* One of the biggest selling points of Ryzen 6000 is the chip's USB4 support, but looks like the Pangolin won't have it. It also only has 1 USB-C port, which is a bit of a headscratcher in 2023. Does it support PD even? (Not mentioned)
* 16:9 FHD display (no brightness specified) - high refresh is nice, but again, weird that it's not 16:10 in 2023 and IMO, QHD would be better for a 15-16" display.
* soldered memory (32GB at least)
* Numpad keyboard. This will be a positive for some, but I'm in the centered keyboard camp
* Only a 70Wh battery and still not so light (1.8kg)
While it's running an older chip, if you're not going to have USB4/TB4, and the points I listed are important, I think the Tuxedo Pulse 15 Gen2 is still a better 15" option atm (5700U chip, but lighter, bigger battery, better (still 16:9) display, Ethernet, SODIMM slots). There are some Ubuntu certified ThinkPads that are an option too (they have Ryzen 6000U chips but also no USB4), although almost all the models are w/ soldered RAM on ThinkPads now, which is a bummer.
If you want USB4 on AMD, the best (Linux friendly) options right now are probably the Asus G14 GA402 or a ThinkPad Z16. The HP EliteBook G9s are an option as well, although you need Linux 6.0+ to fix a broken HP BIOS update (HP support is also aggressively indifferent to Linux users) and I've seen lots of complaints about the fan curve and the SureView displays so I'm hesitant to recommend it...
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.
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.
It's been a struggle to find a 1440 AMD laptop, I have one that I'm happy with for travel. (Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Carbon Gen 6)
I also don't want it to be too big, for travel, so numpad is out for me.
The Slim 7 feels like a toy, but it's actually just very, very light, and made of plastic. It creeks, yes, but it's very, very light. This is more important to me when it's on my back, than being out of metal.
1. https://rog.asus.com/laptops/rog-zephyrus/rog-zephyrus-g14-2...
I'm also not into numpads on laptops. Not that they aren't useful sometimes, but the they push the alpha cluster and trackpad off-center which is uncomfortable to type on which is hard to justify with how little I personally need one — a standalone numpad that I pull out of a drawer during tax season or whenever makes a lot more sense. Ultimately I think 15"+ laptops should offer keyboard options with and without numpads.
I have the G2 with the 5850U and it performs very well.
21:9 is the popular ultra-widescreen option. 16:9 is the popular regular option. Acting like 16:10 is the direction the industry is going is just bizarre.
The industry is moving to 16:10…
The last 3 laptops I bought are all 16:10. The 2022 Dell XPS 15 I got last year is 16:10.
It’s bizarre you’re unaware the industry is moving in this direction…
I read it to be about people who bought AMD-only laptops from System76, needing to return them to System76 for some reason.
I thought there were factory problems, a page with information about product returns, and possibly a story around that.
E.g. "System76 AMD-Only Laptop, Returns"
"System76 brings back AMD-only laptop" would be an extremely clear way to phrase the title. I'm not even sure the "only" is even that helpful; it could probably just be "AMD laptop".
> Display 15.6″ 1920×1080 FHD, Matte Finish, 144 Hz
But, I agree that a higher resolution would be nice, and if I'm being completely honest... I would want OLED. Tons of affordable OLED laptops have come to market over the past year.
Standard 1080p only looks good for English alphabets. Complex Chinese characters like `國` looks blurry(or even s**tty) on that resolution. Reading chinese charaters on a hidpi monitor is really a much better experience.
I really like AMD on the notebook. Compared to my 4 year old Oryx pro (intel 8th gen), which had poor battery life (esp when using the Nvidia graphics) and required a reboot initially if I wanted to switch to intel graphics. This one is much nicer, but it won't game nearly as well as one with dedicated graphics.
So, please, its hard to call your product "premium" if its screen is worse than a bottom of the barrel tablet.
Because they're cheaper.
>My laptop has a 16:9 that looks worse, and has lower resolution despite the machine costing 6x as much.
Right, so your laptop mfgr spent less money on the screen, charged more money, and got a higher profit margin -> win! This lets their execs get bigger bonuses so they can buy better yachts. What's not to like here?
I like 16x9. What do you want instead?
MS Surface Books are 3:2 for example (2256 x 1504 on 13,5" / 2496 x 1664 on 15"), or some Thinkpad X1 models are 4:3 (probably just the Fold?). The Framework laptop is also 3:2 (2256 x 1504 on 13,5")
Maybe in time that will change, but that's just how Linux is for now.
since 13months ago, HP sells a elite book G9 for 2k, which have the best combo configuration at, gasp, wallmart for 800... eigth hundred dollars.
same cpu, but PRO version. metal and plastic body. scissor waterproof keyboard. usb c charging (system76 is barrel), 2x sodimm ram slots (system76 is soldered, note thay amd zen3+ pro mighty allow ECC ram in a laptop for the first time! so i want slots), the battery have 18Wh less, but it is also 20pct ligther. and all hardware is fully supported with 5.8+ kernel.
I always try to buy from linux-first-vendors, but I still deal with a librem13 that have sevral keys fail on their keyboard and support is ghosting me. even had to super-glue the hinge latelly. so awful :(
I have the older g8. It worked perfectly out of the box on linux since new. Recently, windows started being able to use the webcam, too.
But beware the screen. It's absurdly bad. I'd say it's okish for $800. For 2000, it's a bad joke. Some models only have 6-bit screens (at least those have an excuse for being horrible).
The fan is sometimes noisy, too. It seems like it's somewhat off-balance, ever since it was new.
If anyone from System76 is here, I am currently looking for a new laptop and will not be buying a System76 laptop based entirely upon the giant logo on them. I don't want to put a skin, a cover or stickers over my laptop. My preference would be no logo at all but that seems to be impossible. If you are compelled to use me for free advertising post purchase, at least make it somewhat discreet.
This Reddit thread seems to agree with me that the stickers can be removed, albeit about a different model:
https://old.reddit.com/r/System76/comments/ge0mqz/lemur_pro_...
Looks like it has the same kind of lettering as mine, though.
A bulletproof, "Just Works" Linux laptop would have its place even with System76's other problems. But they trail behind the likes of Lenovo even on their supposed strong suit.
I'm using a Macbook personally, but this stuff is so sick. To be honest, I never really imagined the future as using Windows + Linux + MacOS without thinking that much about the platform, but about the only thing that sticks out to me is that the command line on Windows is rubbish. Otherwise, it feels very naturally normal to me as I switch between platforms. The web has really changed things.
Only thing that surprises me are the screens. I thought the high res screens like in the Macbook were commonplace now.
I like yori when in a DOS mood.
Hard no from many people including myself. It will be a cold day in hell before I give Microsoft any more of my money or personal information after the abuses they've done to me, my information, and my purchases.
When I look at AMD's new mobile lineup for 2023, and I didn't notice anything "new" in the U-series power profile (15 watts tdp). I'd be more than happy with a 6800U in linux friendly packaging.
Let me know if you think there's a specific 7000 series chip I've overlooked.
P.S: about the system 76 teaser itself, the static picture used as a "before and after" comparison for 60hz display vs 144 hz display is comedic gold.
The 7040 series, which is Zen 4 & RDNA 3 (so not a Rembrandt refresh) should be available for "thin and light" laptops.
Oh and then be ready for months of firmware and kernel patches until the chip is actually usable as a daily driver on Linux.
Getting a 6000 series CPU now that the kinks have been ironed out is not a bad idea.
Come on...
I filed a support ticket asking for help, and they told me they only support Ubuntu and Pop. On one hand, I understand having service desk limits, but their garbage UEFI and lack of support left me no choice but to return the laptop. In fact, I thought this article was going to be about people returning laptops to System76!
I really hope they get their game together and make a pre-boot system that can handle non-Ububtu stuff easily. The previous System76 I had was able to handle a Debian install just fine.
I agree it's frustrating they don't support booting other operating systems, but please be fair or provide some more evidence before you call some software "garbage"
I won't be replacing my Galago Pro with another System76 product when that day finally comes.
There is excellent support for all hardware on Linux (and even a ICC profile) in [2]. I run System76's pop!_OS on it. Everything works dandy. The machine is a beast.
It has a 3.2k (!) res screen. Only 400nits but I find that's plenty for the lighting conditions I use it under. The case is milled from dark alluminum and is frequently mistaken for a macbook. The build quality is top.
It's a Ryzen 6800H APU with built in Radeon and an NVIDIA GTX2050. It has 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD.
It's the first non-mac I bought in a decade after getting disappointed with macOS in recent years.
The only thing that isn't on par is the touchpad on Linux. On Windows it's very close so this is definitely a config issue. I may just have to spend some time with settings.
[1] https://www.xiaomihome.global/xiaomi-laptops/xiaomi-redmiboo...
Kubuntu was totally fine. I always use around 1.5x scaling on this res/ppi.
Integer scaling works fine (and is sharp) on both desktops.
There are no patches in this repo but actual driver kernel modules. I don't think any of them have been mainlined but I may be wrong. Whenever I update the kernel, I run a single script from that repo. But I don't update kernels unless there is good reason for my particular hardware.
I used the 5.17 kernel series until two weeks ago and switched to 6 since then. Everything works perfectly fine.
Feel free to PM me for any other questions about this machine.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2K_resolution
> Another resolution that is often referred to as 2K is 2560 × 1440 (1440p) however that is a common mistake in marketing[12] and is called QHD by the DCI.
It is a mistake to refer to 2560x1440 as 2K.
People calling 1080p "2K" is a pet peeve of mine. 2.5K is a more appropriate name for 2560x1440, if you want to use that naming convention, but I think just saying 1440p is simpler.
I'm ready to make the leap into a Linux desktop environment just for the sake of stability but I want well supported hardware. Is System 76 a good option? The advice that makes sense to me is to "use what the devs use". Does an AMD-only System 76 check that box?
It's a Zen3+ with embedded RDNA2 graphics.
Not the state of the art as of CES announcements, but I'd happily get a laptop with one of these if I needed a laptop right now.
It's good System76 is offering such an option, because it makes them a candidate.
I would not currently consider a laptop that's based on Intel or NVIDIA hardware, due to vastly inferior performance/watt and lack of open documentation, respectively.
System76 if you here can you switch chassis :) ?
I'm never, ever buying a laptop with full-height horizontal keys but half-height vertical keys.
Operating System: Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS or Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 7 6800U: 2.7 up to 4.7 GHz - 8 Cores - 16 Threads
Graphics: AMD Radeon™ 680M
Display 15.6″ 1920×1080 FHD, Matte Finish, 144 Hz
Memory: 32 GB LPDDR5 @ 6400 MHz
Storage: 2 x M.2 SSD(PCIe NVMe). Up to 16TB total.
Expansion: 3 × USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, SD Card Reader
Input: Multitouch Clickpad, Single-Color Backlit US QWERTY Keyboard
Keyboard wise it's great! a 15 inch laptop without a numpad is a waste of potential, as a numpad is immensely helpful when doing any sort of finance work. I definitely would not buy a laptop this big without one. Still some more information non the keyboard layouts available would be nice.
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
Video Ports: HDMI 2.0, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C w/ DisplayPort
Audio: Stereo dual-driver full-range speakers, 1× Headphone/Microphone Combo
Camera: 1.0MP 720p HD Webcam
Security: Kensington® Lock, Hardware Camera Kill Switch
Battery: Li-Ion - 70 Wh
Charger: 65 W, AC-in 100–240 V, 50–60 Hz
Overall: at least it's guaranteed to run Linux... but from the points I raised above I guess you can see there is no point for me to get excited about this model in particular. Price wise it's going to be over the "expensive" threshold anyway, so might as well find something that ticks most checkboxes. Unless, of course I'm desperate for a new machine, in which case I could settle for this for a while.
I'm more hopeful for this vendor instead for higher quality devices: https://starlabs.systems/pages/starfighter
Finally bit the bullet on got a Macbook Pro 14" instead...
I don't really care if they are going team red again. I'll be trying a different manufacturer next time.
I can't understand why I can't get a reasonably good priced laptop with just Linux that doesn't match the video resolution of a MBP.
But the build quality is uniformly worse. And the screen... it's an atrocity. You don't have to compare it to an MBP (I only have an old 2013 one, and it still wipes the floor with it). Even compared to an older XPS (7th gen intel), it's horrible.
All this to say that if you care about Linux and only Linux, System76 could be a good choice. But if you need to use Windows at all, I would steer clear of S76 until their Windows support is a little better (also YMMV - I've just had so many issues with Windows on a galp5, but that might not be the case with other models).
But it really underscores the point that Linux and Windows hardware really are different.
Dimensions 14.59″ × 9.76″ × 0.71″ (37.06 × 24.79 × 1.80 cm)
Weight 3.95 lbs (1.79kg)Even a budget brand like Acer is releasing Ryzen 7000 chipsets and pairing it with higher resolution OLED screens, probably will be cheaper as well...
https://www.anandtech.com/show/18718/amd-2023-ryzen-mobile-7...
(and honestly, Zen 3 and RDNA 2 are damn good anyway)
I purchased a Thelio Mira awhile back and have been happier with it than any other PC/laptop I've owned before.
The big value add that System76 is having a Linux desktop that is guaranteed to just work out of the box the same way you would expect and Apple machine to work out of the box. In fact, I've probably had less issues with this machine out of the box than any new macbooks I've had in the past few years.
I've built plenty of my own PCs before and run linux as my primary desktop multiple times, and my Thelio is a wildly better experience than in the past. The build quality is excellent and for the first time I can really use Linux as my primary desktop with no problems.
Building a PC yourself is always going to be cheaper, and for many people that's the preferred path anyway. The point I'm at in my life I would much rather pay a premium to not have to worry about that at all (especially when it comes to hardware on linux).
If anyone is look for a "just works" linux PC, I've found system76 to be a great experience.
Both actually, the markup is extremely high on their stuff if you try to get a gaming rig from them.
I built all my PCs since I was 13, and I can say it's not as involved as people think. You really kinda screw in the motherboard, pop in a cpu, and a graphics card/ssd (or if you have no need for a discrete GPU and you get one of those CPUs with decent integrated graphics, you are basically only popping in a CPU). There is like two wires that go from your PSU to mobo at best. The thing is pc hardware prices are already absurd since Covid, so when you add in this extra markup on labor, you are just getting something that's way beyond normal prices. You might look at a $1600 price tag and scoff at it as nothing, but its really a $800 dollar machine with all this extra stuff added or marked up. I've seen people look at $2000 pre built machines and just think they are crazy for buying at that price. It's like ... I don't even think its a money thing, it's like a scammy thing. Imagine if I show up and sell you a iPhone 10 at iphone 14 prices. It's the principle of the matter.
You know, there are some afternoons where I don't know what to do with myself. Setting up/building a PC is an hour for me. If it's new to you, it might be an afternoons worth of work. It's not an endless multi day fiasco, I promise.
For me, buying from an upstream-oriented Linux hardware vendor is about getting an assurance that on any distro newer than the hardware, everything will just work. I always plan to perform an installation because I have distro preferences.
With System76, a stable, fast, open-source BIOS is also part of the value proposition.
Personally, I'd never get an NVIDIA laptop again, 'supported' or not. At the end of the day, NVIDIA's kernel module will constrain what kernel versions you can use regardless of what any downstream vendor does. That means possible version conflicts with other out-of-tree kernel modules that I actually want, like ZoL.
In general, how serious are these driver compatibility concerns for modern laptop hardware?
Try customizing an Apple product. It's also wildly overpriced.
System76 provides top-tier support. That alone is expensive.
Compare to this instead:
https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/p/laptops/yoga/yoga-2-in-1-seri...
They also have a list of which of their laptops they tested with Linux:
https://support.lenovo.com/pl/en/solutions/pd031426
Again, System76 doesn't have a price yet for their Ryzen 7 laptop so I can't say if this Lenovo is overpriced in comparison. Maybe, maybe not, but given this Lenovo price, I'm pretty sure System76 ain't going below $2000.
Compare to almost literally any other laptop, where uttering the word "linux" gets you nothing more than a voided warranty and a strong YOYOMF, and some fraction of customers will see value in System76's approach.
Pixel for pixel, watt for watt, you could do better elsewhere. But only with a Windows preload and jumping through hoops if you ever have a hardware failure and have to reinstall the preload to run some awful diagnostics before getting an RMA, for instance. Awful experiences like that really take away from the "value" of a cheaper machine, if your time is worth money, as I suspect it is.
NVIDIA + Coreboot is not a linux-first experience by any stretch of the imagination. Unless you want to be stuck on POP OS for forever.
Excuse me?! I will never buy a laptop without a numpad! I use numpads every day!
The better question is why is anyone still squeezing a useless touchpad onto laptops???
But let's assume you really do need a numpad for your work or whatever. Wouldn't you rather have one that was... full sized? And wouldn't you rather the keyboard be centered on the laptop, so you can actually use it on a lap?