So, I’m finally getting around to buying a Linux first laptop. I’m familiar with Macbooks, and so far liked them. I’ve also live stick used Fedora w/ KDE (though Gnome might fit too) and OpenSUSE Tumbleweed and liked them.

But I do want to have more freedom and privacy. My most important considerations are:

  1. The laptop is European (or at least, not from the US, unlikely to go Chinese either).
  2. Good specs for gaming (if need be I could virtualise for playing Mac games). I don’t play shooter games, but do play Paradox games which iirc are more CPU heavy. Edit: the most intense user case is probably Cyberpunk 2077. I have no idea what makes a good processor - at least with SSDs and the like it’s clear that ‘higher number = better’. For me, battery life is important, as well screen resolution, clock speed, and graphic card and processor.
  3. Looks - I like the Macbook touch and feel. I don’t want a numpad.

The four main laptops I’m considering are in no particular order:

  1. Star Labs (Starbook Horizon or Starfighter). British. Lookswise they are a great match but the specs I’m not sure. How well would they hold up to an Intel Macbook Pro from 2017?
  2. Tuxedo (Infinitybook Pro 14 or 15) Bit more well-known German brand.
  3. Slimbook (most likely the Evo). Spanish brand. Seems more customisable but again, I do not know shit with graphic cards and processors.
  4. Novacustom (PrivacyGuard V54). Dutch brand. Not a fan of the tiny ass arrow keys. 7 hours for battery life is also not much, imo.

If any of you know something better, please do tell!

  • birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOP
    1·
    2 days ago

    Thanks for your explanation, I appreciate it :D - this was the kind of answer I’m looking for; someone who had experience with one of these models.

    • 1.4 kg is about equal to my current laptop, so I don’t mind that at all. I actually feel it’s relatively light.
    • It running hot is less good news. Did this occur with intense programs only, or for casual usage as well?
    • Interesting about the hardware and keyboard. Is there no way to adjust key sensitivity?
    • What do you mean with the wrong keycode? I intend on using KDE Plasma and making it look more like MacOS’ interface, but this is good to know. I use a Cheatsheet programme that shows me all the available keybinds for whatever program I have open, maybe that could help.
    • What do you mean with the LEDs from the laptop? As in the screen brightness, or the keyboard backlit, or the light for the webcam, or-?

    As for the Macbook touch and feel thing, it’s moreso the general ‘feel’. I don’t mind if keys are a bit different, but I like the sleek feel. The models I gave all kind of satisfy that requirement, so Tuxedo should also work!

    • uuj8za@piefed.socialEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      Here are my old notes: https://lemmy.world/post/35121451

      Is there no way to adjust key sensitivity?

      I never found away. I think I remember opening a support ticket, but it didn’t go anywhere.

      What do you mean with the wrong keycode?

      Technically, the keyboard doesn’t have a “Print Screen” key. It has a Sysrq key, which is used for the same purpose, but it’s actually a different keycode. See https://github.com/StarLabsLtd/firmware/issues/28 Maybe Cheatsheet programme could help?

      What do you mean with the LEDs from the laptop?

      So above the function keys, but below where the screen actually starts, there are some LEDs. lol. I just checked and realized they conveniently edited out those LEDs from promotional material. Above the F2 and F3 keys there are BRIGHT LEDs that used for different statuses. There are also some LEDs on the side that turn on when the laptop is charging, which are also SUPER bright. I would normally toss a shirt on top of the laptop so I could charge it at night and not be bothered.