And who is it for?  My parents use Macs.  I would be OK if they used Chromebooks.  Never is a million years would I give them a solid Linux desktop, let alone a potentially flaky, cheap, out of the box Linux.

Why are you in the market for a cheap out-of-the-box Mint machine?  There are some pretty decent, affordable Windows machines out there--assuming you don't have a reflex objection to Windows or Microsoft.  A Chromebook can't be beat for cheap, functional, and out of the box, and my understanding is that it's based on Gentoo, deep, deep under the covers.  So Chromebook is a really good choice for a cheap, user-proof computer, unless you have a phobia of Google or Chromebook.

Trent.



On Sat, Jan 5, 2019 at 7:57 PM Kevin Fries <kevin@fries-biro.com> wrote:
Joe,

You need to balance your risk of "working out of the box" with "cheapest".

You want it to work with Linux, out of the box, Zero incompatabilities... simple, System76.  It will come with either PopOS, or Ubuntu, from which Mint dirives.  Open the box,  enjoy your laptop.

Cheapest, is a crap shoot with Linux.  Many of the cheapest do funny things with the boot sequence thanks to Windows 10.  But, I have yet to see one that can not be made to work in a long time.   How much effort are you willing to put in and what is your tolerance for things breaking on upgrade?

Kevin


Sent from BlueMail
On Jan 5, 2019, at 5:26 PM, "mylinux@cox.net" <mylinux@cox.net> wrote:
Click Me!
Hi Joe can you share the answers to your question.
Thanks
Mike  
 
 
 
 
-------Original Message-------
 
Date: 1/5/2019 2:07:57 PM
Subject: Best linux laptop for a gift?
 
What would y'all recommend as the best (most affordable)
Linux laptop to give to someone as a gift?
 
One that comes with Linux (preferrably mint) pre-installed
and that would "just work" out of the box.
 
I see a bunch or them on Amazon for under $200, but
wonder if any of them would "just work" out of the box,
no muss, no fuss.
 
 
 
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