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Does Ubuntu 13.10 run well on Alienware 14 laptops? My specs are:

- Processor: 4th Generation Intel Core i7-4700MQ Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.4GHz)
- Memory: 8GB DDR3L at 1600 MHz(2 x 4G)
- Hard Drive: 750GB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s
- Video card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M with 16B GDDR5.

Thank you for your help!

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    Only you can answer this question. Download the ISO file from ubuntu.com burn it into a DVD or create a bootable USB drive. Boot from it and choose "Try Ubuntu without Installing." When you are satisfied, please answer your own question and mark it as correct with green check mark.
    – user68186
    Jan 3, 2014 at 17:57
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    Alienware provides laptops with Ubuntu pre-installed : alienware.com/ubuntu
    – NickTux
    Jan 3, 2014 at 17:59
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    I really don't believe this question is opinion-based. cprofitt answer below is, IMHO, a proof that it is not. BTW, is this the correct place to comment about moderation?
    – GabrielF
    Jan 5, 2014 at 2:25
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    I've successfully installed debian with 3.12 kernel on this laptop, works just fine, I think ubuntu will run too, just check that it has a new kernel (3.2 failed to boot).
    – Pavel Davydov
    Feb 26, 2014 at 13:01

1 Answer 1

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The only potential issue would be the Graphics card. That particular card uses Optimus which has been known to cause issues with Ubuntu and other Linux distributions. If the bios allows you to turn off Optimus and specify either Nvidia or Intel as the graphics card there should not be an issue.

There are some questions her about your video card:

The other items that can cause issues are:

  • Web Camera
  • Sound Card
  • Backlit Keyboard
  • Special Function Keys

Does your system have any of those items?

If you already own the system or have access to one you could try booting to an Ubuntu live CD to see how things work.

Update

It would appear that there are some potential issues - I found this thread: http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/os-applications/f/4457/t/19530230.aspx

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  • sudo lshw -C network will show your network card information
    – K7AAY
    Jan 3, 2014 at 18:04
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    That assumes he is running Ubuntu on the machine already -- it sounds like this could be a pre-purchase question.
    – cprofitt
    Jan 3, 2014 at 18:04
  • The laptop I'm planning to buy is the second one on this page(the $1,299 model): dell.com/us/p/alienware-14/pd.aspx . It has both a backlit keyboard an a web camera.
    – Phil
    Jan 3, 2014 at 20:44
  • The wireless card is apparently based on Atheros -- which should work fine under Ubuntu.
    – cprofitt
    Jan 5, 2014 at 1:35

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