I need a tablet for uni and I want to run Linux on it. It doesn’t need to be the fastest but it should be able to run Rnote and a web browser comfortably. It doesn’t need to come with Linux, I am comfortable with installing and managing my system. I thought about buying a Microsoft Surface since they seem to be supported prettty well but I want to see what alternatives there are.
It needs to have a Stylus for writing. I have around 450€ to spend and would go a little higher. Also I will probably buy a used device
Honestly you could look at an external touchscreen display. The idea is that you have a laptop and then a screen with a stylus.
Other option is a 2 in 1
I personally got a surface go 3. Put fedora on it and the surface kernel and it works pretty good - GNOME’s interface honestly works better for touchscreens then windows. Just be aware that some config might be needed - I had an issue with the keyboard that required making a udev rule (I documented it on the surface kernel github issues page).
I kind of disagree. I had a miserable experience with my 1st gen Go. The cameras were hard to set up and the power states were really buggy; after going to sleep a few times, the system (Debian Testing) would get unstable with weird graphical glitches and I’d have to reboot.
I had issues with debian-based distros as well, that’s why I switched to fedora. I also think the go 3 has better support in general. The cameras are still annoying but things have gotten better, with Firefox getting libcamera support.
Another vote for the surface go. I’m running a go 2 with nix!
I recommend using pen and paper and then digitizing later, assuming this is for notes. It will help you internalize the lecture or reading better in the moment and the act of digitizing your notes will reinforce your knowledge and provide you with better material for tests.
I think the only digital option that could come close to this would be an e-ink tablet but those kind of suck. Better to spend $50 on paper and pens than $500 on a tablet that isn’t as good for the purpose.
At work we have ~10 people using remarkables and every one of them loves it. They just released a color version too. Extremely good for notetaking according to them. You can write and then OCR the writing, getting the benefits of pen and paper and digital.
699 €
Yeah, no thank you.
I might recommend a 2-in-1 Thinkpad. I can’t speak for all models, but my 1st generation Surface Go brought me misery when running Debian Testing on it - power profiles weren’t supported quite right and the camera was hard to set up.
If you have the budget, the Star Lite seems pretty nice as a Linux tablet, although you should do your own research - I don’t own one. Personally, I have a Thinkpad E16 for college.
