this post was submitted on 30 May 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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As someone who wants to switch to Linux, what are some decent Linux-only companies you would recommend?
Framework makes laptops that are well supported and System76 desktops.
Is Framework another company like System76?
Not really. Most recommend Framework because their laptops are open to the point where third parties can make random peripherals that fit the expansion ports. They have a page to help with choosing a distro for their hardware as well. It's great to see this level of open-ness and repairability in a laptop. Naturally, Linux users gravitate to such a brand.
System76 leverage their own distro, Pop!_OS as a selling point for their laptops, as they have some degree of control over the hardware and software.
The other maker I'd recommend is Tuxedo Computers who also maintain their own distro for hardware they sell.
Thanks for the detail explanation!
Yes, but with square dongles
I recently purchased a laptop from System76. I’ve been very happy with it. You can get many of their models with coreboot used as the system firmware which is unique. I have been disappointed that they usually recommend installing open source, but not in-tree modules for getting things like keyboard backlight working. It feels a bit like they’re not a Linux laptop company but instead that they’re a Pop!_ OS laptop company.
my most recent purchase came from kfocus. i cared mostly about price, screen brightness, speaker quality and future proofing, so the macbook air was the price & spec combo benchmark to meet (future proofing is automatic with linux companies) and kfocus's 14-inch blew them out of the water (they don't anymore). the other companies wouldn't share information on brightness and speakers at the time i was shopping for a new laptop almost a year ago; but all are built on top of either tongfang or clevo base systems (for now) so future proofing is roughly the same everywhere with linux companies.
in the past i used system76 and tuxedo (tuxedo sponsored that video); i will buy from them again when it's time for a high end system. their low end systems are REALLY low, but the price tags for them are closer to midrange somehow; their low end laptops costed the same as the kfocus but with much weaker & missing specs. (i assumed that they didn't share the missing specs because they were too weak).
Thanks for the in-depth reply!
I got a laptop from Tuxedo 1.5 years ago when I made the switch to Linux. I have been happy with it, despite some minor issues. In my experience, they have provided great technical support when something goes wrong as well that I am unable to troubleshoot myself. I am running Tuxedo OS, and have not tried to use any other distros on this machine yet (but have done so on other).
More so I am very happy with the switch to Linux (coming from about a decade on macOS, with Windows before that).