A significant development in the world of Linux on ARM has arrived: Ubuntu 24.10 officially supports the Snapdragon-powered Lenovo ThinkPad X13s laptop within its standard ARM64 ISO. This marks a major leap forward, as previous Ubuntu releases required custom ISOs or upgrades from earlier versions to work on this device.
The long-awaited compatibility comes thanks to the tireless efforts of Canonical's Juerg Haefliger, who has been instrumental in integrating support for the ThinkPad X13s, powered by a Snapdragon 8cx processor. While not the most cutting-edge chip, it still delivers respectable performance for everyday tasks.
With the release of Ubuntu 24.10, users can now download the regular Ubuntu ARM desktop image, flash it onto a USB drive, and boot from it directly on the ThinkPad X13s, proceeding through the standard installation process. This signifies a significant step towards mainstream adoption of ARM laptops within the Linux ecosystem.
However, a crucial caveat exists: users must select the "install third-party software and drivers" option during the installation process. This step is essential for installing vital drivers and configuration files specifically tailored for the X13s, ensuring the device boots correctly after installation.
While Ubuntu running on the ThinkPad X13s is a positive development, the user experience is still not entirely smooth sailing. There are some ongoing issues, but progress is being made, and the overall experience has improved considerably since earlier Ubuntu releases.
The Linux Kernel 6.11 introduces notable fixes for ARM laptops, including webcam support and potential hardware acceleration through a binary blob. While the status of hardware acceleration is still unclear at the moment, it represents a promising step towards enhancing performance on these devices.
Despite this progress, the landscape for ARM laptops remains a bit bumpy. While the ThinkPad X13s provides a solid foundation, it's not the most powerful or cutting-edge model on the market. Furthermore, finding a brand new unit can be a challenge, though second-hand options are available at attractive prices on online platforms like eBay.
For those seeking a dedicated ARM laptop experience, TUXEDO Computers is poised to launch the Snapdragon X Elite, a laptop designed specifically for Linux users from the ground up.
While the ThinkPad X13s paves the way for increased adoption of ARM laptops within the Linux community, it's important to note that hardware and software support can still be inconsistent across different ARM devices and Linux distributions. Until a more unified and robust ecosystem emerges, Intel and AMD-based laptops remain the more reliable choice for most users.
However, the strides made with the Ubuntu 24.10 release on the ThinkPad X13s represent a significant step towards a future where ARM laptops become a more readily available and widely supported option for Linux users. This progress paves the way for a more diverse and exciting laptop landscape, offering users more choices and potentially driving innovation in the realm of mobile computing.
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