Dear fellow linux users,
I’m comming to you for help. One of my family members recently got fed up with windows bloatware and I managed to get them ready for a switch to Linux. This person’s daily driver is a hybrid PC/tablet machine ( Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 510-12IKB ).
I booted a Linux Mint live usb session to check hardware compatibility and almost everything is working fine. The only exception is the virtual keyboard display, when physical keyboard is disconnected. It never appears. Would a full install with third party stuff fix the issue ? This is a blocker for the person, and I’m wondering if any of you have experience with switching on a same model, and would advise any distro that comes with full support of the hybrid PC/tablet hardware.
I tried to look for answers and non of the ones I find are recent enough. Some mention hardware compatibility issues (wifi, camera) that have been resolved and are working according my live session test.
try it with a live USB with Gnome as it is way more touch friendly. Fedora latest recommended because the live USB has a Wayland session (older versions default to X11 and a buncha touch and transition features are Wayland-only).
as to seamless transition, no DE on linux is there yet. Gnome is way better than it was a year or two ago in that regard, but flakyness is still present, expecting the polish and reliability of Android or iPadOS isn’t realistic.
I used to have a Yoga, and when I put it in tablet mode I had a hotkey assigned that I could press to pull up Gnome’s built in on screen keyboard. Not as slick, but it worked
I use Mint on a Surface tablet with detachable keyboard. When I detach the keyboard no virtual one appears automatically, which I prefer. If I need a keyboard there is a quick menubar icon that brings one up. I cant remember if it loaded itself there by default or if I went into settings to make the virtual keyboard icon always in the status bar, but that’s how I manage it.
Oh, I didn’t know that, thanks a lot
The keyboard icon always in the system tray may have been an accessibility setting. I honestly don’t remember anymore.
Indeed, was there and after checking it, everything works as good as windows support, so perfect ! Just need to disable RST and install Mint now :)
Mint is either Ubuntu or Debian based. I’ve used a touchscreen laptop with both, and they just worked.
I used a lenovo x380 yoga with Fedora. I seldom used it in tablet form, but the keyboard appeared when swiping up from the bottom in GNOME. I did not like it as well as the windows one. I tried KDE as well, I had a better experience there as there are more config options for it. As for drivers and sensors like for the hinge positions, wacom touch stuff all just worked.
Thank you for the suggestion !