Tuxedo makes it easy to buy a Linux laptop out of the box.
Recently, I started using the Linux laptop I bought, the Tuxedo Book BC1507. Ten years ago, if someone had told me that in 10 years I would be able to buy a high-quality penguin ready laptop from System76, Slimbook, Tuxedo, etc. I might laugh. Okay, now I’m smiling too, but happy!
In addition to designing computers for free/Open Source software (FLOSS), all three companies recently announced that they are trying to eliminate proprietary BIOS software by switching to Coreboot.
Buy a
Tuxedo Computers is a German company that makes Linux-enabled laptops. In fact, if you want to use another operating system, it will be more expensive.
Buying their computers is very easy. Tuxedo offers many payment methods: not only credit cards, but also PayPal and even bank transfers. In addition, for international distribution, it is necessary to pay transportation fees and customs clearance fees, etc.). Just fill out a bank transfer form on Tuxedo’s website and the company will send you your bank details.
Tuxedo can build each computer on demand, easily and accurately selecting what you want simply by selecting the basic model and browsing the drop-down menu to select different components. There’s a lot of information on the page to guide you through the purchase.
If your Linux distribution is different from the recommended one, Tuxedo will do a “network install,” so have a network cable ready to complete the installation, or burn your preferred image file to a USB drive. I burned the openSUSE Leap 15.1 installer to DVD through an external DVD reader, but you can do it your own way.
The model I chose can hold up to two disks: one SSD, and the other can be an SSD or regular disk. Having already exceeded my budget, I decided to go with a traditional 1TB disk and increase my RAM to 16GB. The processor is the eighth-generation i5 with four cores. I chose a backlit Spanish keyboard, a 1920×1080/96 DPI screen and an SD card reader. All in all, it’s a great system.
If you’re happy with the default English or German keyboard, you can even request a penguin icon on the Meta key! The Spanish keyboard I needed didn’t offer this option.
Receive and unpack for use
Just six working days after payment was made, the packed computer arrived safely at my home. After unpacking the computer and unlocking the battery, I was ready to have sex.
A new toy on my desk.
The design is really great, and it feels solid. Even if this model is not made of aluminum (LCTT), it will stay cool. The fan is really quiet, and the airflow, like on many other laptops, is directed to the back edge rather than the side. The battery provides several hours of battery life. An option in the BIOS called FlexiCharger stops charging the battery after a certain percentage, so you don’t need to remove the battery when plugged in for extended periods of time.
The keyboard is really comfortable and very quiet. Even the touchpad keys are quiet! Plus, you can easily adjust the light intensity on the backlit keyboard.
Finally, every component in the laptop is easily accessible, so the computer can be updated or repaired without any problems. Tuxedo even sent a few spare screws!
conclusion
After a month of frequent use, I was very satisfied with the system. It met all my requirements, and everything was perfect.
Because they are typically high-end systems, computers that include Linux tend to be more expensive. If you compare the price of a Tuxedo or Slimbook computer to the price of a similar specification from a more well-known brand, the price is not much different. If you want a powerful system that uses free software, don’t hesitate to support these companies: they offer good value for money.
Let us know your experiences at Tuxedo and other “penguin friendly” companies in the comments.
This article is based on “My New Penguin Laptop: Tuxedo-book-BC1507”, published on Ricardo’s blog From Mind to Type.
Via: opensource.com/article/19/…
By Ricardo Berlasso, Lujun9972
This article is originally compiled by LCTT and released in Linux China