Ask HN: Is anyone using Linux on the 2020 Thinkpad X1 Fold?

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How good is the pen input, display management when in different folding angles..etc

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Check out the archwiki for information about what hardware works. I assumed you mean the Gen 8 X1:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Lenovo_ThinkPad_X1_Carb...

You can find a lot of other laptops there and see what works in what way.

The X1 fold is a different device [1]. Its the first foldable in the thinkpad line.

[1] https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-x1/X1...

Oh dang it's out!

Honestly, nothing about this device actually makes sense for me. Typing would probably be a nightmare on the thing even with the (extra) hardware keyboard overlay. I'll bet getting Linux going on it would be basically impossible due to the bleeding edge, proprietary hardware. Compared to my X1 it's fairly low power. Limited to 8GB of memory. Only okay battery life. Fairly sure it's thicker than my X1.

And yet... for reasons I can't explain... I kinda want one.

I would use an external mechanical keyboard when at desk. I am mainly drawn to having a decent size portable monitor.

Maybe you kinda want one due the large monitor? Or is it the pen input that makes you drawn to it?

Try querying/checking on the relevant subreddits, especially /r/thinkpad.

Thank you! I will put in a query in those thinkpad rabbit holes

Have you tried booting into Ubuntu from a USB stick?

If you are fine with the idea, some are not, I would recommend using Windows and WSL2.

I think this would be a compromise I am not willing to make

I'm in the same camp. If you get it working well with any distro, please post to r/thinkpad with details.

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