System76's Much-Anticipated Open Source 'Thelio' Linux Computer Will Be Available To Pre-Order Starting Next Month, But Shipping Date and Specs Remain Unclear (betanews.com)

Brian Fagioli, writing for BetaNews: When you buy a System76 computer today, you aren't buying a machine manufactured by the company. Instead, the company works with other makers to obtain laptops, which it then loads with a Linux-based operating system -- Ubuntu or its own Pop!_OS. There's nothing really wrong with this practice, but still, System76 wants to do better. The company is currently working to manufacture its own computers ("handcrafted") right here in the USA. By doing this, System76 controls the entire customer experience -- software, service, and hardware.

This week, the company announces that the fruits of its labor -- an "open-source computer" -- will be available to pre-order in October. Now, keep in mind, this does not mean the desktop will be available next month. Hell, it may not even be sold in 2018. With that said, pre-ordering will essentially allow you to reserve your spot. To celebrate the upcoming computer, System76 is launching a clever animated video marketing campaign.

Comments

Re:Open-source hardware, eh?

[Narcocide]

I think for the purposes of marketing, System76 is re-defining the meaning of "open-source computer" here to mean merely a computer that does't have any components which require closed-source/proprietary drivers or firmware.

If they can even succeed at that much without muddying the waters further with lies and half-truths I will commend them and perhaps buy one. As a US citizen however, the thing here that gives me the biggest cause for suspicion is the claim that these computers will be manufactured in the US.

How about Purism?

[chill]

Purism is already far down along this path, with good quality hardware.