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StarLite 12.5-inch Linux tablet

us.starlabs.systems

211–220 of 347 posts

Re: StarLite 12.5-inch Linux tablet

#211

These look fantastic, what's the catch? Who are Star Labs and why should I trust them? The "About Us" Section doesn't tell me who us is.

Star Labs is trustworthy (typing this on a Star Labs StarLike Mk IV right now), but small hardware brand. They're based in the UK.

What’s your experience with StarLite IV? I’m thinking about buying it for heavy note taking - neovim/obsidian/browser (Google docs and excalidraw). What battery life I can expect? Is keyboard nice to type? Is stuff like sleep, Wi-Fi auto connect and bluetooth headphones really solved?

Re: StarLite 12.5-inch Linux tablet

#212
I'm in the market for a tablet, but my primary use is media consumption so screen+speakers are of the highest importance. But that said, this still looks very promising. I signed up for email notifications, so it depends on when it becomes purchasable.

Re: StarLite 12.5-inch Linux tablet

#214

A bit ago I did a bit of an experiment with an old surface tablet, where I threw some linux distros at it to see what the experience was. I tried Ubuntu, Manjaro, and Fedora, and all were extremely janky to downright broken. On screen keyboard was completely broken with Wayland, with some apps like Firefox just not popping it open, to others ignoring input. X had trouble with screen rotation. Fedora wouldn't let me p…

interesting because I have been running archlinux on a surface pro 7 and it works flawlessly appart from the camera. I use the linux-surface kernel, instructions can be found here: https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Installa.... Highly recommend it!

Re: StarLite 12.5-inch Linux tablet

#215
post #150

Why did they have to use a micro HDMI port? Couldn't they have done dual USB-C and made one the DisplayPort output? MicroHDMI is not a very nice connector, it's a lot of pins under mechanical stress from the heavy, rigid HDMI people generally attach to it.

USB-C is equally bad. I really wish they would have the rubber housing of the USB-C go inside the case like an IEC power connector. I break about a USB-C cable every week. Broke one today just by putting it in my backpack while connected to a power brick. Power bricks of the 1990s didn't have this problem. The barrel connectors were almost indestructible. You could drop bricks on VGA connectors and they'd still work.

Barrel connectors I found always fail within 18 months for a lot of laptops I've known people buy (mostly from cheap brands such as Acer).

While not saying USB-C is a great choice instead. Personally I just wish everyone could have generic magnetic Magsafe style connectors.

Re: StarLite 12.5-inch Linux tablet

#217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why can't we have nice replaceable battery packs, RAM, and m2 SSDs anymore? I mean, not even the Framework laptop has a replaceable battery pack? WHY? https://guides.frame.work/Guide/Battery+Replacement+Guide/85

I think they meant batteries you can swap without taking the machine apart, like old laptops had

Taking a framework apart is very easy though.

Re: StarLite 12.5-inch Linux tablet

#218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would love to see it, but my guess would be only if there's ever regulation to force Apple to allow it under climate concerns or right to repair type policy.

Or you know, you lot could stop giving them money.

Whenever I read this kind of comment, specially about Apple, I always wonder: What are you suggesting we do?

If the answer is "just don't have a tablet and buy a FairPhone or a feature phone, have less tech", I think that's coherent.

But if the answer is just "don't buy Apple, but continue to buy", I'd say they're all just as bad at best, way worse in general. Apple devices have a longer supported life, although others tend to be more hackable.

Re: StarLite 12.5-inch Linux tablet

#219
post #168

And what about the software? I mean software that can be used without mouse and keyboard? Currently the main problem is not the hardware, but we simply don't have usable software. I have been driving a PinePhone for many months (still do), but mostly with programs that I wrote for myself after a lot of frustrations about the available software, because having a keyboard and mouse is mandatory with 99.9% of the availa…

Sometimes I want to buy a PinePhone. Do you mean that one can't send SMS, place phone calls, browse the web, read (not write) emails without a keyboard ? (these four are 99% of my phone usage).

You can make a phone call, browse the web, send messages. Note that the modem keeps rebooting itself randomly (sometimes once a day, sometimes once every 10 minutes, with all firmware versions - this means entering the PIN again, finding the network, etc), so if you have to make phonecalls at least somewhat reliably, PinePhone is not for you. Same for PinePhonePro - the same crap modem is used in that also. Personally I have a dumb Nokia with me all the time, in case I have to use a phone, and the PP has a data-only SIM.

As of 2023 there is 1 actively supported email client with a mobile and touchscreen optimized "interface": Geary (at least that I know about). The scarequotes are there with a reason: you can't set up your account without connecting the phone to an external monitor: the Next/Cancel buttons are out of the screen during the setup. Normally I would laugh, but now I don't feel like it. Have no idea if it works afterwards, I just deleted it at that point.

Note if you'd decide to get one: at least original PP is kind of abandoned. It is still a nice toy, but I wouldn't hold my breath that anything widely supported and usable will be published on it.

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