I’ve wanted a Linux Laptop for a long time but assumed I’d have to spend a lot of money to get one. I assumed it was risky just buying a off the shelf laptop and hoping Linux might work on it. The cheapest laptop I can find today from System 76 is the $999 Galago Pro 14″.
The laptop my daughter gave me as I said here is the $699 (from Amazon) HP laptop, model 15-DY1023DX. 15.6″
The HP is $300 cheaper has a bigger screen and 4GB more memory. HP is a known respected brand. Also the HP is touchscreen. In a brief look I couldn’t find anywhere that says the Galago Pro 14″ is touchscreen. Now the Galago Pro 14″ can be upgraded with more memory and a larger hard drive. But that will only increase the price. And you can’t upgrade the screen size!
In addition they sell laptop bags from $149-$179. Now I’m guessing a lot of people might be tempted to get a bag for their shiny new laptop at time of purchase. Let me get this bag so everyone will know what I have! I bought a perfectly nice Amazon Basic bag for $16. Albeit, unlike the System 76 bag…it’s may not be “made with consciously-sourced materials from around the world”. But it works for me.
I had zero problems installing the latest Linux Mint. And it runs fine.
This makes me think that a large part of the System 76 appeal is perceived status…which I don’t care about. These high prices seems to go against the Linux philosophy to me.
All this makes me wonder how many other laptops would work fine with Linux.