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Small PCs with Linux preinstalled

  • 15-02-2016 12:46pm
    #1
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,021 ✭✭✭✭


    I am aware of two small form factor PCs that are available with Linux preinstalled, and wonder if others know of any others.

    The two I know about are

    http://www.fit-pc.com/web/products/mintbox/

    made (I think) by an Israeli company

    and a USA built box

    http://chimpbox.us/

    which has my personal favourite distro preinstalled.

    So, are there any European supplied competitors to these?

    A friend has asked me to source something like this, hence the question.

    I hope this is the correct board for such a question.


Comments

  • #2
    gctest50
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,605 ✭✭✭gctest50


    Why preinstalled though ?
    it only takes three commands to install Gentoo

    - cfdisk /dev/hda && mkfs.xfs /dev/hda1 && mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/gentoo/ && chroot /mnt/gentoo/ && env-update && . /etc/profile && emerge sync && cd /usr/portage && scripts/bootsrap.sh && emerge system && emerge vim && vi /etc/fstab && emerge gentoo-dev-sources && cd /usr/src/linux && make menuconfig && make install modules_install && emerge gnome mozilla-firefox openoffice && emerge grub && cp /boot/grub/grub.conf.sample /boot/grub/grub.conf && vi /boot/grub/grub.conf && grub && init 6

    that's the first one


  • #3
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,021 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    gctest50 wrote: »
    Why preinstalled though ?

    It ensures there is full compatibility with Linux.

    It means I can recommend they buy and they will not have to do anything except turn on to use.
    Otherwise I might have to install and maybe sort out drivers for some unusual hardware ;)

    What distro goes on eventually (if the pre installed one is not acceptable) is not important.


  • #4
    syklops
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,966 ✭✭✭✭syklops


    Johnboy1951 wrote: »
    It ensures there is full compatibility with Linux.

    It means I can recommend they buy and they will not have to do anything except turn on to use.
    Otherwise I might have to install and maybe sort out drivers for some unusual hardware ;)

    What distro goes on eventually (if the pre installed one is not acceptable) is not important.

    In my experience, its not always a safe assumption that because it has Linux pre-installed that any linux will work on it. Its happened to me a couple times that I ended up having to sort out drivers for unusual hardware, meaning I either had to use the sub-standard distro that came with it, or spend ages trying to make it work, so just a word of warning to begin.

    I personally am a big fan of Zotac ZBoxes. Works out of the box with Ubuntu and other distros, uses standard, main stream components.

    There is a comprehensive list of pre-installed Linux mini-PCs here


  • #5
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,021 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    syklops wrote: »
    In my experience, its not always a safe assumption that because it has Linux pre-installed that any linux will work on it. Its happened to me a couple times that I ended up having to sort out drivers for unusual hardware, meaning I either had to use the sub-standard distro that came with it, or spend ages trying to make it work, so just a word of warning to begin.

    I personally am a big fan of Zotac ZBoxes. Works out of the box with Ubuntu and other distros, uses standard, main stream components.

    There is a comprehensive list of pre-installed Linux mini-PCs here

    Thanks for the link.

    Also came across this site which has a couple of small form factor PCs with Linux
    http://www.currentbuild.com/


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