4 ms·

I’m holding out hope on System76 designing truly custom hardware and we reach the fabled “MacBook of Linux” someday. As of now their Clevo rebadges don’t appeal

I’m holding out hope on System76 designing truly custom hardware and we reach the fabled “MacBook of Linux” someday. As of now their Clevo rebadges don’t appeal to me, though their “custom” desktops do.

Entinel 4y ago
I think Framework is the closest thing to that.
- doublepg23 4y ago
  It’s idealistic but I do like System76’s Linux first approach.
  - lhl 4y ago
    While the Framework maybe isn't 100% Linux first, Linux is definitely treated as a "first class citizen": https://frame.work/linux https://frame.work/linux with active (dedicated) first party support: https://community.frame.work/tag/linux https://community.frame.work/tag/linux (Matt Hartley, the new Linux Support Lead was formerly providing technical support at System76) I ended up going with a Framework last year as an upgrade since I liked the display (3:2 HiDPI 400nit+ 13.5") and form upgradability, but also because the official Framework forums was by far the best Linux laptop forum I've seen online. As long as you can deal w/ 5-6h of battery life, I can highly recommend it as one of the best Linux ultraportable laptops (although I'm really hoping that there's a Ryzen 7040 motherboard upgrade coming...). My review/notes on the 12th Gen Framework w/ Arch Linux: https://github.com/lhl/linuxlaptops/wiki/2022-Framework-Laptop-DIY-Edition-12th-Gen-Intel-Batch-1 https://github.com/lhl/linuxlaptops/wiki/2022-Framework-Lapt...
deaddodo 4y ago
I mean, it wouldn't even be hard for them to partner with someone like ASUS, Acer, etc to produce semi-custom hardware. The strict Clevo-based hardware will always turn me away from buying from them when I can get multiple AMD 6000-based laptops from Asus that run Linux fine (after a wifi-card swap, the MediaTek's they use are useless); and have superior build qualities.
- doublepg23 4y ago
  They did partner with HP I think.
  - lighttower 4y ago
    why don't they get rid of DC charging? two USB-C ports is what I want!
    - aesh2Xa1 4y ago
      Did you not bother to look at the product page before commenting? https://us.starlabs.systems/pages/starfighter-specification https://us.starlabs.systems/pages/starfighter-specification https://us.starlabs.systems/pages/starfighter https://us.starlabs.systems/pages/starfighter In fact, it has two USB C ports, and both of those are USB 4 and Thunderbolt 4 and having DisplayPort Alt Mode. They also have three USB A ports (3.2 Gen 1), a MicroSD slot, a 3.5mm jack port, and an HDMI port. There is even a photo with both USB C ports shown. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2059/5897/files/StarFighter-11x2000.png?format=webp&v=1665658893&width=1875 https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2059/5897/files/StarFighte... What's more, even the charger supports both USB C and DC jack cables interchangeably. You just chose either cable type in configuration, or you buy both cables. https://us.starlabs.systems/collections/power-cables https://us.starlabs.systems/collections/power-cables
      - lighttower 4y ago
        I was referring to the StarBook, the 14" version https://starlabs.systems/pages/starbook https://starlabs.systems/pages/starbook
  - lhl 4y ago
    The HP Dev One is what you're thinking of: https://hpdevone.com/ https://hpdevone.com/ - it's a well reviewed developer laptop that comes w/ Pop!_OS preloaded and is very reasonably price - Ryzen 5850U (Zen3) - basically a rejiggered EliteBook 845 G8 w/ full Linux support (System76 has a repo w/ hardware support that can be used for fan speed and additional battery info: https://github.com/pop-os/hp-vendor https://github.com/pop-os/hp-vendor). It's US-only and uses a SureView display (but has a 30-day return policy), so worth checking out for anyone in the market I think...
lhl 4y ago
Star Labs is making what you're looking for with their StarFighter laptop, although you'll be paying MacBook Pro like pricing for it (and delivery would be in March at the earliest): https://us.starlabs.systems/pages/starfighter https://us.starlabs.systems/pages/starfighter
- nortonham 4y ago
  starblabs look great. Great specs, coreboot, support for many linux distros....but I'm still waiting on my starbook mk VI since about last sping. It's frustrating, but I know they've had problems in the supply chain. I'm happy to support a company like that obviously, but it's still frustrating.
- happymellon 4y ago
  This does look amazing. System76 should work with these guys as they are doing what System76 should be doing with their laptops.
- lighttower 4y ago
  I wish they'd get rid of the DC charging jack. I'd rather have 2 USB C ports
  - xearl 4y ago
    they (starlabs) charge via usb-c and have two usb-c ports.
- Fnoord 4y ago
  No magsafe. 5 years of updates is lower than macOS (I am on 7 on my MBP 2015). The recent MBPs sport 5 nm ARM and MiniLED display. Looks like they do a lot of things right though.
  - thrtythreeforty 4y ago
    Magsafe is patented and will be for a while. Don't hold out too much hope.
whateveracct 4y ago
The Thelio is quite nice
dirkg 4y ago
There will never be a MacBook of Linux or Windows unless the OS is optimized as much as MacOS is to the underlying hardware. Windows is optimized to a high degree and still cannot match the standby/resume times or battery life of MacOS, and thats without M1. Linux is not even in the same ballpark. System76 apply some tweaks but its still Ubuntu and as a desktop OS its lacking in many areas.

Entinel 4y ago

I think Framework is the closest thing to that.

doublepg23 4y ago
It’s idealistic but I do like System76’s Linux first approach.
- lhl 4y ago
  While the Framework maybe isn't 100% Linux first, Linux is definitely treated as a "first class citizen": https://frame.work/linux https://frame.work/linux with active (dedicated) first party support: https://community.frame.work/tag/linux https://community.frame.work/tag/linux (Matt Hartley, the new Linux Support Lead was formerly providing technical support at System76) I ended up going with a Framework last year as an upgrade since I liked the display (3:2 HiDPI 400nit+ 13.5") and form upgradability, but also because the official Framework forums was by far the best Linux laptop forum I've seen online. As long as you can deal w/ 5-6h of battery life, I can highly recommend it as one of the best Linux ultraportable laptops (although I'm really hoping that there's a Ryzen 7040 motherboard upgrade coming...). My review/notes on the 12th Gen Framework w/ Arch Linux: https://github.com/lhl/linuxlaptops/wiki/2022-Framework-Laptop-DIY-Edition-12th-Gen-Intel-Batch-1 https://github.com/lhl/linuxlaptops/wiki/2022-Framework-Lapt...

deaddodo 4y ago

I mean, it wouldn't even be hard for them to partner with someone like ASUS, Acer, etc to produce semi-custom hardware. The strict Clevo-based hardware will always turn me away from buying from them when I can get multiple AMD 6000-based laptops from Asus that run Linux fine (after a wifi-card swap, the MediaTek's they use are useless); and have superior build qualities.

doublepg23 4y ago
They did partner with HP I think.
- lighttower 4y ago
  why don't they get rid of DC charging? two USB-C ports is what I want!
  - aesh2Xa1 4y ago
    Did you not bother to look at the product page before commenting? https://us.starlabs.systems/pages/starfighter-specification https://us.starlabs.systems/pages/starfighter-specification https://us.starlabs.systems/pages/starfighter https://us.starlabs.systems/pages/starfighter In fact, it has two USB C ports, and both of those are USB 4 and Thunderbolt 4 and having DisplayPort Alt Mode. They also have three USB A ports (3.2 Gen 1), a MicroSD slot, a 3.5mm jack port, and an HDMI port. There is even a photo with both USB C ports shown. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2059/5897/files/StarFighter-11x2000.png?format=webp&v=1665658893&width=1875 https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2059/5897/files/StarFighte... What's more, even the charger supports both USB C and DC jack cables interchangeably. You just chose either cable type in configuration, or you buy both cables. https://us.starlabs.systems/collections/power-cables https://us.starlabs.systems/collections/power-cables
    - lighttower 4y ago
      I was referring to the StarBook, the 14" version https://starlabs.systems/pages/starbook https://starlabs.systems/pages/starbook
- lhl 4y ago
  The HP Dev One is what you're thinking of: https://hpdevone.com/ https://hpdevone.com/ - it's a well reviewed developer laptop that comes w/ Pop!_OS preloaded and is very reasonably price - Ryzen 5850U (Zen3) - basically a rejiggered EliteBook 845 G8 w/ full Linux support (System76 has a repo w/ hardware support that can be used for fan speed and additional battery info: https://github.com/pop-os/hp-vendor https://github.com/pop-os/hp-vendor). It's US-only and uses a SureView display (but has a 30-day return policy), so worth checking out for anyone in the market I think...

lhl 4y ago

Star Labs is making what you're looking for with their StarFighter laptop, although you'll be paying MacBook Pro like pricing for it (and delivery would be in March at the earliest): https://us.starlabs.systems/pages/starfighter https://us.starlabs.systems/pages/starfighter

nortonham 4y ago
starblabs look great. Great specs, coreboot, support for many linux distros....but I'm still waiting on my starbook mk VI since about last sping. It's frustrating, but I know they've had problems in the supply chain. I'm happy to support a company like that obviously, but it's still frustrating.
happymellon 4y ago
This does look amazing. System76 should work with these guys as they are doing what System76 should be doing with their laptops.
lighttower 4y ago
I wish they'd get rid of the DC charging jack. I'd rather have 2 USB C ports
- xearl 4y ago
  they (starlabs) charge via usb-c and have two usb-c ports.
Fnoord 4y ago
No magsafe. 5 years of updates is lower than macOS (I am on 7 on my MBP 2015). The recent MBPs sport 5 nm ARM and MiniLED display. Looks like they do a lot of things right though.
- thrtythreeforty 4y ago
  Magsafe is patented and will be for a while. Don't hold out too much hope.

whateveracct 4y ago

The Thelio is quite nice

dirkg 4y ago

There will never be a MacBook of Linux or Windows unless the OS is optimized as much as MacOS is to the underlying hardware. Windows is optimized to a high degree and still cannot match the standby/resume times or battery life of MacOS, and thats without M1. Linux is not even in the same ballpark. System76 apply some tweaks but its still Ubuntu and as a desktop OS its lacking in many areas.