appetite for but it's one option. > > I can also speak to the quality of System 76 laptops that Chuck mentioned. The high-spec ones are great for development, but there may be combinations of machine that are much cheaper and might offer a good solution for your purposes as well. > > All the best, > Ross > >