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I'm a user on a 2019 16-inch MBP (MacBookPro16,1) who hopes to move to Linux as my base OS on this hardware full-time over the next 12 months. (https://github.c

I'm a user on a 2019 16-inch MBP (MacBookPro16,1) who hopes to move to Linux as my base OS on this hardware full-time over the next 12 months. (https://github.com/Dunedan/mbp-2016-linux https://github.com/Dunedan/mbp-2016-linux) This is because I honestly cannot find a laptop with the combination of 64+ GB RAM, a non-NDIVIA GPU (edit: to clarify, this is because of NVIDIA's notoriously bad compatibility with Linux), and other premium hardware aspects like its market-leading trackpad at this time - and I doubt that will change anytime soon. I live with the debilitating T2 kernel panic hardware bug every week. There's also a very bad graphics bug that I and many others are facing. (Not sure if that one can be avoided by simply using Linux.) I just want to do away with this T2 chip, and whatever it does to get in the way of an otherwise great Intel-based computing experience. The CPU can handle all my encryption just fine... Thank you to your team for what you're doing. I assume Apple will constantly patch T2 jailbreaks with future macOS system updates (as that's how firmware is updated), and play a long-term cat and mouse game.

fsflover 6y ago
> I honestly cannot find a laptop with the combination of 64 GB RAM, a non-NDIVIA GPU, and other premium hardware like its market-leading trackpad at this time Only 14”, and perhaps less performant, but here is this one: https://puri.sm/products/librem-14/ https://puri.sm/products/librem-14/.
- mindfulhack 6y ago
  Yes, I'm after 15"+ too.
  - fsflover 6y ago
    They also have a 15” version, but it’s much less performant. They will probably present a new model soon with the same specs like the one above.
    - mindfulhack 6y ago
      I really hope so. I'm even willing to give up the Apple trackpad if something else comes that lines everything else up. I tried so hard a couple of weeks ago to find something non-Apple that ticked all the boxes, and was shocked my existing MBP was the only one that ticked enough of them. I'm waiting and waiting for an explicitly Linux-supporting manufacturer to offer a truly high end and Linux-friendly laptop. It's a holy grail right now.
- dbspin 6y ago
  The linked laptop lacks a GPU.
- babypuncher 6y ago
  It's trackpad probably isn't as good as that of the MBP.
  - fsflover 6y ago
    This is true. But it has many other advantages related to users’ freedom and security, e.g., you can open it and upgrade, it has Coreboot, kill switches: https://puri.sm/posts/librem-14-shipping-in-december/ https://puri.sm/posts/librem-14-shipping-in-december/.
cHaOs667 6y ago
Why without an Nvidia GPU? Just go with an XPS 15 or 17 and embrace Nvidia on Linux. I have three developers running Linux on HP zBooks with Nvidia GPUs without any hassle. You can also buy any newer Thinkpad (my recommendation). They are also available with AMD CPUs. It's pretty easy to buy Linux laptops these days.
- mindfulhack 6y ago
  Everyone in the Linux space, from what I regularly read and hear, says that NVIDIA GPUs are notorious and a bad idea for using Linux. They're saying go with AMD. (As well as Ryzen instead of Intel for CPUs, where possible.) The only open-source nouveau drivers are absolutely terrible, I can attest to that fact myself. There's several benefits to not relying on NVIDIA's proprietary and non-in-built drivers for a decent experience. You'll know this already, depending on how deeply and regularly you use Linux.
  - runjake 6y ago
    I'm in the Linux space. My GTX 1060 works just fine.
  - exikyut 6y ago
    What's your experience been with amdgpu?
    - mindfulhack 6y ago
      At my end, that's what I have to start testing on my 2019 MBP as I plan a transition to bare metal Linux fully on it, using the tools at https://github.com/Dunedan/mbp-2016-linux https://github.com/Dunedan/mbp-2016-linux. (Will take several months.) I'll be sure to document it in that community and share tips when extensive testing is done. It's only MBP NVIDIA GPU in Linux (older model) that I have extensive experience on so far, and it's been terrible with nouveau.
  - gravitas 6y ago
    I will anecdotally agree; I've been a Linux laptop user for... well, 2 decades maybe? and explicitly choose Dell Mobile Precision and/or IBM/Lenovo T-series laptops with ATI/AMD, dealing with NVIDIA graphics is just a pain in the ass once we passed the GeForce era (ish). I'd rather just have/use Intel GPU over them as well, I am not a laptop gamer to need anything NVIDIA offers in exchange for the pain in maintenance using out of tree modules to me.
windexh8er 6y ago
While it doesn't entirely meet your specs you can get a T495 with 32GB of RAM [0] and Vega graphics. We're getting close, I am holding on to my T470 as a daily driver and it's one of the best laptops I've owned (I'm forced to use a 16" MBP for work as well - and I still prefer the T470). One of these years we'll get a comparable AMD laptop. Fingers crossed. [0] https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-t-series/T495/p/20NJCTO1WWENUS0 https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-t-ser...
- zigzaggy 6y ago
  The T495 is my daily driver. I love this machine and I plan on using it for many years to come.
  - unsatchmo 6y ago
    How can you all handle the low-resolution screen? I want one of those Lenovo laptops but with a higher resolution screen
    - zigzaggy 6y ago
      Well I have slightly lower vision than most people so it prob doesn't bother me as much as it would most. But yeah that's an issue. I was actually so excited about the other components when I bought it that I kind of overlooked the resolution specs. I was / am disappointed about that aspect of it, but everything else is awesome.
andyrichardson 6y ago
I'm stuck with a 15" 2018 macbook pro running macOS because of T2. I feel your pain.

fsflover 6y ago

> I honestly cannot find a laptop with the combination of 64 GB RAM, a non-NDIVIA GPU, and other premium hardware like its market-leading trackpad at this time Only 14”, and perhaps less performant, but here is this one: https://puri.sm/products/librem-14/ https://puri.sm/products/librem-14/.

mindfulhack 6y ago
Yes, I'm after 15"+ too.
- fsflover 6y ago
  They also have a 15” version, but it’s much less performant. They will probably present a new model soon with the same specs like the one above.
  - mindfulhack 6y ago
    I really hope so. I'm even willing to give up the Apple trackpad if something else comes that lines everything else up. I tried so hard a couple of weeks ago to find something non-Apple that ticked all the boxes, and was shocked my existing MBP was the only one that ticked enough of them. I'm waiting and waiting for an explicitly Linux-supporting manufacturer to offer a truly high end and Linux-friendly laptop. It's a holy grail right now.
dbspin 6y ago
The linked laptop lacks a GPU.
babypuncher 6y ago
It's trackpad probably isn't as good as that of the MBP.
- fsflover 6y ago
  This is true. But it has many other advantages related to users’ freedom and security, e.g., you can open it and upgrade, it has Coreboot, kill switches: https://puri.sm/posts/librem-14-shipping-in-december/ https://puri.sm/posts/librem-14-shipping-in-december/.

cHaOs667 6y ago

Why without an Nvidia GPU? Just go with an XPS 15 or 17 and embrace Nvidia on Linux. I have three developers running Linux on HP zBooks with Nvidia GPUs without any hassle. You can also buy any newer Thinkpad (my recommendation). They are also available with AMD CPUs. It's pretty easy to buy Linux laptops these days.

mindfulhack 6y ago
Everyone in the Linux space, from what I regularly read and hear, says that NVIDIA GPUs are notorious and a bad idea for using Linux. They're saying go with AMD. (As well as Ryzen instead of Intel for CPUs, where possible.) The only open-source nouveau drivers are absolutely terrible, I can attest to that fact myself. There's several benefits to not relying on NVIDIA's proprietary and non-in-built drivers for a decent experience. You'll know this already, depending on how deeply and regularly you use Linux.
- runjake 6y ago
  I'm in the Linux space. My GTX 1060 works just fine.
- exikyut 6y ago
  What's your experience been with amdgpu?
  - mindfulhack 6y ago
    At my end, that's what I have to start testing on my 2019 MBP as I plan a transition to bare metal Linux fully on it, using the tools at https://github.com/Dunedan/mbp-2016-linux https://github.com/Dunedan/mbp-2016-linux. (Will take several months.) I'll be sure to document it in that community and share tips when extensive testing is done. It's only MBP NVIDIA GPU in Linux (older model) that I have extensive experience on so far, and it's been terrible with nouveau.
- gravitas 6y ago
  I will anecdotally agree; I've been a Linux laptop user for... well, 2 decades maybe? and explicitly choose Dell Mobile Precision and/or IBM/Lenovo T-series laptops with ATI/AMD, dealing with NVIDIA graphics is just a pain in the ass once we passed the GeForce era (ish). I'd rather just have/use Intel GPU over them as well, I am not a laptop gamer to need anything NVIDIA offers in exchange for the pain in maintenance using out of tree modules to me.

windexh8er 6y ago

While it doesn't entirely meet your specs you can get a T495 with 32GB of RAM [0] and Vega graphics. We're getting close, I am holding on to my T470 as a daily driver and it's one of the best laptops I've owned (I'm forced to use a 16" MBP for work as well - and I still prefer the T470). One of these years we'll get a comparable AMD laptop. Fingers crossed. [0] https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-t-series/T495/p/20NJCTO1WWENUS0 https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-t-ser...

zigzaggy 6y ago
The T495 is my daily driver. I love this machine and I plan on using it for many years to come.
- unsatchmo 6y ago
  How can you all handle the low-resolution screen? I want one of those Lenovo laptops but with a higher resolution screen
  - zigzaggy 6y ago
    Well I have slightly lower vision than most people so it prob doesn't bother me as much as it would most. But yeah that's an issue. I was actually so excited about the other components when I bought it that I kind of overlooked the resolution specs. I was / am disappointed about that aspect of it, but everything else is awesome.

andyrichardson 6y ago

I'm stuck with a 15" 2018 macbook pro running macOS because of T2. I feel your pain.