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?

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

While I’m yet to do it myself, I would suggest getting a Thinkpad T480 and upgrading its RAM. The reason you want a T480 is because it was the last Thinkpad to have user removable parts. One tip: when using eBay, make sure you filter out the T480s. The T480s is not the same as the T480 since it doesn’t have user removable parts.

wwwgem,
@wwwgem@lemmy.ml avatar

Thanks for the tip. I know a lot of people are going for Thinkpads and you’re specific recommendation may seem interesting but I’d like to support other companies like the ones I bought from so far (Toshiba, Lenovo, Dell, Vaio, Acer, PB, Razer) and I’d also like to build my own laptop from the start.

SpiceDealer,
@SpiceDealer@lemmy.world avatar

Of course. Just remember this when buying a laptop (and by extension a printer): FUCK HP!

AlpacaChariot,

HP are pretty awful when it comes to shenanigans with ink cartridges and all that, but HPLIP is great and deserves some credit.

SheeEttin,

I hate Lenovo and I have a Lenovo laptop. The company is shit but the laptops are great. I justify it by buying used.

murvillian,

What parts other than one stick of RAM aren’t upgradeable on the t480s? The processor? I’ve seen screen swaps, touchpad swaps, keyboard, just about everything. I got one back in the summer, added a stick of RAM to get up to 16gb, it’s running at 3200mhz like the other one, and swapped in a new OEM battery. It’s been great. I also recently bought a e495 for around 60 bucks, it’s thicker and plastic-ey, but also a solid Linux machine running an AMD CPU. Are the newer t14s really that crippled in repairability?

const_void,

Lol that’s 6 years old!

sorrybookbroke, (edited )

If you’re willing to import, tuxedo computers is another great choice. I can personally vouch for framework but I’d caution if you’re looking for the 16, it’ll be a bit before they’re available. 13ish batches pre-ordered, with batch one shipping in a few weeks, it may take quite a bit to get. The 13 though is in stock and shouldn’t take too long to recieve

Edit: oh sorry, 13 inch is your preference. I’d strongly vouch for framework. I’d also say stay away from purism due to their scummy history on the phone if you care about that.

dylanmorgan,

Do you have any links for the bad marks on Purism?

sorrybookbroke, (edited )

Sure do, though not for all the claims I’ll make here as that was from me obsessively watching the purism forumns and reddit over the 5 or so years this was going on. They promised a phone which most people didn’t get for five years. When it shipped the specs were not great especially for the already pricy cost they had it at. This, after quite heavily suggesting they were nearly good to go. When it came close to the end of waiting, they added a second option (no phones were in hands yet) to upgrade their order, at a cost, to skip the line and get it quicker. Suggesting that if it didn’t sell the company couldn’t ship the original either after taking money both from a crowdfunding campaign and their site. Though a few were eventually able to refund, they sneakily changed their policy to include “no refunds” when at time of purchase they stated clearly refunds would be available at request. There’s also been an issue with their laptops which were advertised as fully FOSS, etirely non-proprietary before eventually shipping with some proprietary software. All around, their customer service is terrible and their responces to allagations and critisism has been childish threats and legal attacks. All around bad group.

here’s some blog posts and an article:

jaylittle.com/…/the-sad-saga-of-purism-and-the-li… (read all 3 parts)

anarc.at/…/2020-07-13-not-recommending-purism/

pcworld.com/…/why-linux-enthusiasts-are-arguing-o…

Here’s Luis Rossman (Not always correct on what he reports, but by my memory quite good here):
Youtube - www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IjUryQOlgk
Piped - piped.adminforge.de/watch?v=-IjUryQOlgk

Youtube - www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKegmu0V75s
Piped - piped.adminforge.de/watch?v=wKegmu0V75s

dylanmorgan,

Wow. Yeah, that’s shady and shitty as hell. The cost was always enough to keep me away from them, but knowing they’re a shit company will make me sure to warn others off as well.

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.

just_another_person,

Framework

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.

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.

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 :⁠-⁠\

crazyminner,

Gnu/Linux…

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.

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…

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?

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 ;)

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.

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!

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 :)

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