HP Folio 9470m / Gateway GWTN141-5BK

mmitsch

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I am thinking of getting a used (or inexpensive new) laptop to put Linux on as either to sole or dual boot operating system.

I found a used HP Folio 9470m with 8gb of RAM and a 500gb SATA HDD and Intel Core i7-3687U processor. Is this a good candidate? And, if so, which distribution would be best? Could it dual boot to Windows 10 and Linux?

I found a new machine at Walmart which is within my price range. It's a Gateway 14.1" Ultra Slim Notebook, FHD, Intel Celeron, Dual Core, 4GB/64GB with the following specs:
  • Windows 10 Home (S mode)
  • Intel® Celeron® Processor N4020 (1.1 GHz, Up to 2.8 GHz, 4M Cache)
  • Microsoft 365 Personal 1-year Subscription Included. A $69.99 value. *
  • 14.1” LCD IPS Display, (1920 x 1080)
  • Tuned by THX™ Audio
  • 64 GB eMMC Storage
  • 4 GB LPDDR4 RAM
  • 1.0 MP Front-Facing Camera
  • Up to 8.5 hours of battery life
  • Micro SD Slot (Up to 512 GB) x 1
  • Mini HDMI Output x 1
  • USB Type-C (Data transfer only) x 1
  • USB 3.0 x 2
  • Built-in Stereo Speakers x 2
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • Built-in Microphone
  • Product Dimensions: 13.1” x 8.8” x 0.8”
  • Weight: 3.35 lbs.
  • Free Upgrade to Windows 11 when available (see below)

I have a Western Digital 128GB SSD - SDAPMUW-128G SSD that I think I could put in it and the memory is upgradeable (I can add 1 8gb stick). Does this seem a better candidate? It's new. I thought I may even use it as a dual boot with the Windows 10 and Linux.

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks!
 


personally I would rather have the i7 any day, [celeron are entry level chips]

choice of distribution... well write down a list of Linux distributions [there are over 500 to chose from] stand back 3 mts and throw a dart backwards into the list, its as good as any way to chose.. No to be serious we can all recommend our favorite distributions but what suites any of us may not suite you, go to https://distrowatch.com/ and look at the list of the top 50 distributions, pick a few and give them a try,

and yes if you keep windows you can duel boot with either laptop

bwiz
 
You mention an SSD that you already own. That laptop may well not even have an SSD slot on it. Using it internally may not be an option.
 
personally I would rather have the i7 any day, [celeron are entry level chips]

choice of distribution... well write down a list of Linux distributions [there are over 500 to chose from] stand back 3 mts and throw a dart backwards into the list, its as good as any way to chose.. No to be serious we can all recommend our favorite distributions but what suites any of us may not suite you, go to https://distrowatch.com/ and look at the list of the top 50 distributions, pick a few and give them a try,

and yes if you keep windows you can duel boot with either laptop

bwiz
Thank you very much for getting back to me! I will check the distribution list you sent and will see about getting the i7 used -- it's an older Intel Core i7-3687U from 2013. You think it's still better than a newer Celeron? And, lastly, do you know a good place for me to check if the HP is capable of using Linux?
 
You mention an SSD that you already own. That laptop may well not even have an SSD slot on it. Using it internally may not be an option.
I don't think the HP does. I believe the Gateway does but I am not sure of if the SSD I have will fit. The photo below is of a teardown of a GWTN141-4BK. I found this at
. I think it may be a different form factor than the one I have (this video is of the a model with a 256gb SSD and the Gateway I am considering has a 64gb SSD).

I am also now wondering if the Celeron in the Gateway is a problem due to the other persons response. The Gateway is new and I thought maybe the Celeron may be equal to the 8 year old i7, but I guess not. I really don't understand processors all that well.

Thank you very much for your help! Again forums like this make all of this much easier!!!




1637542880663.png
 
Of the two, I'd also suggest the HP Follio.
 
You mention an SSD that you already own. That laptop may well not even have an SSD slot on it. Using it internally may not be an option.
This may well be true. I bought a low-end laptop last year similar to your Gateway specs... and neither the storage (64GB eMMC) nor the 4GB RAM can be expanded. It is what it is, but I knew full well when I bought it. Mine is okay for Linux, but Windows will likely be sluggish even when brand new. Dual booting on 64GB is out of the question. Windows alone will fill up 64GB before you know what hit you. :oops:

By the way, eMMC is not as good as SSD.... it's a bit slower, more like a SD card. It's still okay for me, and faster than a spinning hard drive, but you should be aware of what you're getting since you listed it both as eMMC and SSD. They're not the same.
 
do you know a good place for me to check if the HP is capable of using Linux?
All makes may need tweaking after installation, but HP are usually fine
the HP will be USB bootable
 
why did i say the HP i5 reliability,
gateway as a company no longer exist it is a licensed brand" exclusive to Wallmart, the same model number may have a celeron / an i5 /or an amd processor, it appears to be what we would have called a parts bin construction in the old days, there are no maintenance manuals/drawings available so I am unable to tell you if you can upgrade the drive [I suspect not as on most budget brands the drive is hard wired to the motherboard..
this quote from a review this year ""You won't find the Gateway direct technical support that you would have gotten more than a decade ago or more than a basic warranty. ""
 
why did i say the HP i5 reliability,
gateway as a company no longer exist it is a licensed brand" exclusive to Wallmart, the same model number may have a celeron / an i5 /or an amd processor, it appears to be what we would have called a parts bin construction in the old days, there are no maintenance manuals/drawings available so I am unable to tell you if you can upgrade the drive [I suspect not as on most budget brands the drive is hard wired to the motherboard..
this quote from a review this year ""You won't find the Gateway direct technical support that you would have gotten more than a decade ago or more than a basic warranty. ""
Makes sense. And thanks!
 
This may well be true. I bought a low-end laptop last year similar to your Gateway specs... and neither the storage (64GB eMMC) nor the 4GB RAM can be expanded. It is what it is, but I knew full well when I bought it. Mine is okay for Linux, but Windows will likely be sluggish even when brand new. Dual booting on 64GB is out of the question. Windows alone will fill up 64GB before you know what hit you. :oops:

By the way, eMMC is not as good as SSD.... it's a bit slower, more like a SD card. It's still okay for me, and faster than a spinning hard drive, but you should be aware of what you're getting since you listed it both as eMMC and SSD. They're not the same.
Thanks! I appreciate all the advice. Folks are seeming to suggest the used HP and I understand what you mentioned about Windows eating up space. We had a cloudbook some years back (got it from Target) and it came with a 32gb eMMC. It actually ran out of space during a Windows Update!
 
why did i say the HP i5 reliability,
gateway as a company no longer exist it is a licensed brand" exclusive to Wallmart, the same model number may have a celeron / an i5 /or an amd processor, it appears to be what we would have called a parts bin construction in the old days, there are no maintenance manuals/drawings available so I am unable to tell you if you can upgrade the drive [I suspect not as on most budget brands the drive is hard wired to the motherboard..
this quote from a review this year ""You won't find the Gateway direct technical support that you would have gotten more than a decade ago or more than a basic warranty. ""
I would add that Gateway is a registered trademark of Acer, Inc. - https://gatewayusa.com/
 

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