System76’s Pangolin Is a 15-Inch Linux Laptop computer for the Lots

Linux might not have developed (but!) into the mainstream desktop working system its advocates had hoped for, however followers of free software program have by no means had it so good. Dell, Lenovo, HP, Purism, and System76 all promote glorious Linux-based {hardware}. Time-travel again to 2012 to shout the excellent news and also you’ll have hassle convincing even the Linux devoted that the longer term is even brighter than they’re dreaming.

But right here we’re. For the previous six weeks, I’ve been engaged on a System76 Pangolin laptop computer with out ever giving a thought to the truth that I’m not utilizing Home windows. The whole lot simply works. The working system is built-in with the {hardware}. The {hardware} is excellent (extra on that under), and I’m hard-pressed to seek out something to complain about.

AMD Inside

System76 has been making Linux laptops longer than a lot of the massive names it now competes in opposition to, and in most respects, it’s means forward. The Pangolin line launched two years in the past as the corporate’s first AMD laptop computer, and the newest iteration includes a Ryzen 7 6800U processor, with 32 gigabytes of RAM and as much as 16 terabytes of SSD storage. 

The 16-terabyte mannequin doesn’t come low-cost. The bottom Pangolin is an affordable $1,299, which will get you a single 250-gigabyte SSD (with a slot for a second). Totally decked out at 16 terabytes, you’re $4,213. Most individuals don’t want that a lot storage, however I particularly like having two drive slots, which provides you the pliability to improve down the street.

The 15-inch display screen is my least favourite a part of this laptop computer—it’s simply too massive for me—however should you love an enormous display screen and a 10-key quantity pad, the Pangolin delivers. This laptop computer will get some main bonus factors for the matte show, because it reduces the quantity of glare, making it simpler to learn. The display screen has a 1,920 x 1,080-pixel decision and a 144-Hz refresh price, which is good for gaming too. Not like a few of System76’s different laptops, there is no such thing as a 4K choice for the Pangolin, which is a disgrace.

The dimensions makes the Pangolin on the heavy facet at simply shy of 4 kilos. That’s not overly heavy for a 15-inch laptop computer, but it surely undoubtedly feels giant coming from a 2.5-pound 13-inch laptop computer. The construct high quality is nice. It’s not fairly ThinkPad-level nice, but it surely’s as shut as you’re going to get with out shopping for a ThinkPad.

This Pangolin stays impressively skinny at underneath an inch, regardless of the plethora of ports that System76 has packed in. There’s Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.0, a single USB 3.2 Gen 2 Sort-C port (with DisplayPort assist, however not Thunderbolt), three USB-A ports, a 3.5-mm headphone/microphone combo jack, and a full-size SD card reader (which can be utilized besides as effectively). I can’t inform you how a lot I miss full-size SD card readers. Additionally be aware that, in contrast to the earlier mannequin, this laptop computer can cost over USB-C. System76 offers a barrel-style cost wire, however I primarily charged it utilizing my very own USB-C charger (this Satechi).

System76 has included a bodily webcam kill swap for privateness. I used to be curious how this works, and after a little bit of tinkering, I found that it does certainly utterly lower off energy to the digicam. It’s a pleasant little function for people who need it—saves you some electrical tape.