HP Folio 1040 i7
Linus Stridbeck
Yuraeitha
> hi, I just wanted to take the opportunity to see if some one used qubes on HP Folio 1040 i7? its a elitebook essentielly but its noton the compatibility list.
Many report their laptop to the HCL list, so it might not be likely to find anyone having it here if it's not on the HCL list, especially not on a short notice.
Perhaps the better question to ask if others think it's a good idea to go for this laptop, for Qubes use-cases. As such you can post your use-case needs, your security needs (do you have reasons to put in extra hard security efforts?), as well as mentioning which generation of HP Folio 1040 i7 you're talking about, as far as I can see there are gen1, gen2, and gen3. Which specs variant are you looking at as well? One has more RAM than the other, etc.
Even the cheapest model of the HP Folio 1040 i7 series, found on amazon.uk.co seems to go at roughly 700 pounds. That's super expensive for the poor performance this machine gives. Nevermind security concerns in hardware, it's a redicouless price to pay for this sloppy performance. So it's a good thing you asked before buying it.
gen 1 CPU benchmark
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-4650U+%40+1.70GHz&id=1955
gen 2 CPU benchmark
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-5600U+%40+2.60GHz&id=2456
In comparison, but not nessicarily a buying recommendation (This is purely to show you the difference).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-15-bq150na-15-6-inch-Touchscreen-Resolution/dp/B07BBLZ5WR/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521555593&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=360+x+envy+ryzen
and it's CPU benchmarks
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Ryzen+5+2500U&id=3123
This is a ryzen apu though, it's still mostly untested with kernel and Qubes, but you can find intel equivalents in performance/price ratio as they are competing. Some Ryzen works with kernel/Qubes, but i.e. the desktop motherboard AB350 Pro4 with Ryzen 3 1200 can run Qubes, but it's not perfect. I do not have any Ryzen experience beyond that model, so I won't recommend it either, especially not when Ryzen mobile is so new as it is now. In general though, this is not a buying recommendation, but to shake you up a bit when comparing performance/price ratios.
What Intel bets a lot on is to cheat the customers who don't know where to look, essentially making people buy more for less, by heavily segmenting the market, confusing people as to what is better value and what is crap value. Thereby overall more people buy less value for more money, and Intel isn't doing anything illegal, and if customers don't realize, then they can live happy ever after, that much richer profiting on people's lack of knowledge on computer hardware.
Also considering you're up there in the price range already, you might want to look for a laptop which either has 16GB+ RAM pre-installed, or allows for 16GB+ RAM in the future (i.e. check if its upgrade-able). Running Qubes on 8GB can work just fine, but 16GB really does make a difference in comfort, so you don't need to shut down other VM's as much to make space for other VM's to run.
Linus Stridbeck
To be hones im not sure what security features I nead as long as the the WM as well as whonix works, the VM are properly seperated, encryption works, and fireware is as at leas as hard to get in as Qubes alows. Im not sure if the computer matters for the last Point or dose it? Or will this protection aginst hacking the firewar that Qubes provides work on an any computer on the list at least?
I had no ider that the HP Folio had sutch low preformance! Apparently i5 can be better than i7! Im might acturly have bought one for Windows.
I have bin considering geting a more expensive computer (since I need a new one any way)such as HP Folio and using two separate hard drives one with windows and one with Qubes and that way geting more value. But now as I have learned more I have reconsidered so at this Point I plan on getting a less expensive compute for qubes only.
A this Point Im leaning towards HP Elitebook 2170p with i7 and its one the list as well so guse it will work. It only has 4 gigabyte of ram however but it seams to be very easy to upgrade all Elite Books any way.