Finalize content for Linux laptop article.

content/posts/tech/linux-laptop.md

@@ -1,24 +1,36 @@
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-draft: true
+draft: false
 pinned: false
 title: "Linux Laptop"
 subtitle: "Buying a device with Linux already installed."
 author: Hyperling
 date: "2025-12-08T07:00:00-07:00"
-started:
+started: "2025-12-04T11:38:00-07:00"
 edited:
 toc: true
 images:
 tags:
-  - TBD # food, craft, poem, blog
+   - tech
+   - laptop
+   - desktop
+   - linux
+   - Debian
+   - Arch
+   - Ubuntu
+   - Dell
+   - Lenovo
 series:
-  - TBD
+   - sysadmin
 categories:
-  - TBD # recipes, musings
+   - blog
 aliases:
 ---
 
-I was recently contacted regarding advice for buying a laptop with Linux pre-installed. Below is my response as well as some thoughts on the subject.
+## Introduction
+
+I was recently contacted for thought on for buying a laptop with Linux pre-installed. Below is my response as well as some thoughts on the subject.
+
+## Laptop Advice
 
 > Howdy!! Thanks for reaching out about this! From my experience the preinstalled Linux sphere is usually expensive gaming, developer, or other specialty type systems for enthusiasts. (NovaCustom, System76, Purism)
 >
@@ -26,9 +38,9 @@ I was recently contacted regarding advice for buying a laptop with Linux pre-ins
 >
 > It looks like both Lenovo and Dell allow choosing Ubuntu and maybe other Linux distributions when configuring some of their laptops. It knocks down the price some too since they don't have to license out a proprietary OS. This option would probably be ideal for someone with no tech background. There may be other companies too.
 >
-> https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/d/deals/custom/?visibleDatas=1014%3ALaptops%3B699%3ALinux&sortBy=priceUp
+> [https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/d/deals/custom/?visibleDatas=1014%3ALaptops%3B699%3ALinux&sortBy=priceUp](https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/d/deals/custom/?visibleDatas=1014%3ALaptops%3B699%3ALinux&sortBy=priceUp)
 >
-> https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/scr/laptops/appref=ubuntu-linux-os?sortBy=price-ascending
+> [https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/scr/laptops/appref=ubuntu-linux-os?sortBy=price-ascending](https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/scr/laptops/appref=ubuntu-linux-os?sortBy=price-ascending)
 >
 > Otherwise I've always bought the device which fits my needs best and then wiped it and installed the OS of my choosing. Used laptops are great for that if you don't want big tech companies getting kickbacks from places like Best Buy which sell laptops with licensed OS's.
 >
@@ -38,4 +50,14 @@ I was recently contacted regarding advice for buying a laptop with Linux pre-ins
 >
 > I'd love to hear what you end up doing! Let me know if you have any other questions. :)
 
-TBD
+## Final Thoughts
+
+The requester already had a refurbished laptop and opted to back up their files to an external device and give installing the OS a go.
+
+If you have a spare USB drive, the process is fairly simply. There are applications for putting the installer on the flash drive, then you just plug it in and reboot the device. When it shows the laptop's brand name on the screen, you press a button, usually F10 or similar, choose the USB device, then follow the prompts from the installer.
+
+There are plenty of guides on how to do this. I've listed a few below. It can be a very educational process, especially if you already have some experience at the termianl or with Linux in general. Then once you get fairly experienced, installing a system like Arch is extremely rewarding and teaches you a lot about what it actually takes to make a distribution and what all the running components are under the hood.
+
+All in all, getting away from big tech is highly recommended. Windows, MaxOS, and ChromeOS are all spyware meant to keep you in a locked down consumerist cycle. iOS and Google Android are no btter. Liberating your devices by installing a FOSS operating system! As of this writing I choose to use Debian on my desktops and servers, and on my smartphones I run LineageOS with microG.
+
+Feel free to give me a holler if you make a dive into this sphere and need any pointers! :)