[meguest]

I have a Dell XPS 15 and to be frank I would advise against it.

Good points:

- Strong hardware

- Looks nice

Bad points:

- M2 SSD requires changing some BIOS preferences to work on Linux

- Nvidia graphics card is a pain on Ubuntu. Do a Google search for nouveau.modeset

- The fans are on most of the time, even during idle. The machine isn't hot either - it just likes to run the fans

- The 1920x1080 screen isn't that great and a "4K" option is quite expensive

- The carbon-fibre looking plastic looks cheap and is a magnet for finger prints. It does not look good and is difficult to clean

- It's not a great machine to move about with. Mine weighs almost 2KG

- No Ethernet port unlike a T470. You need a USB adapter

[dozzie]

My company-supplied Dell Latitude 7480, running Debian stable with its stock kernel:

> - M2 SSD requires changing some BIOS preferences to work on Linux

No BIOS fiddling, except for disabling Thunderbolt security for docking station to work (external monitor, network card, USB ports including keyboard, second sound card (though no volume control here)). But this is because Linux kernel doesn't support it yet.

Or maybe I did change its "RAID" to something that's not a lie, I don't really remember.

> - Nvidia graphics card is a pain on Ubuntu. Do a Google search for nouveau.modeset

Mine has Intel. I had no problems with running it.

> - The fans are on most of the time, even during idle. The machine isn't hot either - it just likes to run the fans

Quiet most of the time.

> - The 1920x1080 screen isn't that great and a "4K" option is quite expensive

1920x1080 gives way too small bitmap fonts on a 14" screen. I'd rather have 1280x800 or similar, but nobody ships that resolution anymore.

> - The carbon-fibre looking plastic looks cheap and is a magnet for finger prints. It does not look good and is difficult to clean

The plastic seems OK, but maybe I don't know what to look at.

> - It's not a great machine to move about with. Mine weighs almost 2KG

1.5kg

> - No Ethernet port unlike a T470. You need a USB adapter

Ethernet port present.

[meguest]

7480 looks like a much better Linux machine than the XPS I have. I should be switching to a ThinkPad next week!

[bhouston]

I am not sure these points of yours are fully valid:

> M2 SSD requires changing some BIOS preferences to work on Linux

I never had to do this. That is weird.

> Nvidia graphics card is a pain on Ubuntu. Do a Google search for nouveau.modeset

This is true but it affects all computers Ubuntu with NVIDIA and Intel integrated graphics and is not unique to Dell laptops. This screws up our desktops at work that have integrated graphics.

> The fans are on most of the time, even during idle. The machine isn't hot either - it just likes to run the fans

I think you do not have the power mode drivers setup properly. Mine doesn't do that.

> No Ethernet port unlike a T470. You need a USB adapter

I use a USB-C docking station at my desks. Once you get a docking station that connects everything, including power via a single small USB-C you never go back. You just need a dongle when traveling.

[chimeracoder]

> I use a USB-C docking station at my desks. Once you get a docking station that connects everything, including power via a single small USB-C you never go back. You just need a dongle when traveling.

Which dock do you use?

[bhouston]

Currently the TB16, but I think the D6000 is likely just as good and smaller.

[mar77i]

I find your result a bit surprising. Having the XPS 13 for work and these things are - besides the massive resolution for the comparably small screen - as painless as it gets in my experience.

[meguest]

The XPS 13 appears to be a much better choice than the XPS 15 - standard SSDs, integrated graphics, smaller and light(er).

The 15 I have has two fans: one I presume for the CPU and another for the Nvidia GPU (which I don't use). However, once both have started neither shut off until the machine is suspended. There is a suggestion that this is due to a firmware bug related to suspend/wake and it doesn't happen from cold boot. I haven't tested it out, will give it a go next week.

I've also been used to MacBooks and so the XPS does fall short somewhat in comparison - minor flexing and creaking and much less heat dissipated via the chassis (plastic vs aluminium). I have an Intel i7 in the XPS that appears to consume quite a lot of power. I'd much rather change it for a less powerful, more frugal i5 but alas it is too late.

[robocat]

From comment in this thread about a Lenovo: "I ended up installing NVidia's proprietary driver which let me disable the MX150 and use the Intel video card instead. Machine seems to run a little cooler since.". Might help if you don't need nVidia?

[tamrix]

It's not a good laptop but for none of those reasons.

Thermals are shit. Even after a repaste, throttles a lot. Many people at my work have had hardware issues. My batteries are clean dead after a year of use.