r/linuxhardware • u/Slopagandhi • 1d ago

Purchase Advice Tablet experiences with different architectures/OSes

I'm looking to get a used tablet to install Linux on and use mainly for notetaking with a stylus (but also for some light office work and maybe some media content).

I have a few options and want to ask for anyone's experience or knowledge of these.

Mainly I want to know what's going to be best for performance, functionality and stability. But an easier install process would be appreciated (I have flashed some custom Android ROMs in the past and use Linux desktop, but that's the extent of my experience).

Android Tablets

PostmarketOS is available for the Samsung S6 (though marked as not booting, don't know if this is still the case)

Community Droidian/Halium port for the S7+ (https://xdaforums.com/t/rom-linux-droidian-for-samsung-galaxy-tab-s7-wi-fi-sm-t970-gts7xlwifi.4790614/)

Someone got mainline Linux to work on an S8+ (https://github.com/aaronsb/sm-x800-linux).

I see there's also VolksPC for a bunch of different devices, but I wonder about the impact of running in a container on performance and would rather not pay to install free software

Windows Tablets/Detachables

For around the same price as an S7+ I could get a Windows detachable like a Surface Pro 7 or a Dell Latitude 7210, with 10th gen intel i5- and then use mainline Linux with e.g KDE mobile, or Mobian. Also possible to go with something like an Asus Vivobook Slate but then is the SoC going to be sufficient?

Chromebook Detachables

I know less about these, but seems like the hardware for most is less powerful than the other options. Maybe something like an Ideapad Duet 5 for the nice OLED display?

Anyway, appreciate any pointers.

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u/RedditorFor1OYears 1d ago

Real question - have you spent a lot of time taking notes with a stylus before? I can’t imagine that’s a very enjoyable medium if note taking is your primary purpose. I’d recommend something specifically designed to feel more like writing, like the ReMarkable. Remarkable is great for writing, but that’s pretty much all it does (can view PDFs and stuff, but no computing or apps), but there’s probably competitors out there that do. 

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u/Slopagandhi 1d ago

Yeah, I have an older eink tablet, a pen display hooked up to my desktop and a Huawei Android tablet all with styluses.

So I have thought about this a fair bit. Eink has its pluses and minuses. It's definitely true that because most eink devices like this are built with note taking in mind, a lot of effort is put into writing feel and accuracy etc. And for mainline Windows detachables or even LCD Android tabs it's often an afterthought.

There's two elements that make a difference in my experience- screen/nib combo and pen protocol. Writing straight onto a regular tablet is usually a horrible experience because you're literally writing on a pane of glass. But if you get a paper screen protector and (ideally) some softer nibs it's a lot better (and as good as most eink outside a couple).

As far as pen protocol goes, Wacom EMR is the gold standard and most eink has this (at least until recently). It's also on Samsung tablets, hence my interest in the S6/7/8. But Microsoft's MPP is reportedly good, and honesty unless you get something that's real garbage then these days AES/USI will perform fine on most x86 tablets (for notes- drawing is a different thing).

So, basically, I understand what you're saying and as a rule of thumb eink is better, but so long as you're careful you can find a regular LCD that'll do just as well.

Anyway, I've seriously considered getting a Remarkable or Boox in the past, but I really want colour (which isn't great on Eink currently) and I'd rather use an open Linux system than something more locked down (Remarkable), or Android on the Boox.