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Surface Pro 3 and Ubuntu/Linux Mint

Tags:
  • Linux Mint
  • Tablets
  • Surface
  • Ubuntu
Last response: in Laptop General Discussion
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September 27, 2014 8:47:32 PM

I am strongly considering getting a Surface Pro 3. However, the past two years I have increasingly become fond of Linux, and been messing around with Ubuntu and then Linux Mint. While I don't mind Windows 8, but Linux is where I'm more comfortable now and feel like I can do more.

I'm hoping my research is dated, but I heard that the Surface Pro 3 is compatible with Ubuntu/Mint, but the touchpad is not. I even heard the built-in wireless doesn't work and a USB one must be plugged in. If this is all still true, that's practically unusable in my opinion. Is the Linux community actively trying to create full support for Surface Pro 3 (and future iterations of Surface)? How long will it be until it becomes fully usable?

More about : surface pro ubuntu linux mint

September 27, 2014 10:12:00 PM

racerrex9727 said:
I am strongly considering getting a Surface Pro 3. However, the past two years I have increasingly become fond of Linux, and been messing around with Ubuntu and then Linux Mint. While I don't mind Windows 8, but Linux is where I'm more comfortable now and feel like I can do more.

I'm hoping my research is dated, but I heard that the Surface Pro 3 is compatible with Ubuntu/Mint, but the touchpad is not. I even heard the built-in wireless doesn't work and a USB one must be plugged in. If this is all still true, that's practically unusable in my opinion. Is the Linux community actively trying to create full support for Surface Pro 3 (and future iterations of Surface)? How long will it be until it becomes fully usable?


You need to get a UEFI compatible linux. I had no luck running mint from a live USB.
Also, GRUB bootloader screws Win8 bad.

That's straight from my computer science professor and several complaints on our class forums. Run it via a live USB, or an installed USB, over the actual system, since it seems to have issues.

That said, I'd love if someone could elaborate on how this installation and boot is done. I tried to disable the secure boot, but still nothing on my SP3.

Other stuff... I don't know. If someone knows how to get this started, I'd be happy to confirm for you on my own unit.
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September 27, 2014 11:21:47 PM

canadianvice said:
racerrex9727 said:
I am strongly considering getting a Surface Pro 3. However, the past two years I have increasingly become fond of Linux, and been messing around with Ubuntu and then Linux Mint. While I don't mind Windows 8, but Linux is where I'm more comfortable now and feel like I can do more.

I'm hoping my research is dated, but I heard that the Surface Pro 3 is compatible with Ubuntu/Mint, but the touchpad is not. I even heard the built-in wireless doesn't work and a USB one must be plugged in. If this is all still true, that's practically unusable in my opinion. Is the Linux community actively trying to create full support for Surface Pro 3 (and future iterations of Surface)? How long will it be until it becomes fully usable?


You need to get a UEFI compatible linux. I had no luck running mint from a live USB.
Also, GRUB bootloader screws Win8 bad.

That's straight from my computer science professor and several complaints on our class forums. Run it via a live USB, or an installed USB, over the actual system, since it seems to have issues.

That said, I'd love if someone could elaborate on how this installation and boot is done. I tried to disable the secure boot, but still nothing on my SP3.

Other stuff... I don't know. If someone knows how to get this started, I'd be happy to confirm for you on my own unit.


Yeah I've heard similiar things. I have dual-booted Windows 8/Ubuntu for awhile just fine on my laptop and GRUB seemed to do an okay job. But I don't know how tightly controlled the Surface hardware is. Let's see if anybody has had any positive experiences... don't want you to mess up your Surface though...
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September 28, 2014 9:28:43 AM

racerrex9727 said:
canadianvice said:
racerrex9727 said:
I am strongly considering getting a Surface Pro 3. However, the past two years I have increasingly become fond of Linux, and been messing around with Ubuntu and then Linux Mint. While I don't mind Windows 8, but Linux is where I'm more comfortable now and feel like I can do more.

I'm hoping my research is dated, but I heard that the Surface Pro 3 is compatible with Ubuntu/Mint, but the touchpad is not. I even heard the built-in wireless doesn't work and a USB one must be plugged in. If this is all still true, that's practically unusable in my opinion. Is the Linux community actively trying to create full support for Surface Pro 3 (and future iterations of Surface)? How long will it be until it becomes fully usable?


You need to get a UEFI compatible linux. I had no luck running mint from a live USB.
Also, GRUB bootloader screws Win8 bad.

That's straight from my computer science professor and several complaints on our class forums. Run it via a live USB, or an installed USB, over the actual system, since it seems to have issues.

That said, I'd love if someone could elaborate on how this installation and boot is done. I tried to disable the secure boot, but still nothing on my SP3.

Other stuff... I don't know. If someone knows how to get this started, I'd be happy to confirm for you on my own unit.


Yeah I've heard similiar things. I have dual-booted Windows 8/Ubuntu for awhile just fine on my laptop and GRUB seemed to do an okay job. But I don't know how tightly controlled the Surface hardware is. Let's see if anybody has had any positive experiences... don't want you to mess up your Surface though...


The whole point of having fancy things is to fiddle with them :) 
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Best solution

September 29, 2014 8:34:53 PM

http://www.geek.com/microsoft/linux-users-rejoice-heres...

I found this. It details some workings, but as with the SP2, it's not a flawless experience.
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September 30, 2014 10:00:22 PM

canadianvice said:
http://www.geek.com/microsoft/linux-users-rejoice-heres...

I found this. It details some workings, but as with the SP2, it's not a flawless experience.


I remember running into this article before. This makes me hopeful progress is being made but I'm guessing another year or two of development is needed before it reaches a strong support base. Fortunately, I don't think Surface is going away as Surface Pro 3 is extremely popular and struck a chord with people. If anything, what I probably will do for now is buy a Surface Pro 3 with strong specs (8GB of RAM, an i5... maybe an i7) and use VirtualBox or VirtualMachine to run Linux Mint on a VM.
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September 30, 2014 10:49:04 PM

racerrex9727 said:
canadianvice said:
http://www.geek.com/microsoft/linux-users-rejoice-heres...

I found this. It details some workings, but as with the SP2, it's not a flawless experience.


I remember running into this article before. This makes me hopeful progress is being made but I'm guessing another year or two of development is needed before it reaches a strong support base. Fortunately, I don't think Surface is going away as Surface Pro 3 is extremely popular and struck a chord with people. If anything, what I probably will do for now is buy a Surface Pro 3 with strong specs (8GB of RAM, an i5... maybe an i7) and use VirtualBox or VirtualMachine to run Linux Mint on a VM.


It can hurt battery life significantly, however. I'll be trying Ubuntu sometime this week (via a LiveUSB) to see. I'll let you know what I find.
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September 30, 2014 10:55:42 PM

canadianvice said:
racerrex9727 said:
canadianvice said:
http://www.geek.com/microsoft/linux-users-rejoice-heres...

I found this. It details some workings, but as with the SP2, it's not a flawless experience.


I remember running into this article before. This makes me hopeful progress is being made but I'm guessing another year or two of development is needed before it reaches a strong support base. Fortunately, I don't think Surface is going away as Surface Pro 3 is extremely popular and struck a chord with people. If anything, what I probably will do for now is buy a Surface Pro 3 with strong specs (8GB of RAM, an i5... maybe an i7) and use VirtualBox or VirtualMachine to run Linux Mint on a VM.


It can hurt battery life significantly, however. I'll be trying Ubuntu sometime this week (via a LiveUSB) to see. I'll let you know what I find.


Please do! Usually if I'm getting my hands dirty with virtual machines I can cope with plugging in at a coffee shop, home, or work. But if I'm on a plane, being able to dual-boot in some capacity would be wonderful!
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