System76 Pangolin Review: A 15-Inch Linux Laptop for the Masses Leave a comment

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 you will have hassle convincing even the Linux trustworthy that the long run is even brighter than they’re dreaming.

But right here we’re. For the previous six weeks, I have been engaged on a System76 Pangolin laptop computer with out ever giving a thought to the truth that I’m not utilizing Home windows. All the things simply works. The working system is built-in with the {hardware}. The {hardware} is excellent (extra on that beneath), 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 huge names it now competes towards, and in most respects, it is means forward. The Pangolin line launched two years in the past as the corporate’s first AMD laptop computer, and the most recent iteration contains 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 inexpensive $1,299, which will get you a single 250-gigabyte SSD (with a slot for a second). Absolutely decked out at 16 terabytes, you are taking a look at $4,213. Most individuals do not want that a lot storage, however I particularly like having two drive slots, which supplies you the flexibleness to improve down the highway.

The 15-inch display is my least favourite a part of this laptop computer—it is simply too huge for me—however if you happen to love an enormous display 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 has a 1,920 x 1,080-pixel decision and a 144-Hz refresh rate, which is good for gaming too. In contrast to a few of System76’s different laptops, there isn’t 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 is not overly heavy for a 15-inch laptop computer, nevertheless it positively feels massive coming from a 2.5-pound 13-inch laptop computer. The construct high quality is nice. It isn’t fairly ThinkPad-level nice, nevertheless it’s as shut as you are going to get with out shopping for a ThinkPad.

This Pangolin stays impressively skinny at beneath 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 Kind-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 nicely). I can not inform you how a lot I miss full-size SD card readers. Additionally word that, in contrast to the earlier mannequin, this laptop computer can cost over USB-C. System76 gives 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 fully reduce off energy to the digital camera. It is a good little characteristic for those who need it—saves you some electrical tape.