Laptop companies: which one?

Hello fellows,

I’m currently looking in 13-14" laptops with no immediate needs for one but just because it’s exciting. I love my Dell XPS but I feel I should support companies with which I share more common views. I could make the effort to go a with a less attractive look (especially for bezels) but I don’t want to go wrong with hardware so what are your thoughts on Framework, Starlab, Purism, and System76? I’ll be running Arch and I tend to have a preference for Framework for now.

Do you have feedback (positive and negative) to share on any of these companies?

Thanks for the knowledge you’ll bring me. That’ll be extremely useful when time comes to go with a new machine.

Update: Still wonderful to be part of such a great community. Thanks for all the great feedback (looking for more :) ).
So far everyone is standing behind Framework. Anyone with a less positive experience or who would like to speak for the other companies?

refreeze,
@refreeze@lemmy.world avatar

Framework. I’ve run Debian, Fedora and for a while now NixOS, all of which have worked flawlessly.

I did have to replace the heatsink/fan part on mine because the fan bearing started clicking, but I’m sure that was just a first generation product issue (I was one of the first batches). I was glad to be able to do the replacement myself at relatively low cost and the process couldn’t have been easier (took about 30 minutes).

My previous machine was a 2013-ish ThinkPad X series and the Framework absolutely blows it out of the water. I’m looking forward to upgrading mine to a Ryzen motherboard sometime in the not so distant future.

wwwgem,
@wwwgem@lemmy.ml avatar

Wonderful to hear! Thanks for bringing one more vote to Framework :)

nickiam2,

I’ve had a framework for 2 years now. It’s run fedora, manjaro (arch based) and Debian with no major issues. Manjaro had some problems with KDE and the high DPI screen. Sometimes the scaling was inconsistent between apps. Fedora just works.

Only hardware issue is the battery life is just not that great. And the trackpad doesn’t always work property, but I think that was a first generation issue that’s been resolved since.

wwwgem,
@wwwgem@lemmy.ml avatar

Thank you for taking time to share this detailed feedback. Very useful!

peanutbutter_gas,

I have a framework laptop and endeavour os with gnome de. I’ve had no problems with it. I mainly use it for dev work and web browsing. I enabled gnome muli-gesture (basically the same gestures on a Mac trackpad). I’ve had no problems with that either.

I’d recommend it.

wwwgem,
@wwwgem@lemmy.ml avatar

Thanks for sharing this feedback. One more point for Framework :)

Petter1,

Since it was not mentioned yet: www.tuxedocomputers.com/en

If I would not get so many old computing devices that fulfill my needs (I don’t game on PC/Linux) I guess I’d buy one of those. I live in Switzerland and having a german company for support would be superior to me. And I heard that build quality should be great 😇 😂I guess I’d really like to have one, but as I said, for my needs, my macbookpro5,3 running arch does the job.

superbirra,

can confirm that tuxedo is great if you are in Europe. It has been my daily driver for 3 years with debian sid and it’s great!

MajorHavoc,

Weirdly, my (five year old) Microsoft Surface runs Ubuntu perfectly.

I’m eying a Framework 16 next.

krash,

Certain surface models run linux fine, but I wouldn’t recommended it as a linux laptop as it requires solving several issues before you get a working computer.

Revan343, (edited )

I’m a fan of refurbished ThinkPads myself, but that is mostly for money reasons. If I had money to blow, I would probably also buy a Framework

wwwgem,
@wwwgem@lemmy.ml avatar

Framework also has an outlet, just in case you want to take a look ;)

FartsWithAnAccent,
@FartsWithAnAccent@lemmy.world avatar

Framework

wwwgem,
@wwwgem@lemmy.ml avatar

Any more details to share?

wewbull,

His accent is Lithuanian.

FartsWithAnAccent, (edited )
@FartsWithAnAccent@lemmy.world avatar

True: Only when I eat Lithuanian food though.

FartsWithAnAccent,
@FartsWithAnAccent@lemmy.world avatar

My favorite drink is water.

FartsWithAnAccent,
@FartsWithAnAccent@lemmy.world avatar

Also, I have heard that Linux runs pretty well on them and they are upgradeable.

wwwgem,
@wwwgem@lemmy.ml avatar

I agree. Have you ever owned one?

JoeyJoeJoeJr, (edited )

I currently have a System76 laptop, and sincerely regret my purchase. When I purchased it, the Framework was not out yet - I wanted to support a company that supports right-to-repair, and figured since they controlled the hardware, firmware, and software (Pop!_OS), it would be a good, stable experience. It has not been, and support has generally been poor. I know other people have had better experiences than I have, but personally, I won’t be buying from them again.

I haven’t personally used Purism, but former co-workers spoke really poorly of them. They were trying to buy a big batch for work, and said the build quality was awful. Additionally: youtu.be/wKegmu0V75s

wwwgem,
@wwwgem@lemmy.ml avatar

Thanks very much for this important feedback. Framework is definitely taking the lead in responses to this post.

cevn,

I have one problem with my s76, the usb c port rly sucks. Other than that the laptop runs very well but something so simple shouldnt be an issue imo there are some build quality issues going on…

teawrecks,

I had a System76 10 years ago. The customer service was excellent (several months after receiving my laptop, they sent me a replacement keyboard, because they didn’t like the one it shipped with). The build quality was meh, it was a plastic body and didn’t hold up well to wear and tear, but it’s in my closet and still works. I haven’t tried their aluminum bodies.

I now have a Framework. It arrived with trackpad issues, and one of the HDMI adapters didn’t work at all. They shipped me replacements for both at no cost to me (except time). It’s been nice knowing that any other issues I do have can be replaced piecewise. Also I like that the webcam/mic have physical kill switches.

wwwgem,
@wwwgem@lemmy.ml avatar

Very nice to read this feedback. I’m very sold to Framework after all the great things posted here. An impeccable customer support like the one you describe means a lot about a company.

crazyminner,

Gnu/Linux…

naeap,
@naeap@sopuli.xyz avatar

Anyone have some experience with StarLabs?

Ordered a StarFighter like more than half a year ago and am losing confidence in the company…

wwwgem,
@wwwgem@lemmy.ml avatar

Can you expand on that?

naeap,
@naeap@sopuli.xyz avatar

Well, the Laptop is still not released. Not sure what I can say more about it :⁠-⁠\

Falcon,

Framework and ThinkPad have both been a really positive experience.

wwwgem,
@wwwgem@lemmy.ml avatar

Thanks for the feedback.

d00phy,

Something tells me OP doesn’t share a lot of values with Lenovo!

I haven’t used Framework, but I’m a fan of most of the ThinkPad line. Not as good as the IBM days, but still a solid product.

Falcon,

Re your update.

My framework has been great, I’ve had no issues with it and I’m quite happy. Make sure to go with the matte screen though.

In saying that, I think I was happier with my thinkpad, but I have no good scientific reason for that, I suspect the nipple and keyboard are a big part of it.

avidamoeba, (edited )
@avidamoeba@lemmy.ca avatar

Another happy Framework user here. I have 2 first gens in my immediate family and 2 second gens among my friends. All run Ubuntu LTS. No one is complaining. I’ve already replaced my bottom chassis because I destroyed it during a bad mishap. Ordering was easy, the part was inexpensive, the replacement was straightforward. A Dell XPS perhaps feels a bit better made, but then it doesn’t say Made in Taiwan on the bottom so there’s that. 😅

On the other hand System76 is building a new open source desktop environment in a sane programming language… 🤔 If COSMIC desktop turns out great and I end up using it, I’ll probably throw a couple of hundred their way in lieu of buy their laptop.

wwwgem,
@wwwgem@lemmy.ml avatar

Thanks for a nice feedback. One more vote for Framework ;)
I don’t use a DE, so this would not make me go with them. Also, I’ll use Arch anyway, not PopOS.

avidamoeba,
@avidamoeba@lemmy.ca avatar

Oh I now remembered that mine developed a problem with one of the USB ports, not a cartridge but the host port. Framework sent me a new board. I replaced it easily and sent the bad one to them.

wwwgem,
@wwwgem@lemmy.ml avatar

Wow that’s quite impressive. Serious customer service definitely.

just_another_person,

Framework

pr06lefs,

Personally I’m holding out for a laptop based on the snapdragon elite X arm chips coming out later this year. Should be great for battery life (like 28 hours) and very fast. We’ll see how the linux support turns out. And also which manufacturers pick it up - would like framework but haven’t heard anything about that from them. Lenovo already released a system based on the old snapdragon chip so seems likely they’ll release one based on the elite X too.

fleet,

I didn’t know about this specifically, but I’m holding onto my 2017 ThinkPad until I can buy an Arm laptop and run Linux on it.

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