I can't speak to the 4700u or the pangolin specifically, but I can offer this perspective on PopOS/AMD:<p>I've been using System76's PopOS with my Asus Zephyrus G14 (4800hs) as a daily driver and I really like it. (freelance/web)<p>The battery life is comparable to Windows (on integrated graphics mode, it has graphics switching available)at 7-10 hours with 70% brightness and balanced power settings using VScode and firefox.<p>The g14 has a 75wh battery vs the pangolin's 49wh, so I would expect less battery life from the pangolin despite the 4700u having a lower default tdp, since the 4800hs likes to sit at around 6-10 watts when doing non-intensive tasks anyway.<p>In 2021 I'm not missing any major programs. It's pretty incredible how much is cross-platform now.
Why aren't there any bold laptop manufacturers? This is a 2021 laptop that uses USB-A primarily, a meh panel, and no particular standout design features. Why do I have to get a mac if I want actually good design?<p>System76 should take a risk and truly make an interesting laptop. leaving the standard, boring design to the big name companies.
I'd love to replace my thinkpad. But I need/want things that seem unavailable.<p>* trackpoint + buttons (can be without touchpad, disabled anyway)
* full keyboard
* strong durable
* removable battery
* 4k screen
* ecc 64-128gb
* rj45
* lots of ports
* hardware switches to disable: networking, camera, mic,..<p>Thinkpad's are move farther away each year. I hope some company will fill the gap.
I don't understand why many of these workstation-class laptops have num. pads.<p>It is so annoying to type with your hands off-center from the screen.
I'll give System76 (and their hardware partner) this: They're getting closer to something I'd buy.<p>This looks like a good option for a 15.6" laptop.<p>My issue with it is that they're still shipping with those barrel plugs AC adapters, and don't appear to support USB-PD for charging on the USB-C ports.<p>The lack of Australian support also makes it a difficult purchase - a former colleague bought a System76 laptop a few years back and it died a few months after purchase. Having to ship it back to the US, and the associated delays means having to buy a second laptop to continue working while it's being repaired.
It doesn't look like there is a Thunderbolt port ( a 40 GBPS port ). I recall reading that it has something to do with it working on Intel only hardware.<p>But whatever the case is, lack of Thunderbolt is unfortunately a deal breaker. I've moved on to unifying all my docks and power chords to only be Thunderbolt. It's unfortunate because the Ryzen chipsets are clearly getting to be superior from a price/performance point of view.<p>EDIT: I am writing this as someone who supports System76, and has only ran Linux professionally and at home for the last 10 years.
I just can understand people creating non HiDPI displays in 2021. It’s just beyond me that someone is making laptops with display much worse than my 2012 MBP Retina.
I have their 13-ish/14-ish laptop from 2017, 3200x1600 display. It's great. Damn shame they don't have anything high-dpi now. 15" 1920x1080 is unacceptable. 1920x1080 is the new 1366x768.
I want to love this, but the keyboard seems horrible. I know I'm exceptionally picky when it comes to keyboards, I usually just take a 60% mechanical keyboard with me, but I've been able to adjust to using the (non-crappy years) Macbook Pro keyboard and the Thinkpad keyboards while traveling, and generally find them acceptable. This keyboard though has really bad legends, an inexplicable numpad, and it takes up too much real estate when I'd rather have a trackpoint and a larger touchpad.<p>Also, the screen resolution and size seems odd. I'm okay with a 1080P screen... but not at nearly 16". This should be offered with a 3K or 4K screen only.
I feel like battery life could be a challenge too, at 49 Wh. The M1 Macbooks have a 58 Wh battery, but they also benefit from being not-x86 and having better power management at the OS level. Dell XPS laptops with discrete graphics ship 97 Wh.
I love non-4k displays, but 1080p on a 15" is too harsh. 1440p would probably be the cutoff for that size.<p>It seems that most developers (their target audience?) love hidpi which may be one of the biggest adoption issues for System 76.
I previously bought a Thelio desktop from System76 and it was great. I ended up upgrading and basically took all the parts from it except motherboard and cpu. I still use PopOS as my daily driver and have no reason to ever switch to anything else. Drivers always work and updates are painless. Major version upgrades are always smooth. I haven’t had any external hardware compatibility issues (though to be fair this isn’t just PopOS, but Linux in general improving). I’m a huge fan of PopOS.
Laptops with offset keyboards are difficult for me to deal with. The keyboards qwerty (or whatever layout) section should really be centered under the screen
I really like System76, and what they're trying to do. But their mediocre laptop keyboards are always the deal breaker for me--it's the chief human interface, and the one component I don't want to compromise on.
Yikes that keyboard. Small right-shift key, weird narrow numpad, off-center trackpad.<p>Do people actually like that kind of layout? It seems pretty awful to me. I'd prefer no numpad at all and a full size shift key with half-height arrow keys.<p>If I want a numpad, that's what desktop keyboards are for, or a USB numpad.
Laptops that are designed with Linux first-class support are interesting, and I've been considering to get one once I'm through with my late 2014 MBP.<p>How do System76 and Purism compare in terms of daily drivers? Anyone tried both and could provide a comparison?
Would like to see more specifics than just "AMD Radeon Graphics".<p>That could mean literally anything from Intel integrated level performance, to a proper dedicated GPU, though for the price here I'm guessing on the former ...
Too bad it has that numpad instead of a centered keyboard.<p>Also I don't understand why a laptop of that size doesn't have a 99Wh battery.<p>The 1080p resolution is understandable... high DPI support suck-fest can be avoided.
I get system76's coreboot offering looks interesting because there aren't many vendors shipping that feature. What's the appeal of their other products though?
Is it normal for it to use somewhat old processors (4500U and 4700U) instead of the new ones that have been available for quite a long time like the 5700U and 5800U?
Supporting system76, librem, etc was once about investing in support for linux....<p>Yet those companies provide zero contributions, rebadge open source projects, and just re-sell taiwanese white-label computers while going great lengths to hide that and fake innovation.<p>if pcpartpicker.com adds a single checkbox to their searchs: "[ ] support in mainline linux kernel", it would make more good to linux support than all those companies combined.<p>Also, barrel charger plugs? ugh.
Interesting choice of animal, given that Pangolins are suspected of being the source of the virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic. <a href="https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20210210/did-the-new-coronavirus-come-from-pangolins" rel="nofollow">https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20210210/did-the-new-coronav...</a><p>All publicity is good publicity, I guess...
looks like the aura 15 from tuxedo computers / schenker but a little bit more expensive? <a href="https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/Linux-Hardware/Linux-Notebooks/15-16-inch/TUXEDO-Aura-15-Gen1.tuxedo#" rel="nofollow">https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/Linux-Hardware/Linux-Note...</a>
Just switched to a Gazelle from an old IdeaPad p400 touch. Full keyboard, beautiful screen, removable battery, extensive power management options, large trackpad, multiple color adjustable brightness back-lit keyboard so I can change it to red to avoid hurting my eyes, a real gpu, and powerful as all heck. I love it.
A dragable laptop with a numpad. No thanks. What programmer or devops consultant needs a numpad? Unless they're coding in hex.<p>I long for a ~13-14" 2k AMD Ryzen ultrabook. So far the screen is always subpar. I've been using 2560 resolution on my X1 yoga now for 2 years and I can't go back to 1080.
How does it compare to Lenovo Thinkpad L15? As I understand there is no problem with running latest Linux on it, and currently I'm thinking about buying it (mostly Rails development + docker). Do you recommend any other machine?
Has anyone in Canada ordered from system76?<p>I'd expect to get dinged for GST or HST, but were there any additional surprise brokerage fees or duties?<p>This thing is really up my alley and I just got my first decently paying, steady software job...
Love it, I really hope the idea of more 'crafted' laptops and computers catches on. Ideally with more open source and more repairability. It is something I miss from the "good old days."
I've got the Thinkpad E495 with AMD Ryzen 3, Vega and 1TB HD, Fedora 32 for under 500€.<p>Excellent machine, faster than anything else I got.
But it was only a short time test balloon, I fear. Not available anymore.
I have a 2-yeard old Darter Pro, which has an Intel CPU. Love it, great laptop.<p>Can someone comment on the pros and cons of the Ryzen CPU? Wondering how to compare the new machine to the Intel-based System76 laptops.
Just picked up a Thinkpad P14s with the 4750u (8 core 16 threads) for about $600 using corporateperks.com discount. Spent another $250 for 1tb m.2 and 32gb ram upgrade. The value is tremendous.
You're welcome guys. I'd been considering whether to wait for one of these or buy something else.<p>After just putting in an order for a Darter Pro, of course this immediately becomes available!
This is a compelling laptop I wonder if the build quality will compare with Lenovo.<p>15.6 inch screen at 1920×1080? That’s barely OK but not great for a laptop in 2021.
<i>> Video Ports HDMI(w/HDCP)</i><p>Would be really nice to use a proper modern DP instead of antiquated HDMI for this.<p>Is it using Coreboot by the way?
I like System 76 and I use Pop OS on a desktop PC. I don't know how else to say this but crikey, these machines are ugly.<p>Edit: I expect to be downvoted, and this is just my unhelpful, subjective opinion. But the font on those keys looks like one you'd get from a 90s shareware kit of 100 free fonts.
Given that Display specs are not front-and-center, my guess it's a TFT panel. Combine that with 1080p resolution and this laptop is might (no GtG or refresh specs) be good for gaming but not any serious typing or designing.
Honestly why do I need to spend so much money on a Linux laptop?
I have my inspiron with 11th generation i3 and an 8gb of RAM, rocking both Linux Mint and Zorin with 0 problems.<p>Oh, and Pop OS runs great too!
asus zephryus is a better buy, as much I would love to purchase the system76. Core of it, is it at least 20% higher margins.<p>The Ryzen 5000 is out, I highly recommend either going for Asus Zephryus or wait for lenovo's mobile 5000 AMD lands.
I don't understand the appeal for System76. It seems grossly overpriced. Is it simply because they install Linux for you? You can find the same processor with much better specs for cheaper on Amazon or Costco.