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The Serval WS from System76: A Linux Workstation Running PopOS

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Re: The Serval WS from System76: A Linux Workstation Running PopOS

#11

Post by JellyBeanThief »

Guest42 wrote: post #8
ekianjo wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, it's in the category of "portable desktops". Still useful even if you only use it at home. Moving a desktop is a lot of work, moving this kind of machine from one room to another is easy.

Is it sturdy? I have an old Dell that’s gone 6+ years

I can't really say, as I've only had mine for a few months. No problems, but the hinge makes me nervous every time. It doesn't bend very far back, and it doesn't feel like it would take much to snap. My ThinkPad P50's more than 180 degrees has really spoiled me.

Re: The Serval WS from System76: A Linux Workstation Running PopOS

#12

Post by podiki »

lars-b2018 wrote: post #7

Does System76 make a laptop with a high dpi screen? It seems that is table stakes these days...Seems like this is a pretty expensive laptop (portable desktop), but perhaps for gaming it's not a big deal. However, if you are programming or doing some other text intensive activity the low-dpi screens would be deal breaker.

Agreed, would love a 4k screen. Currently have that on a Dell XPS running Linux and don't want to go back to 1080.

Re: The Serval WS from System76: A Linux Workstation Running PopOS

#13

Post by symlinkk »

Never understood this company. Lenovo and Dell sell computers with Ubuntu or Fedora pre-installed, that have been tested and are guaranteed to be fully compatible with Linux. Why would you go with System76, which is selling rebranded Clevo laptops with a markup, and PopOS, which is an Ubuntu derivative?

Re: The Serval WS from System76: A Linux Workstation Running PopOS

#14

Post by MaxLeiter »

symlinkk wrote: post #13

Never understood this company. Lenovo and Dell sell computers with Ubuntu or Fedora pre-installed, that have been tested and are guaranteed to be fully compatible with Linux. Why would you go with System76, which is selling rebranded Clevo laptops with a markup, and PopOS, which is an Ubuntu derivative?

They ship with coreboot, right? Could be for the free software + firmware

Re: The Serval WS from System76: A Linux Workstation Running PopOS

#15

Post by ISL »

sscarduzio wrote: post #10
lars-b2018 wrote: post #7

Does System76 make a laptop with a high dpi screen? It seems that is table stakes these days...Seems like this is a pretty expensive laptop (portable desktop), but perhaps for gaming it's not a big deal. However, if you are programming or doing some other text intensive activity the low-dpi screens would be deal breaker.

THIS. Plenty of kinda nice Linux laptops out there, but with a terrible, terrible screen. For example, a MBP 13" has 2x resolution than this 15". This is a monumental deal breaker for the majority of people.

Have a look at the Dell offerings.

The Developer Edition of the XPS 13 is a linux-first example: https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/dell-laptops-and-notebo...

(This post made from an XPS-13 7390 with a standard-HD display. The standard display is quite pleasant to use. The keyboard is wonderful compared to my crouton Chromebook of the past. The fit, finish, and operation of the device is the nicest I've used.)

Re: The Serval WS from System76: A Linux Workstation Running PopOS

#16

Post by spijdar »

symlinkk wrote: post #13

Never understood this company. Lenovo and Dell sell computers with Ubuntu or Fedora pre-installed, that have been tested and are guaranteed to be fully compatible with Linux. Why would you go with System76, which is selling rebranded Clevo laptops with a markup, and PopOS, which is an Ubuntu derivative?

Honestly I believe at this point it's partially inertia and brand recognition. In the past, when Linux support was more hit-or-miss, and the likes of Dell and Lenovo had no linux support, I think it made more sense.

More charitably, they do some work on custom firmware, and according to themselves, "work with" Clevo on making hardware decisions. What exactly that means seems vague to me, but again, charitably, System76+Clevo are at least trying to avoid problematic hardware, while Dell and Lenovo ... don't so much?

Re: The Serval WS from System76: A Linux Workstation Running PopOS

#17

Post by Tsiklon »

This machine doesn't make much use of it's enormous size for connectivity;

It has only 4 USB ports which are spread across 3 sides of the computer; 2 are USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A, 1 is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type C, 1 is a USB 2.0 - What is the purpose of a USB2.0 port on a new computer in 2021?

I'm quite concerned that this machine has no 20Gb USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Ports or no 2.5Gb Ethernet (or ideally 10Gb Ethernet). Thunderbolt ports would be ideal but their absence makes sense given it's an AMD based system.

I feel that a year or two down the line, once USB4 begins to make headway, this machine is going to feel quite limited.

P.S. - I truly detest the USB 3.* naming convention - "USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 - Type C connector", "USB 3.2 Gen 2" and "USB 3.2 Gen 1" seem explicitly designed to confuse non-technical people, hell, it's hard enough for technical people too.

Re: The Serval WS from System76: A Linux Workstation Running PopOS

#19

Post by Finnucane »

ekianjo wrote: post #3
Finnucane wrote: post #2

Not so much a laptop as a desktop machine you can fold and put away when you're done with it.

Yeah, it's in the category of "portable desktops". Still useful even if you only use it at home. Moving a desktop is a lot of work, moving this kind of machine from one room to another is easy.

Sure, it's easy to imagine--especially now--someone wanting a full-powered machine but not having the space for a big box/monitor combo.

Re: The Serval WS from System76: A Linux Workstation Running PopOS

#20

Post by noja »

ISL wrote: post #15
sscarduzio wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

THIS. Plenty of kinda nice Linux laptops out there, but with a terrible, terrible screen. For example, a MBP 13" has 2x resolution than this 15". This is a monumental deal breaker for the majority of people.

Have a look at the Dell offerings. The Developer Edition of the XPS 13 is a linux-first example: https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/dell-laptops-and-notebo... (This post made from an XPS-13 7390 with a standard-HD display. The standard display is quite pleasant to use. The keyboard is wonderful compared to my crouton Chromebook of the past. The fit, finish, and operation of the device is the nicest I've used.)

Any coil whine?
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