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StarFighter 16-Inch

us.starlabs.systems

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Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#161

Post by pcblues »

InsideOutSanta wrote: post #141
simonjgreen wrote: post #97

What an unfortunate time for these niche hardware companies to be launching new hardware. Framework, StarLabs, System76, (I wonder if Tuxedo will release something). The RAM prices must be killing them. Even if they increase prices to accommodate, I know quite a lot of folks who are simply punting any purchasing until things calm down.

I just ordered my Framework without any memory or storage, hoping that by the time it arrives, I'll be able to pick up some RAM and an SSD for a more reasonable price. If not, I'll just grab something from a drawer and use it underspecced until prices normalize.

Sensible thought. I very much hope there is a glut of one-three year old ram and GPUs on the market in about one year when the AI market "cools" and the ear-marked components return to the market.

The banks that lent the AI industry the money are already trying to sell their debt.

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#162

Post by LiamPowell »

Why are "premium" laptop vendors still putting vents on the bottom of their machines? Did they never try actually putting their laptop on their laps and realise how much that design sucks?

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#163

Post by komadori »

ulrikrasmussen wrote: post #106

I have been using this for about a month and I love it. The screen looks great, the keyboard is great, the trackpad is great (I have been using Lenovos for ~20 years and though I couldn't live without the trackpoint). The battery life is more than enough for my usage during my daily commute and way better than the mere 1.5 hours I could squeeze out of my old Thinkpad P1. I genuinely don't think there is anything I wo…

Would you like to have a version with a TrackPoint even if you have managed to live without it?

With all these boutique laptop brands, I hope that one of them will eventually produce a pointing stick keyboard offer a route off Lenovo.

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#164

Post by broodbucket »

InsideOutSanta wrote: post #141
simonjgreen wrote: post #97

What an unfortunate time for these niche hardware companies to be launching new hardware. Framework, StarLabs, System76, (I wonder if Tuxedo will release something). The RAM prices must be killing them. Even if they increase prices to accommodate, I know quite a lot of folks who are simply punting any purchasing until things calm down.

I just ordered my Framework without any memory or storage, hoping that by the time it arrives, I'll be able to pick up some RAM and an SSD for a more reasonable price. If not, I'll just grab something from a drawer and use it underspecced until prices normalize.

Always the play if you're comfortable sourcing and installing your own because their store will always have a decent markup.

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#165

Post by yreg »

nottorp wrote: post #137
retired wrote: post #119

I’m unable to order this laptop without a charging brick which is now illegal in the EU. Same goes for the standard one year warranty. Should be two at minimum. I had my country configured to Belgium while testing this.

Do they actually have a business presence in the EU? If not, how would those rules apply to them? Edit: tbh, the new "user friendly" idea of automatically converting US prices to the local currency of the visitor in spite of the company not having any connection to the visitor's locale always makes me think of drop shippers, not of legitimate businesses. Especially if i'm in a non USD non EUR country, I am fully awar…

They are mandated to provide 2-year legal guarantee under EU consumer protection law when they target EU consumers -> i.e. operate an eshop that ships to EU and sells in local currencies. Regardless of where they are located.

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#166

Post by lhl »

Oh, is this actually out now? If so, great, but I took a quick look and didn't spot any third party review yet. For those interested in this laptop, personally I'd still wait for some reviews from some real world people.

Some history on this laptop:

- The StarFighter 16 was originally announced back in November 2022 with an original delivery timeline of 3-4 months: https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxhardware/comments/yjuahx/star_...

- Here's a 500-comment HN thread from Feb 2023 about it (3-4 months later) now with an additional 4-5 month lead time: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34759507

- The latest production updates only go back to July 31 2025 - they mention a 3-5 month timeline from January 2025 (seeing a pattern?): https://starlabs.kb.help/starfighter-production-updates/

There's an "Unboxing" video from Star Labs on the StarFighter from January 22, 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjYJS5AJZpE

So, 3.5 years later, the chassis is still neat, and good on them for plugging away I guess, but for anyone that actually needs a new computer, there's no shortage of higher-end Linux-centric laptops with a better shipping track record (Framework, Tuxedo Computers, Slimbook, etc).

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#169

Post by looperhacks »

nottorp wrote: post #137
retired wrote: post #119

I’m unable to order this laptop without a charging brick which is now illegal in the EU. Same goes for the standard one year warranty. Should be two at minimum. I had my country configured to Belgium while testing this.

Do they actually have a business presence in the EU? If not, how would those rules apply to them? Edit: tbh, the new "user friendly" idea of automatically converting US prices to the local currency of the visitor in spite of the company not having any connection to the visitor's locale always makes me think of drop shippers, not of legitimate businesses. Especially if i'm in a non USD non EUR country, I am fully awar…

They sell to the EU, so they have to follow their regulations. If they don't, the devices can be seized by customs.

Tbh there are more issues if they wanted to be compliant with EU regulations. I'm fine that they aren't compliant (they aren't in the EU, after all), but it's something to be aware of when ordering from them.

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#170

Post by nottorp »

yreg wrote: post #165
nottorp wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do they actually have a business presence in the EU? If not, how would those rules apply to them? Edit: tbh, the new "user friendly" idea of automatically converting US prices to the local currency of the visitor in spite of the company not having any connection to the visitor's locale always makes me think of drop shippers, not of legitimate businesses. Especially if i'm in a non USD non EUR country, I am fully awar…

They are mandated to provide 2-year legal guarantee under EU consumer protection law when they target EU consumers -> i.e. operate an eshop that ships to EU and sells in local currencies. Regardless of where they are located.

And those EU consumer protection laws apply outside the EU?

I know that USers think their laws apply everywhere, but that's just a myth.

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