System76 Launching Touchscreen Notebook with Ubuntu
Here's a good non-Windows touch-based ultra-thin laptop.
System76 has launched a new ultra-thin laptop packed with Canonical's Ubuntu 13.10. Called the Darter UltraThin, the device features a 14.1 inch multi touch Full HD display housed in a slim 0.9 inch thick chassis weighing around 4.60 pounds. This laptop starts at $899 USD, and can be configured here with a number of options.
According to the base specs, the Ubuntu laptop features a dual-core Intel i5-4200U processor clocked at 1.5 GHz, Intel HD 4400 Graphics, 4 GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, and a 500 GB 5400 RPM HDD. Wireless N and Bluetooth connectivity are provided by an Intel Centrino 2230 module, and the 44.6 Wh Smart Lithium-Ion battery promises over five hours of continuous use.
The laptop also features a built-in 1MP HD webcam, HDMI output, a Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB 3.0 ports, an SD card reader, and the typical headphone and microphone jacks. The Darter UltraThin also features a chiclet style keyboard, custom molded Ubuntu key and an extra-large touchpad with "smooth" two finger scrolling.
"Configure the perfect storage for you. In just 0.9 inches of space the Darter UltraThin fits a 7mm thin 2.5 inch drive and an mSATA SSD," reads the product sheet. "Store up 1.2 TB of movies, music and documents on high performance solid state drives."
Customization options include an Intel Core i7-4500U clocked up to 2.4 GHz, up to 16 GB of DDR3-1600 dual-channel memory, a range of SSDs with capacities up to 1 TB and a second drive option, depending on the first drive choice. Wireless connectivity options include a dual-band Wireless AC + Bluetooth module.
For more information about this new ultra-thin Ubuntu 13.10 touchscreen laptop, head here. System76 states that shipment will begin the week of October 28, and customers who pre-purchase the laptop will be charged only $5 for ground shipping in the U.S. now through October 28.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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Shankovich Can't you make any ultra-think a Linux Laptop by installing Ubuntu on it? The only real trouble I've ever had with doing that is...the drivers -_-Reply -
doron Reply11760461 said:Can't you make any ultra-think a Linux Laptop by installing Ubuntu on it? The only real trouble I've ever had with doing that is...the drivers -_-
The point of buying this Ubuntu notebook is (supposedly) not having any driver problems with the shipping version of the OS, and you end up saving money as opposed to a Windows notebook because it's a free OS. So if you're planning on getting an "Ultrabook" and using Ubuntu anyway (or use it for casual use and don't care) you should probably consider this. -
Joshua Lee $900 for a free OS and intel graphics. It's really just a better value to spend $300 on a toshiba/lenovo windows 8 laptop that has an i3/i5 and dump ubuntu on it as driver support actually exists for those brands.Reply -
anonymous_user Unless you really want the touch screen, it seems like their Galago UltraPro laptop is overall better deal.Reply -
Shankovich Reply11760535 said:11760461 said:Can't you make any ultra-think a Linux Laptop by installing Ubuntu on it? The only real trouble I've ever had with doing that is...the drivers -_-
The point of buying this Ubuntu notebook is (supposedly) not having any driver problems with the shipping version of the OS, and you end up saving money as opposed to a Windows notebook because it's a free OS. So if you're planning on getting an "Ultrabook" and using Ubuntu anyway (or use it for casual use and don't care) you should probably consider this.
Right, but it's pretty overpriced in the end, that why I said that (I should have said it was overpriced in my original comment :P)
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doron I don't know.. With a thin chassis, 14.1" 1080p touchscreen, 802.11ac wireless, msata option, it seems that they haven't really skimped on anything.Reply
Correct me if I'm wrong, but while it's true that the OS is free, they're basically selling a premium, higher spec notebook compared to other 899$ Windows machines, with a full functioning OS as a bonus.
That said, if you can live without the touchscreen / 1080p / slim chassis / wireless ac standard, you should find much better deals elsewhere.