The reason these look similar to System76 is because they are the exact same Clevo chassis. The bezels are awful, but I give credit to System76 and Station X and any other that works to sell and maintain Linux machines.
My next Linux laptop may be from one of these companies if they can work with Clevo to stop making the screen bezels so horrendously large.
Station X was the wartime codename for the Bletchley Park facility where (amongst others) Alan Turing worked on breaking German Enigma-enciphered traffic and Tommy Flowers built the Colossus electronic calculator for breaking encrypted teleprinter codes (Geheimscriber).
All the laptops are named after WW2-era fighter planes. The desktop is named after a long-range wartime strategic bomber.
A 17" laptop is great for working from the couch, and that's what I use it for. It's not so great as an actual portable computer, so I've coupled it with an 11" that I carry with me for meetings etc...
Having a big screen is so nice. The 17” MacBook Pro is the second best computer I ever had, after my current Thinkpad T530. If I had to buy a new computer today (hopefully not, as my Thinkpad is still going strong at five years old), I’d probably go for the P70.
I don’t mind having a big and heavy laptop though. I carry it in a backpack, and a few pounds more or less on my back is pretty insignificant.
Price-wise they seem quite competitive on paper. I'm curious as to what the build quality & peripherals are like. In my experience the real difference between a regular and top-of-the-line laptop is in the small things.
They're also lacking a 4k laptop, which I would highly recommend to anyone used to working on the road. (or who has to show of work to clients in person).
Also the slight irony of “We create drop-dead gorgeous machines - designed and customised to run Linux - and only Linux” next to a photo of a machine with a Windows key.
Regarding "End next to up key", it's the same as on the Carbon X1 which to be honest, is kind of comfortable. I'm using the arrow keys to scroll on pages when reading, and when I want to skip, the keys for that is right next to it.
Product customization screen has multiple keyboard layouts; "USA English" is not the default, and probably not what's in the shots (though I'm not sure where you can see what it does look like)...
The way to attract Linux users is to tempt them away from their Thinkpads. The way to do that is to offer a laptop with a trackpoint, this little red dot:
The only laptop I would consider upgrading to from my Thinkpad X220 would either be a modern Thinkpad x270 (just for a hardware upgrade because I like the form factor) or to something that provides a similar keyboard, docking, and modern-ish hardware.
Most of my work happens over SSH, my laptop is currently fast enough for Netflix, email, and web browsing. I'm capped at 2 1920x1080 monitors but this is livable.
I think if someone took the old X220 generation Thinkpads, upgraded the internals, and kept the keyboard and docking that they would sell like hotcakes.
I recently got an x62 and it's great, although you must put some effort into making linux work smoothly on it and making the screen brighter. But all in all I am extremely happy with it.
1. "Beautiful machines" is the first point being made. This is superficial.
2. "All distros welcome". Turns out that installing a distro is the least of my concerns when it comes to a laptop.
3. The first thing you notice is this video with the multiethnic group of people from which one of them is at the front as well as happier/dancing. This is inconsistent and weird. What is the message being communicated with this? How is it relevant? Sell me a goddamn laptop instead. Put a picture of a laptop or something.
In order to be constructive, what I would rather emphasize is: laptops are hardware. The intended audience here are tech enthusiasts. I would rather speak about hardware specs, or something distinctive about the hardware, compatibility, the ergonomics... post a benchmark. Something that is actually better than "beautiful laptops" and a awkward video. This is common sense.
This is how a system is sold: https://www.apple.com/imac-pro/ . Note: I do not own one and I am not affiliated with that company, just making a point.
Then... just a reminder: most laptops are potentially a Linux laptop.
> Turns out that installing a distro is the least of my concerns when it comes to a laptop.
Man, how times have changed. Linux working half-decently on a laptop used to be the holy grail of opensource fans. Nowadays, thanks to Ubuntu and friends, chances are that most of it will just work, regardless of hardware. This is a massive achievement and it's not really as promoted as it should be.
Don't want to sound rude but: "created"? Or just resold whatever Compal/Clevo are building with hand picked some components like WiFi card that happen to have drivers in Linux kernel?
I think they mean "only designed and customized for Linux", not that it can't run other stuff. Essentially the same as 99% of laptops, except for Linux instead of Windows :)
On the "free and open" front, their "B-29 Superfortress" linux desktop only has options for Nvidia graphics cards. Would have been nice to see some AMD options in support for their open source work.
If Linux people are known for anything it's their love of post-it notes on the side of their screen /s. But yeah. If I wanted a "gorgeous Linux laptop" I would buy a Dell XPS 13". Dell actually puts some work into making their own hardware and they upstream drivers and other stuff so the XPS actually works pretty well with Linux.
Seriously I wonder why not this? I understand if you're looking for a portable workstation or something of that performance why not... but for an ultra-portable little dev machine. And it would be far cheaper, too, no?
(I've liked what System76 has done, but even then I probably wouldn't spring for the Galago as opposed cheaper Chromebook unless I were jumping up to one of their other workhorses)
First thing I noticed on these pictures, was the ugly sticker left side underneath the keyboard. Sorry, but such trifles got nothing to do with gorgeous. Also, black camera frame, huge display bezel, and non-centered touchpads are, imho, a nogo if you wanna call it gorgeous.
I prefer the touchpad not to be in centre. It does not make any sense. It's like putting your mouse in the middle of your desk, instead of the right or left where you can actually hold it properly.
I had been planning to replace my faithful 5yr old Samsung Ultrabook with a Dell XPS. But I like the idea of buying from a UK supplier based in Bletchley Park and using a lot of WWII branding. I do need a win32 dev env, but I guess I could run Windows inside a VM.
Yeah tbh that's the only thing that puts me off a bit. War is war, I'd rather not glorify it; it might be a necessary evil on occasions, but I'd rather not be reminded of that every day. Then again, I'm not British.
Still, I would expect the subset of potential buyers for geeky machines not to massively overlap the nationalistic subset of the British population, so to me it looks like poor marketing overall.
"By Linux nerds for Linux nerds." and all the people in the picture are guys with glasses a couple of man from different nationalities. Thanks for the stereotype. Women in tech are going to be very proud of this image.
As a woman in tech (20+ years), I can say this definitely rankled with me. 2005 called and wants its metrosexual dudebro brogrammer stock photographs back.
No, but I can tell they're just rebranded Clevo builds.
These machines have very decent specs and are easy to service and upgrade, but at the cost a of very low quality build with regards to the laptop case itself.
There are plenty of other brands that offer the same kind of Clevo laptops with Linux, the best known of which is system76.
Basically, these are just the same Clevo machines you can buy with any Clevo reseller, but with Linux installed for marketing differentiation, and a significant mark up in pricing.
I read that and came to say the same. Not sure if this is because of Linux power management or the hardware itself. Either way I don't consider any laptop with "up to 5 hours" battery life an option anymore. I keep laptops longer and batteries degrade over the years.
[+] [-] kkarp|8 years ago|reply
Check the right side of this laptop: https://stationx.rocks/products/spitfire
and compare with Galago pro: https://system76.com/laptops/galago
sides: https://screenshots.firefox.com/0I2YsDmIvbKuYbr3/stationx.ro... and https://d1vhcvzji58n1j.cloudfront.net/assets/products/galp3/...
and I've seen this model at least on two other resellers.
[+] [-] jrimbault|8 years ago|reply
https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/5umefi/system76_refr...
[+] [-] babaganoosh89|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ulkesh|8 years ago|reply
My next Linux laptop may be from one of these companies if they can work with Clevo to stop making the screen bezels so horrendously large.
[+] [-] qubex|8 years ago|reply
Station X was the wartime codename for the Bletchley Park facility where (amongst others) Alan Turing worked on breaking German Enigma-enciphered traffic and Tommy Flowers built the Colossus electronic calculator for breaking encrypted teleprinter codes (Geheimscriber).
All the laptops are named after WW2-era fighter planes. The desktop is named after a long-range wartime strategic bomber.
[+] [-] caterama|8 years ago|reply
I got the 17" Kudu for work. Honestly, I'm now aware that a 17" screen on a laptop is just too impractically big, but the hardware has been great.
[+] [-] alex_duf|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] vidarh|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] wildmusings|8 years ago|reply
I don’t mind having a big and heavy laptop though. I carry it in a backpack, and a few pounds more or less on my back is pretty insignificant.
[+] [-] brightball|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] edent|8 years ago|reply
All I want from my next laptop is to be powered via USB-C. I'm sick of dragging around multiple different chargers for my gadgets.
[+] [-] larelogio|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Coding_Cat|8 years ago|reply
They're also lacking a 4k laptop, which I would highly recommend to anyone used to working on the road. (or who has to show of work to clients in person).
[+] [-] rplnt|8 years ago|reply
Another issue I have is with the spacing between F keys. Looks like an afterthought to Fn+? keys.
Not to mention there is not a single clear picture of the keyboard on the product page...
https://stationx.rocks/products/manjaro-special-edition-spit...
[+] [-] robin_reala|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] diggan|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rst|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] zx2c4|8 years ago|reply
https://www.google.com/search?q=trackpoint&tbm=isch
[+] [-] gravypod|8 years ago|reply
Most of my work happens over SSH, my laptop is currently fast enough for Netflix, email, and web browsing. I'm capped at 2 1920x1080 monitors but this is livable.
I think if someone took the old X220 generation Thinkpads, upgraded the internals, and kept the keyboard and docking that they would sell like hotcakes.
[+] [-] bitonico|8 years ago|reply
I recently got an x62 and it's great, although you must put some effort into making linux work smoothly on it and making the screen brighter. But all in all I am extremely happy with it.
[+] [-] partycoder|8 years ago|reply
1. "Beautiful machines" is the first point being made. This is superficial.
2. "All distros welcome". Turns out that installing a distro is the least of my concerns when it comes to a laptop.
3. The first thing you notice is this video with the multiethnic group of people from which one of them is at the front as well as happier/dancing. This is inconsistent and weird. What is the message being communicated with this? How is it relevant? Sell me a goddamn laptop instead. Put a picture of a laptop or something.
In order to be constructive, what I would rather emphasize is: laptops are hardware. The intended audience here are tech enthusiasts. I would rather speak about hardware specs, or something distinctive about the hardware, compatibility, the ergonomics... post a benchmark. Something that is actually better than "beautiful laptops" and a awkward video. This is common sense.
This is how a system is sold: https://www.apple.com/imac-pro/ . Note: I do not own one and I am not affiliated with that company, just making a point.
Then... just a reminder: most laptops are potentially a Linux laptop.
[+] [-] toyg|8 years ago|reply
Man, how times have changed. Linux working half-decently on a laptop used to be the holy grail of opensource fans. Nowadays, thanks to Ubuntu and friends, chances are that most of it will just work, regardless of hardware. This is a massive achievement and it's not really as promoted as it should be.
[+] [-] bwindels|8 years ago|reply
Only linux? Seems like a weird limitation... or am I understanding this wrong?
[+] [-] 8draco8|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] 8draco8|8 years ago|reply
> designed and customised to run Linux - and only Linux.
But super key still have Windows logo.
[+] [-] snvzz|8 years ago|reply
Because, screw bsd users.
Then there's the model that's branded "for manjaro", a distribution that almost nobody cares about and that every arch user will sneer at.
They could get a clue. At least try to understand the target market.
[+] [-] icebraining|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jabl|8 years ago|reply
Does that mean they have a disabled/cleaned ME like the purism machines? Or what does "free and open" mean in this case?
[+] [-] Shelnutt2|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tankenmate|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dre85|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] snorremd|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lerie82|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] 52-6F-62|8 years ago|reply
(I've liked what System76 has done, but even then I probably wouldn't spring for the Galago as opposed cheaper Chromebook unless I were jumping up to one of their other workhorses)
[+] [-] linopolus|8 years ago|reply
First thing I noticed on these pictures, was the ugly sticker left side underneath the keyboard. Sorry, but such trifles got nothing to do with gorgeous. Also, black camera frame, huge display bezel, and non-centered touchpads are, imho, a nogo if you wanna call it gorgeous.
[+] [-] dingo_bat|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] osullivj|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] toyg|8 years ago|reply
Yeah tbh that's the only thing that puts me off a bit. War is war, I'd rather not glorify it; it might be a necessary evil on occasions, but I'd rather not be reminded of that every day. Then again, I'm not British.
Still, I would expect the subset of potential buyers for geeky machines not to massively overlap the nationalistic subset of the British population, so to me it looks like poor marketing overall.
[+] [-] jorgemf|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] walsk|8 years ago|reply
If everyone makes you a way because you're a Woman, not a good engineer - is there anything good about this?
Who cares about the picture, if these guys make nice laptops?
[+] [-] dirtyqwerty|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] phaemon|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] sspiff|8 years ago|reply
These machines have very decent specs and are easy to service and upgrade, but at the cost a of very low quality build with regards to the laptop case itself.
There are plenty of other brands that offer the same kind of Clevo laptops with Linux, the best known of which is system76.
Basically, these are just the same Clevo machines you can buy with any Clevo reseller, but with Linux installed for marketing differentiation, and a significant mark up in pricing.
[+] [-] infodroid|8 years ago|reply
There is a video review from Quidsup up on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhpPsktOZFw
[+] [-] unknown|8 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] upofadown|8 years ago|reply
So no BSD then?
[+] [-] freedomben|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] peterisza|8 years ago|reply
Not a MacBook Pro killer at all.
[+] [-] JustSomeNobody|8 years ago|reply