Ubuntu on 17.3" Optimus VI

posuk13

Member
Ubuntu on 17.3" Cosmos III

Hi,
I am thinking of buying following config (I am open to ideas about my config too)of 17.3" Cosmos III and I want to install Ubuntu (14.04.2 or 15.04) but I am not sure If there are all the drivers available. I remember when I was installing Ubuntu on my HP G7 it was more or less working from the beginning (apart some few small things) but I heard stories that people had to return the machine, because it was not able to run Ubuntu (or other Linux).

I am web developer and i don't play games so I don't need any amazing GPU. And I am probably also not going to do the dual boot (maybe later Virtual machine). I often work with dozens (sometimes a hundred) open tabs-that's the reason for the big RAM (and also possibility of using Virtual Machines in future).


Thanks for your help.


Code:
Chassis & Display
Cosmos Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080) (€70)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4710MQ (2.50GHz) 6MB
Memory (RAM)
16GB KINGSTON HYPER-X IMPACT 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
INTEL® HD GRAPHICS MEDIA ACCELERATOR 4600 
Memory - Hard Disk
120GB SAMSUNG SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 540MB/sR | 450MB/sW)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
8x SATA DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)
Memory Card Reader
Internal 9 in 1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD: Mini, XC & HC/MS: Pro & Duo)
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND (€13)
Sound Card
Via® 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® N-7260 HMC (300Mbps, 802.11BGN) + BLUETOOTH
USB Options
3 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT AS STANDARD
Battery
Cosmos Series 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (48.84WH)
Power Lead & Adaptor
1 x UK Power Lead & 90W AC Adaptor
Keyboard Language
COSMOS 17" SERIES UK KEYBOARD WITH NUMBER PAD (NON-BACKLIT)
Operating System
NO OPERATING SYSTEM REQUIRED
Windows 10 Upgrade
FREE Upgrade to Windows 10 with all Windows 7 & Windows 8.1 Purchases*
Office Software
NO OFFICE SOFTWARE
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 2.0 MEGAPIXEL WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) (€19)
Delivery
2 - 3 DAY DELIVERY TO REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (€27)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 4 to 6 working days
Quantity
1

Price: €983.00 including VAT and delivery.
Unique URL to re-configure: http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/quotes/cosmosIII-17/pGT8YcoQV4/
 
Last edited:

Stephen M

Author Level
I can't see any problem with that, I have run Ubuntu since 2013, currently on 15.04 as well as Fedora and Zorin. The only slight problem I have had was over a year ago when I needed to get WiFi firmware for Debian but last time i run that OS everything worked from the start.
 

posuk13

Member
Thanks

Thanks for your reply StephenM. I have already order the computer this morning but if feel relief because I was bit worried about driver support. I have changed mi configuration a bit. And I actually have one more question. Do you have any experience installing OS on mSATA drive? Is there any difference comparing to standard SATA drive?

This is the configuration I have ordered.
 

Stephen M

Author Level
I have not installed to an mSata drive but it should be no different, if you have more than one drive you will be given a choice on the installation process as to where you want the OS. When I got my Voyager from PCS in 2013 I ordered it without an OS but it came with a 30-day trial of Windows 8 on it, they need an OS on it for testing, so it will just be a case of replacing that. I see the mSata is your only drive, I guess you have HDD/SSDs of your own to put in the standard bays.

Ubuntu should be fine with UEFI now but if not it is no problem. I had to disable UEFI before I could change the boot order in the BIOS on mine but that was a couple of years ago. I doubt there will be driver problems but if there are it is no big deal, from your description of the laptop's use you know your way round computers. If there are driver issues it is best to go to the manufacturer site, I found this one last night and thought it worth saving: http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html

You can also find things you might need and loads of Linux distros here: http://distrowatch.com/ The only downside to this site is I have spent far too much time playing about, downloading and installing different Linux Distros just to look at them, although there are some very handy ones there, I am into music and found a couple of Ubuntu-based Distros that came with stuff like Ardour, Audacity and other recording progs already installed and there are other Distros dedicated to different things that save a wee bit of time downloading via the Software centre.
 

posuk13

Member
I see the mSata is your only drive, I guess you have HDD/SSDs of your own to put in the standard bays.

I might move my data HDD from my current notebook but it is possible I will use only external drive. I have chosen mSATA just in case I will eventually need room for another drive (or 2) and I have also removed optical drive just because I almost newer use it and I have an external DVD-RW drive anyway.

Thanks for your help. I just need to wait for my machine to arrive :scooter:
 

Willo

Member
I expect that you have already got your new machine up and running but I haven't had any problems with installing Ubuntu on my Ultranote. I put it on to my mSata with out any problems. I reformatted the drive (can't remember if I did that through DOS or as part of the install) to remove all traces of the Windows 8 trial version. As I have two drives I was given the option of which one to install Ubuntu on. As I expect you have found it was a doddle.

The only problem I had was setting up the machine to watch DVDs but it seems you don't have much need for it but if you do I was given excellent advice here:

https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?43307-Ubuntu-on-Ultranote-II

Just a shame I didn't follow the instructions on T-Bone's link properly the first time around, it would have saved me a few days of irritation.

Will
 
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