16 Places to Buy a Pre-installed Linux Laptop Online

Linux runs on most hardware these days, but most retailers do not have Linux operating systems pre-installed on their hardware.

Gone are the days when users would only buy a Windows OS pre-installed laptop.

Over the years, developers have purchased many Linux laptops as they work on major Linux applications related to Docker, Kubernetes, AI, cloud-native computing and machine learning.

But now-a-days users are eager to buy a Linux laptop instead of Windows, which allows many vendors to choose Linux OS.

Why Pre-installed Linux?

Now-a-days normal users also started using Linux OS because of its open source nature, security and reliability.

But most of the retailers around the world do not sell Linux operating system pre-installed.

It is difficult for Linux aspirants to find the compatible hardware and drivers to get Linux OS installed.

So, we recommend to have Linux OS pre-installed computers instead of figuring out compatibility issues.

Here we list the top 16 (not in particular order) manufacturer/vendor best known for preloaded Linux OS computers.

1) Dell

Dell is a US multinational computer technology company that commenced to sell and distribute pre-installed Ubuntu Linux computers for several years now.

Initially it was started on 2012 as a community project called Sputnik.

The strong community support to the project became a product. Over the year they launched the first Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition (Sputnik 3) after fixing some major issues in Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 2.

They sells Red hat Enterprise Linux and Ubuntu Linux-based laptop for business use, developers and sysadmins.

All systems are preloaded with Ubuntu but few of them were certified to install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 and RHEL 8.

I hope you can install other distro as well if you want to run but i didn’t try it.

The signature Linux products of Dell are XPS developer edition, Precision mobile workstation and Precision tower workstation.

2) System 76

System76 is an American computer manufacturer based in Denver, Colorado specializing in the sale of notebooks, desktops, and servers.

From the year 2003, Sytem76 started to computers with the Linux operating system installed.

They developed Linux distribution named Pop!_OS based on Ubuntu using the GNOME Desktop Environment for developers and professionals.

The products are categorized majorly based on portability, storage, graphics and CPU performance.

Lower laptop model Galago Pro is costing around $950 and higher models such as Adder WS and Serval WS are costing around $2000.

They provide Destops(Thelio variants) in range of $800 to $2600.

They also sell mini servers(Meerkat) ranges from $500 and Larger Servers(Jackal, Ibex and Starling) with preloaded Ubuntu ranges from $3000.

They provide the laptop with the coreboot open source firmware, which is an alternative to the proprietary BIOS firmware.

System76 ships their products to 60 countries all around the world in Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Australia and Zealandia.

  • Availability: To 60 countries worldwide
  • Product Details: System76

3) Purism

Purism is a US-based company that commenced its operation in 2014.

It manufactures the Librem personal computing devices with a focus on software freedom, computer security, and Internet privacy.

Purism sell their products with PureOS installed, a Linux distribution based on Debain developed by purism.

They sell multiple customized products such as Laptops, Tablets, Smartphones, Server and Librem key.

  • Availability: Worldwide
  • Product Details: Purism

4) Slimbook

Slimbook commenced their operation in 2015 based in spain.

It is a Linux friendly product that offers Laptops, Desktops, Mini Pc’s,All in one PC’s and Servers.

It sell their products with with preloaded variety of Linux distributions, windows or both.

They were the first to sell KDE OS installed. It is ideal for Linux beginners, since it is easy to use and easy to learn.

The Laptop body is made of metal alloy based on aluminum and magnesium.

  • Availability: Worldwide
  • Product Details: Slimbook

5) Tuxedo Computers

Tuxedo computers a german based company sells notebooks, desktops and mini computers with preloaded Linux.

Their products desktop cost starts from around 480EUR, mini computers starts from 430EUR and notebooks starts from around 815EUR.

They have both intel and AMD processors and come up with 5 years warranty and lifetime support.

TUXEDO Computers are individually built computers and PCs being fully Linux-suitable. They sell their products to most part of Europe and USA.

6) ThinkPenguin

ThinkPengine is a US based company started their operation in 2008 to improve support for GNU/Linux and other free software operating systems.

They sell desktops, notebooks, network equipment, storage devices, printers, scanners and other accessories that are compatible with Linux.

They provide warranty from 90days to 3years based on the products.

7) Emperor Linux

EmperorLinux is a US based company,since 1999 they provides Linux laptops with full hardware support under Linux.

They offers Linux laptops with unique features such as Molecule RD3D using Sharp’s ground-breaking Auto-Stereo 3D display, Panasonic’s ToughBook line of rugged & semi-rugged Linux laptops.

They also sell fully-functional Linux tablets, the Raven tablet (based on the ThinkPad X series).

  • Availability: USA (International shipping is available upon request).
  • Product Details: Emperor Linux

8) ZaReason

ZaReason opened for business in the year 2007 based in US.

They mainly focuses on R&D labs, businesses both small and large, universities and people’s homes.

It has a long career building hardware for different distros such as Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Edubuntu and Linux Mint Preloaded.

And customer can even choose Linux disros of their choose other than specified.

Their laptop ranges from $999 to $1699. Their desktop and mini computers ranges from $499 to $1199.

They do sell desktop specific for game lovers (Gamebox9400).

Default warranty will be for a year. Additional cost includes for extending the warranty till 3 years.

  • Availability: USA and Canada
  • Product Details: ZaReason

9) LAC Portland

LAC(Los Alamos Computers) Portland is a US based company, provides Linux-based computers configured and supported by GNU and Linux professionals since 2000.

They sell Lenovo desktops(ThinkCentre and ThinkStation) ranges from $845 to $2215 and laptops(ThinkPad) ranges from $926 to $2380.

They install and sell Linux distors such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debain, Fedora, CentOS, Scientific Linux, Open SUSE and Free DOS.

They provide five years hardware and labor warranty with on-site support options backed worldwide by Lenovo.

10) Entroware

Entroware is a UK based company specialized in providing Ubuntu based computing solutions and services since early 2014 based on customers requirements.

They sell Ubuntu and Ubuntu MATE powered Desktops, Laptops, and Servers using modern and high quality components.

They do sell mini computers and All-in-one computers.

Desktop ranges from $499 to $1900, laptops ranges from $740 to $1900 and server ranges from $1150 to $2000.

They also sell accessories such as OS recovery drive, external hard drive, etc.

The default warranty is for 3 years, they have three warranty plans for which additional may include. They also provide software support.

Entroware currently ships to UK, Republic of Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

  • Availability: UK and other European countries (Republic of Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and Spain).
  • Product Details: Entroware

11) Vikings

Viking is based in Germany, sells Libre-friendly hardware certified by the Free Software Foundation with preinstalled Debian, Trisquel or Parabola Linux based on customer requirement.

They sell desktops, laptops, servers, routers, mainboards, key generators, PCI cards and usb sound adaptors compatible with Linux.

The Linux laptops and desktops by Vikings come with core boot or Libreboot.

Their desktop ranges from 895EUR, laptop ranges from 250EUR and servers ranges from 990EUR.

They provide refurbished/used parts: mainboard, CPU(s) with rigorous testing of all parts and also gives a comprehensive guarantee for all parts of the system.

Their product warranty varies from 1year to 3year, with subsequent additional charges.

They ship to all part of the world with very few exceptions such as North Korea.

  • Availability: Worldwide
  • Product Details: Viking

12) Juno Computers

Juno Computers is company based in UK comes with pre-installed elementary OS or Ubuntu.

They provide an application known as Kronos which allows for quick and easy installation of commercial applications such as Chrome, Dropbox, Spotify, Skype, etc.

Their laptop ranges from $945/357EUR to $999/933EUR and mini PC ranges around $549/490EUR.

They provide a 1-year limited warranty on all manufacture problems.

Currently they ship to mainland USA, some Canadian provinces, and most part of the world includes South Africa, Asia and Europe.

13) Pine64

Pine64 is a US based community platform that offers laptops (Pinebooks), Pine Phones, Pine Watches(PineTime), Single board computers and other compatible Linux accessories.

It commenced its operation in the year 2016 powered by ARM devices.

The laptops ranges from $100 to $200.

All single board and accessories sold on the Pine store are entitled to a 30 days Limited Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, but provide online support through their forum.

They almost ship to most part of the country, refer site shipping policy for more details.

  • Availability: Worldwide
  • Product Details: Pine64

14) Libiquity

Libiquity is a US based company with R&D investments and its own personal computer brand since 2011.

They offer laptop(Taurinus X200) preloaded with Trisquel and comes with ProteanOS, a free/libre and open source embedded operating system distribution endorsed by Free Software Foundation.

Laptop ranges starts from $375. Product comes with limited warrant of 1 year. Currently their shipping are limited to US.

15) LinuxCertified

LinuxCertified an US based company offers lenovo desktops and laptops with Linux distros preinstalled.

Various preloaded Linux distros offered are Ubuntu, Fedora, Open SUSE, CentOS, Redhat Enterprise Linux and Oracle Enterprise Linux.

Desktops(ThinkStation) ranges from $899 to $2199 and laptops(Z1, LC series) ranges from $899 to $2199.

Product warranty is for one year. They ship their product within US.

16) Star Labs

Star Labs was created by a group of Linux users, who created the ultimate Linux laptop for their own use.

It’s based in the United Kingdom which sells laptops with Linux pre-installed.

Star Labs offer a range of laptops designed and built specifically for Linux.

All of their laptops come with a choice of Ubuntu Linux, Linux Mint or Zorin OS pre-installed.

It is not limited to the above three distributions, and you can install any Linux distros on their hardware, and it runs flawlessly.

  • Availability: Worldwide
  • Product Details: Star Labs

About Magesh Maruthamuthu

Love to play with all Linux distribution

View all posts by Magesh Maruthamuthu

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