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Review of the Purism Librem 13

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Re: Review of the Purism Librem 13

#2

Post by AdmiralAsshat »

I remember how much praise the Purism laptops got for the hardware kill switches on the microphone/camera. It seems like it would be easier for the 90% of the target audience, who probably never uses the mic or the camera anyway, to just remove those pieces from the hardware altogether and let those who need it plug in a USB mic or webcam.

Re: Review of the Purism Librem 13

#3

Post by DiabloD3 »

AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #2

I remember how much praise the Purism laptops got for the hardware kill switches on the microphone/camera. It seems like it would be easier for the 90% of the target audience, who probably never uses the mic or the camera anyway , to just remove those pieces from the hardware altogether and let those who need it plug in a USB mic or webcam.

I'm not the target audience, I still wouldn't miss them. I almost want to call them Apple-isms, because for the longest time only Apple did that kind of stuff; and, at least with any Apple or non-Apple laptop I've tried, they're kind of useless. The microphone on my Macbook Pro can't even hear me properly.

Like, I could get a C922 and be lightyears ahead of any of the garbage that comes built into any given laptop or iMac-esque desktop. Thats a $80 gizmo that has working 1080p60 camera, HW zoom, and a little desktop tripod for those that don't have desktop monitors.

Re: Review of the Purism Librem 13

#4

Post by c22 »

AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #2

I remember how much praise the Purism laptops got for the hardware kill switches on the microphone/camera. It seems like it would be easier for the 90% of the target audience, who probably never uses the mic or the camera anyway , to just remove those pieces from the hardware altogether and let those who need it plug in a USB mic or webcam.

I was able to order my ThinkPad without a camera or a microphone and I saved $35.

Re: Review of the Purism Librem 13

#5

Post by garmaine »

DiabloD3 wrote: post #3
AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #2

I remember how much praise the Purism laptops got for the hardware kill switches on the microphone/camera. It seems like it would be easier for the 90% of the target audience, who probably never uses the mic or the camera anyway , to just remove those pieces from the hardware altogether and let those who need it plug in a USB mic or webcam.

I'm not the target audience, I still wouldn't miss them. I almost want to call them Apple-isms, because for the longest time only Apple did that kind of stuff; and, at least with any Apple or non-Apple laptop I've tried, they're kind of useless. The microphone on my Macbook Pro can't even hear me properly. Like, I could get a C922 and be lightyears ahead of any of the garbage that comes built into any given laptop or…

I actually think most people do use Skype or other video chat on their laptops, either for personal or for work.. that’s been my experience in any case.

I’ve never had any trouble with webcams working on Windows. Linux is another story...

Re: Review of the Purism Librem 13

#6

Post by goda90 »

AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #2

I remember how much praise the Purism laptops got for the hardware kill switches on the microphone/camera. It seems like it would be easier for the 90% of the target audience, who probably never uses the mic or the camera anyway , to just remove those pieces from the hardware altogether and let those who need it plug in a USB mic or webcam.

I guess I would fall in the 10%. I have a desktop I use for most stuff, and the only Mic I have is in a USB headset. But if I'm going to video chat with family, it's almost always with the built in hardware of my laptop. I wish it had hardware switches.

Re: Review of the Purism Librem 13

#7

Post by thinkmassive »

c22 wrote: post #4
AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #2

I remember how much praise the Purism laptops got for the hardware kill switches on the microphone/camera. It seems like it would be easier for the 90% of the target audience, who probably never uses the mic or the camera anyway , to just remove those pieces from the hardware altogether and let those who need it plug in a USB mic or webcam.

I was able to order my ThinkPad without a camera or a microphone and I saved $35.

Cool! Which model?

Re: Review of the Purism Librem 13

#9

Post by noir_lord »

c22 wrote: post #4
AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #2

I remember how much praise the Purism laptops got for the hardware kill switches on the microphone/camera. It seems like it would be easier for the 90% of the target audience, who probably never uses the mic or the camera anyway , to just remove those pieces from the hardware altogether and let those who need it plug in a USB mic or webcam.

I was able to order my ThinkPad without a camera or a microphone and I saved $35.

I left mine in because it it only knocked a few quid off and very occasionally I might need them.

Both disabled in the BIOS and I taped over the camera though.

Re: Review of the Purism Librem 13

#10

Post by mike_ivanov »

c22 wrote: post #4
AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #2

I remember how much praise the Purism laptops got for the hardware kill switches on the microphone/camera. It seems like it would be easier for the 90% of the target audience, who probably never uses the mic or the camera anyway , to just remove those pieces from the hardware altogether and let those who need it plug in a USB mic or webcam.

I was able to order my ThinkPad without a camera or a microphone and I saved $35.

Dell offers the same option on some models.
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