I don't know how well Nvidia Prime works under Solus. But I guess you have to try. But running itself should not be a problem, from my estimation.
Getting a ThinkPad P50
One of the reasons I switched from Windows 7 to linux instead of Windows 10 was that it was much quicker to set up a relatively secure and private system quickly. Even if you manage that with windows they have a habit of undoing stuff during updates.
You're really going to hate the DE. I can't get anything of value done there without frustration. It's just a jumble and a mess. Not to mention all the shit popping up all over the place.
One thing I would do is have a spare drive with windows to run firmware updates for your P50 and dock, if you get one. Solus doesn't have fwupd and even that doesn't get all the updates. Lenovo has a nice utility for firmware.
- Disable unnecessary ports in bios
- Enable bios rollback option in bios
- Goto lenovo support page download the browser plugin to identify your system then download the software update software then update the bios
- install linux
You can go back to windows anytime and the windows keys are embedded (you can see that in bios)
finally post a pic in /r/thinkpad lol
Just some more advice. Get the cheapest drive for the P50 and replace it. You'll save money, end up with a better drive and a Windows drive as spare to do your windows stuff. I got a mediocre Toshiba 256MB with my X1 Carbon and eventually ended up with the Solidigm P44 I am running now. Technically my X1 carbon came with Fedora but I have a windows 7 license I used for Windows 10 and installed that on the Toshiba.
Yeah, just scrap WINDOWS altogether if you don't REALLY need it!
I never understand why people fuss on end about which SSD they should get for which OS:
Whenever I bought a refurbished or privately used and recycled ThinkPad with WINDOWS on the drive the very first thing I always did and always will do is take out the drive with WINDOWS on it, keep it (I may need to re-sell the laptop or may be forced to use WINDOWS for work or whatever), pop another SSD in and install whatever I fancy.
It ALWAYS worked, no matter which brand the SSD was.
(I'm using WINDOWS at work, everything the company does is saved to OneDrive, the Microsoft cloud planet, and it feels terrible to be so tied to that company and the way they just flood you with endless notifications, suggestions, remarks about accounts not being logged into, new software bits and pieces they want you to use - you have to be so much a caretaker of your work tools and are left with so little unobstructed time to do what you need to do - just awful.
I will never use WINDOWS privately ever.)
SOLUSfiddler (I'm using WINDOWS at work, everything the company does is saved to OneDrive, the Microsoft cloud planet, and it feels terrible to be so tied to that company and the way they just flood you with endless notifications, suggestions, remarks about accounts not being logged into, new software bits and pieces they want you to use - you have to be so much a caretaker of your work tools and are left with so little unobstructed time to do what you need to do - just awful.
I will never use WINDOWS privately ever.)
this^^^^
you spend half your life with WIN and it's not til you step away to linux and come back that you realize what a disgusting hustle it all is on that side...
...I have a W10 on an unplugged drive I update every couple months (in case of emergency break glass type deal).
well said, Fiddler
SOLUSfiddler It ALWAYS worked, no matter which brand the SSD was.
Same here. I usually bought the cheapest SSDs on Amazon, sometimes in multiples. None of them ever offended me in any way.
- Edited
Well I got the P50 and a very nice machine it is to.
Solus has not played well with it unfortunately.
It's not shutting down or suspending properly. It won't wake after suspend.
Powering down, using the menu shut down option, actually doesn't work.
The laptops lights stay on, and if not plugged in the battery is flat next day.
After powering down it's hard to turn on. Have to press/hold the power button a while till all lights go out then the power button will boot it up.
So...I've temporarily pulled the ssd and installed Manjaro/Budgie on a spare ssd.
It now powers down and suspends as expected.
Oh. The bios is the most up to date.
And another thing.... Windows 11 got wiped after about an hour. Yuck! what a horror show!
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GuzziPhil Is the UEFI firmware of the laptop on its latest version?