1 ComputerRecommendations

1.1 Yes list

Recommended to-have list
Laptop computer SHOULD have these features

• A fully featured laptop workstation (students should be able to use the machine in class with a full real keyboard).

• Greater than 3 hours of battery life.

• Greater than, or at least 16GB of RAM (bare minimum), and ideally more!

• x86-64bit architecture

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86-64

• A machine that completely supports x86-64bit virtualiziation, with either of the following pairs of feature functioning and enabled:

  • Intel VT-x and VT-d:
    • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86_virtualization#Intel_virtualization_(VT-x)
    • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86_virtualization#I/O_MMU_virtualization_(AMD-Vi_and_Intel_VT-d)
  • AMD-v and AMD-Vi
    • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86_virtualization#AMD_virtualization_(AMD-V)
    • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86_virtualization#I/O_MMU_virtualization_(AMD-Vi_and_Intel_VT-d)

• An operating system and machine that fully supports running x86-64bit virtualization and https://www.virtualbox.org/ software.

• BIOS/UEFI Boot should be unlocked and open.

1.2 No list

Recommended not-to-have list
Computer SHOULD NOT have these features

• Primary machine should not be a desktop tower or tablet (should at least have a laptop workstation for use in class).

• Laptop should not block booting the computer to a USB drive with an experimental operating system on it, since this is needed for various classes, labs, and software development functions.

• Laptop should not have a required TPM. That is, the TPM should be able to be turned off or disabled.

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_Platform_Module
  • Some new Windows 11 machines do not allow editing or disabling the TPM, to enforce an anti-competetive business model, under the pretense of security…

• Should not have required boot lock via EFI/UEFI or any mechanism.

  • Some 2020 or newer Mac machines block booting to USB, to enforce an anti-competetive business model, under the pretense of security…
  • BIOS/boot should be unlocked.

• ARM architecture Chromebooks or ARM architecture Mac machines do not support x86-64bit virtualization or VirtualBox, and thus are not recommended: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARM_architecture_family

1.3 Nice to have

Not required, but nice to have

• A large https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_drive
  • This can make booting and other disk-access operations much faster.

1.4 Examples

Below are some examples of laptop retailers that sell machines that satisfy these requirements,
and thus optionally support the installation of:
Windows, Linux, Unix, BSD, or any other developmental operating system.

Lenovo makes great open Linux-compatible laptops:
https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/d/linux-laptops-desktops/

Dell has many Linux machines, and some open machines that ship with no OS:
https://www.dell.com/en-us/search/linux
https://linux.dell.com/

My favorite on this list:
https://system76.com/

https://puri.sm/

https://laptopwithlinux.com/

https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/

https://frame.work/

https://shop.nitrokey.com/shop

https://starlabs.systems/

https://clevo-computer.com/en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clevo
Clevo makes System76, Tuxedo, Laptopwithlinux, Sager, etc…