I have a framework 12th gen. It’s great. Fantastic build quality and when I want to upgrade, I don’t need a whole new laptop, just the necessary internal components. I can even switch to AMD!

Coreboot is cool, and I can’t wait to see the new system76 laptop that is being built in-house, but until that comes out, I don’t think I would ever consider the current lineup of system76 computers.

My main motivations are repairability, upgradability, and specificity of components, and system76 just doesn’t offer that. They don’t tell you what ram or SSD models go into your laptop, they don’t sell replacement parts, and there is no upgrade path.

Neither. Instead, a Pinebook Pro (because I’m cheap).

I have a Framework and it’s been an amazing device! As a company, they have definitly followed through with their promises too and I’ve been very satisfied with them. I’ve heard that System76 devices are fine too, and they have nice stuff like coreboot and lvfs, which Framework lacks right now, but they aren’t nearly as unique as Frameworks, and in my view, are a bit generic. I would definetly reccomend the Framework! Just note that you may have to wait a while to get one, so if you need a new laptop asap (which it sounds like you don’t), you may have to look elsewhere. If you can wait though, definitly get a Framework!

As someone who has been plagued by broken, hard to repair laptops before, I went for the Framework Laptop. Of course, your needs and wants might be different.

System 76 laptops are probably a bit better for Linux considering they were built specifically for it. They also have more variety in what kind of laptop you can get, whereas the Framework only comes in a 13 inch “ultrabook” form factor and a future 16 inch gaming laptop. And battery life I believe is a bit better than the Framework.

However, Framework still works really well with Linux (I use Linux Mint on mine, and it works great.) And the flexibility in being able to repair, upgrade and customize your laptop is really nice. Plus, the battery thing is slowly but surely getting fixed, and while it’s still not entirely great, it has gotten me through the day as a computer science student.

God damn man I wish Framework did the same coreboot open-source firmware…

I will never choose system76, they are strictly murica-centric (until the name lol) and don’t respect their potential customers from the rest of the world. Almost all of their laptops are simply clevo with another logo, but even then they don’t deign to offer something as extremely basic as keyboards in other languages, even if they are available from their vendor.

Also, in the stores that preset linux there is usually a bad quality-price ratio, but system76 is particularly expert in this. Special mention to the mediocre mechanical keyboard (only for murica, obviously) they designed, 200-300$.

The only good thing I can currently say about them is that they have some open firmware (coreboot, basically), but it’s not even that remarkable. Not only are there several companies in the competition that also do it, but it’s even the case of tiny ones with a couple of employees like novacustom.

I think using a framework is a unique experience. I don’t worry about breaking it nearly as much as I did with my old thinkpads. Like my hardware key shorted itself and took my usb port with it. But, instead of it costing me a new laptop, it was 1 week, ~$10, and I was back in business.

Also, Linux support has been great so far. The only thing I had to do was install the brightness stuff they document.

I also heard they’re working on coreboot, so that may be a thing. Also the fact that the motherboard is released to all repair shops is quite nice (at least there is some potential for some type of community audit).

Also, the laptop is super slick. The only complaint I have is maybe the battery life, but I’m not on the newest generation, and I don’t know what has changed. Highly recommend.

what do y’all think about the star labs laptops?

I bought a Framework DIY. I live in regional Australia and being able to order parts to install myself and extend the longevity of my system was decisive. The Framework was a compromise on specs and wasn’t my first choice but nothing compares for sustainability and serviceability. I sourced ram and nvme locally and installed Arch.

System76 are a bit of a fantasy for me. I looked at them for years but I don’t want to pay a premium then deal with international RMA on a rebadged Clevo. I always bought whatever looked good in locally available Windows laptops instead before Framework.

Now I am in the ecosystem I very selfishly want Framework to succeed and guarantee my access to upgrades and parts. I respect System76’s mission and understand why people would wish to support them, particularly when their own laptop designs start shipping. System76’s focus on North America and dependence on white box laptops hasn’t delivered as well in my opinion, at least for my needs.

System76 have tried hard to improve openness and repairability but their laptops are still disposable at end of life while Framework have made a huge leap with upgradability that has the potential to reduce ewaste and I want to see how far that model can be pushed.

besides choosing between the 2 great options, I’m like… : C’MON JUST PICK ONE AND SEND IT TO ME XD because they do not make shipments in my country 😥

Framework definitely. They actually build laptops, S76 are just rebeands afaik

I got a System76 laptop in 2018, and it was a huge disappointment. Had to return it after a couple days because it stopped working, and they wanted my credit card info again before they’d ship me a replacement. The screen is awful and has a purple tint to it, and not all the features worked on Linux for the first year I had it.

If I wanted that level of frustration, a Windows laptop with similar specs would have been half the price.

I wish they had 10 inch option. Something like GPD Win Max 2, but without gaming features

As a System76 laptop owner, don’t buy them. Their product is just… bad.

I want to be able to swap out parts, or repair the laptop when something breaks. For that it seems like Framework would be the best.
I’ve been trying to convince my partner that we need to buy one. My only problem is that I have a perfectly good desktop, and don’t need a laptop.