[Rookie1337]

Well, I again didn't find anything through search on here so I'm hoping this is "new".

If there's anyone out there interested in buying systems that have never been touched by windows and/or can come with Linux distros instead; this thread is for you. Since everyone knows where they can get a windows or mac powered computer I thought I'd start a thread where people can find computers that come with Linux installed. I'm sure there are more out there so if you want to contribute more companies I'd be more than happy to add your additions in here.

Unless otherwise stated assume support and warranty are covered.

Mainstream types of computers:

System76: Laptops, Desktops, and Servers.
Website: http://www.system76.com/home/
Offered Distros: Ubuntu only support.

ZaReason: Laptops, Desktops, and Servers.
Website: http://zareason.com/shop/home.php
Offered Distros: Any buntu, Fedora, Mint with support.

Purism: Laptops
Website: https://puri.sm/products/
Offered Distros: PureOS (their own in house Trisquel based distro) See this link: https://puri.sm/pureos/
Also see this link for more background details on them
http://www.overclock.net/t/1165884/linux-system-builders-retailers/60#post_24468568

CompuLab: Specialty mini builds that are fanless and compact.
Website(s): The Mint Box http://www.fit-pc.com/web/products/mintbox/
Intel models with Mint
http://www.fit-pc.com/web/purchase/order-direct-intense-pc/
Offered Distros: Mint with LTS and 5 year Warranty

AVADirect: Laptops, Desktops, Servers, and more.
Website: http://www.avadirect.com/
Offered Distros: Debian, CentOS, Fedora, or Red Hat but no support from AVADirect.

ThinkPeguin: Laptops, Desktops, and Linux friendly hardware.
Website: https://www.thinkpenguin.com/
Offered Distros: Mainly Ubuntu and Trisquel
//They also offer networking hardware that is supposed to be Linux guaranteed requiring no drivers//

Eight Virtues: Laptops and Desktops
Website: http://www.eightvirtues.com/default.html
Offered Distros: Any Ubuntu, Debian, Mint, Fedora, openSUSE, Madriva, Sabayon, and CentOS with support.

Linux Certified: Laptops
Website: http://www.linuxcertified.com/linux_laptops.html
Offered Distros: Ubuntu, Fedora, Red Hat, CentOS, openSUSE, Oracle

The Linux Laptop: Laptops (mostly windows "freed" Dell models) but also custom orders to attempt putting Linux on a laptop(regardless of brand) of your choice for a to be quoted price.
Website: http://thelinuxlaptop.com/
Offered Distros: Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint

Puget Systems: Desktops, Laptops, Servers, and Workstations
Website: http://www.pugetsystems.com/alternate_os.php
Offered Distros: Ubuntu, openSUSE, and Fedora preinstalled NO TECH SUPPORT

InaTux Computers: Desktops, Laptops
Website: http://www.inatux.com/
Offered Distros: Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, MEPIS, Slackware, Gentoo, and Mandriva

SW Technology: Desktops, Servers, Laptops, Workstations
Website: http://www.swt.com/
Offered Distros: Fedora, Debian, SuSE, Redhat, and Ubuntu

EmperorLinux Inc: Laptops
Website: http://www.emperorlinux.com/
Offered Distros: Redhat, EmperorLinux, Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, SuSE/openSUSE, and Slackware

J.P. & Associates: Laptops and Desktops Website down as of August, 2015
Website: http://www.jpassociates.com/zencart/
Offered Distros: Ubuntu with 90 day workmanship support/warranty.

Los Alamos Computers (Thanks lloyd mcclendon): Mostly workstation orientated desktops and laptops
Website: http://laclinux.com/en/Linux_Computers
Offered Distros: Trisquel, Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Slackware, Fedora, openSUSE with support and warranty.

Non US/Foreign OEMs

For Aussies (Brutuz suggestion)
Logical Blue One: Laptops
Website: http://www.logicalblueone.com.au/store/
Offered Distros: Ubuntu NOT SUPPORTED BY THEM

For French Speakers (adridu59 suggestion)
TopAchat: Computers and other electronics
Website: http://www.topachat.com/accueil/index.php
Offered Distros: Ubuntu

Non mainstream CPU types (ARM exct. for the daring):

CompuLab (TrimSlice): ARM based Tegra-2 nettop Discontinued Model See their site for current models
Website: http://trimslice.com/web/trim-slice
Offered Distros: Ubuntu only support.

CompuLab (Utilite): ARM based i.MXM6 (ARM Cortex A9 type) single/duo/quad cores
Website: http://utilite-computer.com/web/utilite-models
Arch setup directions
http://archlinuxarm.org/platforms/armv7/freescale/utilite

Hardkernel: ARM based (Exynos chips only)
Website: http://hardkernel.com/main/products/prdt_info.php
Support is mostly forum and community based so don't expect even close to major OEM style support.

Genesi: FreeScale based i.MXM515 SoC (ARM Cortex A8 type) Website down as of August 2015
Website: https://www.genesi-usa.com/
Offered Distros: Ubuntu only support(though they might move to offer the Bodhi Variant if all works out)

FSF "Free/Libre" Options This was brought to my attention by user Shrak. Feel free to thank him for it.
These are "Free" as stripped of all software that you don't have access to the source code and therefore wouldn't be free to share, study, and modify. See this link Because these come with a freed BIOS and firmware they're "fully" free.

Lemote's Yeeloong Notebook
Website: http://www.lemote.com/en/products/Notebook/2010/0310/112.html
Offered Distros: Trisquel

GlugGlug/Ministry of Freedom
Website: http://minifree.org/
Offered Distros: Trisquel

Retailers/Manufacturers of OS free options:

Malibal: High end gaming laptops
Website: http://www.malibal.com/laptops/

 

[Rookie1337]

I guess no one is interested in buying systems with just Linux.

 

[MadCatMk2]

Well considering that the majority of people on OCN build their computers themselves, this thread is nice to have but not that useful for most of us.

These ARM solutions look tasty, but unfortunately only media oriented. (and probably very expensive too, for what they do).

 

[Rookie1337]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadCatMk2

Well considering that the majority of people on OCN build their computers themselves, this thread is nice to have but not that useful for most of us.
These ARM solutions look tasty, but unfortunately only media oriented. (and probably very expensive too, for what they do).

The sad thing is that from the websites they sound like the ARM units don't have most media capabilities yet. If VDPAU worked on the Tegras then I would be all over that thing. If ARM support grows faster though that would be awesome. I've seriously considered getting the genesi netbook but fear of being reliant on Google Docs and the cloud has held me off. I still feel like the cloud is too risky/inconsistent to do work with. I just wish the ARM cpu makers would realize that and get some software support going; it's like they intentionally don't want to sell their products.

Thanks for the reminder though on the community. And the sad part is that only zareason and system76 seem to offer support for Linux users on mainstream computers. I'll update OP to reflect that.

 

[joshd]

I often wonder why more companies don't offer this. I have always made a promise; if i become an OEM builder I would offer to install the 10 most popular Linux for a small fee, only charging for labour. This would bring the cost of the build down. I mean £150 just for an OS? I can get a good Pc for £144. So to me Linux is the best option.

It is ridiculous that large companies like M$ get away with it. No wonder it's one of the (if not the most) profitable company on the planet.

Thanks for posting this, although it does seem USA oriented.

 

[Rookie1337]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshd

I often wonder why more companies don't offer this. I have always made a promise; if i become an OEM builder I would offer to install the 10 most popular Linux for a small fee, only charging for labour. This would bring the cost of the build down. I mean £150 just for an OS? I can get a good Pc for £144. So to me Linux is the best option.
It is ridiculous that large companies like M$ get away with it. No wonder it's one of the (if not the most) profitable company on the planet.
Thanks for posting this, although it does seem USA oriented.

I just got a list of websites worldwide that I'm investigating right now but a few have seemed to died a while back. If you guys want I'll over regional information as well but just a rough idea is that only ZaReason is limited to the US (as far as know). System76 just expanded to Canada coverage (and looks to move beyond that soon) while the TrimSlice is of Israeli origins.

The funny thing is that I've noticed outside of the US Linux/ARM based offerings seem more common. I guess that's why Microsoft is fine with people pirating Windows over there. They're afraid of losing the ability to ingrain windows into people's minds. Also, I thought that sometimes MS will/would subsidize hardware makers.

PS: I would love to join you on that OEM Linux venture as I have dreamed of doing it since I got used to Linux. My only problem is I'm not skilled with the software so I'd be more like Steve Jobs in terms of usefulness. I have dreamed of hitting up ARM and Intel and getting them to work on HD capable platforms that consume only 10Watts max while still being useful for real OSes. Another idea was just taking older tech and reviving it with Linux for the education system. Sadly now that I've voiced these ideas I'm sure someone will patent them or beat me to them.

 

[Transhour]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshd

I often wonder why more companies don't offer this. I have always made a promise; if i become an OEM builder I would offer to install the 10 most popular Linux for a small fee, only charging for labour. This would bring the cost of the build down. I mean £150 just for an OS? I can get a good Pc for £144. So to me Linux is the best option.
It is ridiculous that large companies like M$ get away with it. No wonder it's one of the (if not the most) profitable company on the planet.
Thanks for posting this, although it does seem USA oriented.

Well even when Dell and a few others jumped on the wagon to sale OEMs with ubuntu or other linux flavors, they weren't much cheaper than their window versions, as bulk order OEM windows isn't as much as retail OEM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie1337

I guess no one is interested in buying systems with just Linux.

Its not that I wouldn't be interested in buying from one of these companies, but I could easily build desktops that surpass the ones they are offering, for less and still be linux compatible

Now I would be interested in a good quality, multi-touch capacitive min. 10" x86 tablet, that would run linux, anyone on your list selling those?

 

[lloyd mcclendon]

www.laclinux.com

the laptop i bought there 11 years ago _just died last week (half the ram, and then HD). however it looks like they just sell IBMs now .. which is not nearly as cool as what they offered back in 2000

 

[Rookie1337]

Bump...updated to add in ThinkPeguin to the list.

 

[Rookie1337]

I know it's a little early but I finally got through my sources list and now have updated the OP for probably the last time for a while.

BUMP/UPDATED...

PS: I had a source list with about 30 websites and what you see in the OP is all that survived. I think no one cares to support the system builders when the prices aren't competitive I guess.

 

[TrueTroop]

Great post!

 

[mushroomboy]

AVADirect is one of the more fair ones I've checked, not bad

 

[Rookie1337]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mushroomboy

AVADirect is one of the more fair ones I've checked, not bad

When you say "fair"...what do you mean? Because they sadly won't offer support for any Linux distro.

 

[mushroomboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie1337

When you say "fair"...what do you mean? Because they sadly won't offer support for any Linux distro.

Pricing, I don't need support.

 

[Rookie1337]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mushroomboy

Pricing, I don't need support.

Ah...I actually think System 76 while limited a little in customization still has really good/competitive pricing for its Clevo bases. But for the general consumer saying there isn't support for something scares them away.

 

[mushroomboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie1337

Ah...I actually think System 76 while limited a little in customization still has really good/competitive pricing for its Clevo bases. But for the general consumer saying there isn't support for something scares them away.

Yeah but I wouldn't go into a shop like that looking for OS support, I treat it more as a barebones site. And a lot of those suck, they are way way over priced for what you get. I thought they had some ok $700 machines. You didn't assemble, nothing, you get a nice custom PC for $700. That is well under what that PC would sell retail, and for that it's decent. Though still, hire somebody and/or build it yourself. That ends up way cheaper.

 

[Rookie1337]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mushroomboy

Yeah but I wouldn't go into a shop like that looking for OS support, I treat it more as a barebones site. And a lot of those suck, they are way way over priced for what you get. I thought they had some ok $700 machines. You didn't assemble, nothing, you get a nice custom PC for $700. That is well under what that PC would sell retail, and for that it's decent. Though still, hire somebody and/or build it yourself. That ends up way cheaper.

Sorry...I didn't realize I didn't mention I was talking about laptop prices.

Yeah...desktop prices aren't great.

 

[mushroomboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie1337

Sorry...I didn't realize I didn't mention I was talking about laptop prices.

Yeah...desktop prices aren't great.

Oh lol! Yeah laptop prices are terrible retail, I should take a look at those. =) Honestly, I'm really looking forward to next gen tablets. Tegra3 with linux, it doesn't sound too bad.

 

[Rookie1337]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mushroomboy

Oh lol! Yeah laptop prices are terrible retail, I should take a look at those. =) Honestly, I'm really looking forward to next gen tablets. Tegra3 with linux, it doesn't sound too bad.

Wait who announced that Tegra3 was going to get Linux? I thought Nvidia had their head up their butts with basically leaving real Linux users in the corner while they feed the pad fad. Honestly, if Intel delivers on the 2013 Atom which will supposedly have current gen SB HD gpus (the HD3000) then I'm not sure nvidia can have a chance. I'd like the Spark but I'm just not sure what I'd do with it really as it's just missing the keyboard.

 

[Rookie1337]

OP is updated after finding a few more US based retailers for Linux hardware from Debian's list.