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StarBook 14-inch

starlabs.systems

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Re: StarBook 14-inch

#171

Post by mysterypie »

You can choose between American Megatrends and coreboot. They have a FAQ with the pros and cons[1]. But I have a hard time seeing why anyone would choose the proprietary American Megatrends firmware, especially since the laptop is targeted towards Linux users. Are they offering the choice for their older customers who are used to the American Megatrends UI? Or maybe to not anger the supplier (American Megatrends) that they've been working with for years?

[1] https://support.starlabs.systems/kb/faqs/ami-aptio-v-vs-core...

Re: StarBook 14-inch

#172

Post by stormbrew »

X-Istence wrote: post #64

Why only a single USB-C port? Almost everything I buy these days has only USB-C ports/cables/charging. It's gotten to the point now that I am increasingly frustrated with the fact that there are no good USB-C capable hubs that take a USB-C USB 4 and turn it into an 8 port USB-C hub. With a mix of 10 Gbps/5 Gbps/480 Mbps speeds. I can get plenty of USB-C to USB-A hubs, but that is not what I want.

8 ports is high expectations, I don't think there's anything really there, but there is a 3 port tb4 hub by plugable[1], and you can I think daisy chain multiple together. Pretty expensive to get up to 8 though, never mind all the power bricks to get the power necessary.

[1] https://plugable.com/products/tbt4-hub3c

Re: StarBook 14-inch

#173

Post by Beltalowda »

abdulmuhaimin wrote: post #88
kajaktum wrote: post #62

Damn, I wished I had bought the mini-PC from them instead! I really don't understand the appeal of laptops, it only makes sense for the people that is really on the move like university students or blogger. Even then, they only need cheap laptop for browsing (cue memory hod jokes). That or you prefer to do your work at public spaces like libraries or cafes. What's the point of spending huge sums of money on a laptop…

space - you have to have at least 1 dedicated desk for your desktop. mobility - You can do your work in places other you workplaces/home. Change of scenery/environment is trivial. even inside your own house, you can work from your own bedroom, kitchen, lounge, garden, wherever you want. Your last point is baffling, really. Just treat it like any PC. If you dont want to use the screen/keyboard/trackpad just connect wh…

> Actually I dont see the point of mini PC. Theyre just desktop that you can lug without monitor and any input devices. What's the point of spending huge sums of money on a mini PC that performs 1/2.9 compared to its PC equivalent?

It's cheaper for the same specs; for example this StaBook with the 5800U is €1074, but their mini-PC with the same CPU is €786: €288 cheaper! You can also put a 2.5" SSD in it next to the MMC drive (my E585 also allows this, but many laptops don't). And for a lot of "serious work" I use my USB keyboard and HDMI screen anyway: the laptop doesn't really give any advantages here.

Re: StarBook 14-inch

#174

Post by cloudengineer94 »

Looks like the EU version of Framework! Funny enough they do give a Ryzen option which is pretty cool.

Would love to go back to a PC running Linux but for the time being macOS + Brew on MacBook Air/14" is the way to go due to the battery life and performance.

Oh and my 14" as a heck of a screen.

Re: StarBook 14-inch

#175

Post by dharmab »

mysterypie wrote: post #171

You can choose between American Megatrends and coreboot. They have a FAQ with the pros and cons[1]. But I have a hard time seeing why anyone would choose the proprietary American Megatrends firmware, especially since the laptop is targeted towards Linux users. Are they offering the choice for their older customers who are used to the American Megatrends UI? Or maybe to not anger the supplier (American Megatrends) tha…

The AM firmware updates are signed and Coreboot is not.

Re: StarBook 14-inch

#176

Post by Lucasoato »

lhl wrote: post #135
3np wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The biggest disadvantage seems to be that the screen is bog-standard 16:9. Bigger than that IMO is 14" @ 1080p. It's just too little for daily use for me. Framework are so far the only ones in this market segment who have ever marketed >1080p laptop displays AFAIK. I have a hard time understanding why there is such a lack of higher-res panel options across the market, even when seemingly all other relevant specs ar…

I'm keeping a spreadsheet for a new Linux Laptop (Alder Lake or preferably a Rembrandt) w/ HiDPI(ish) and 32GB+ of RAM and there are some options. Currently announced: * Lenovo X1 Carbon G10 - 14" 16:10 3840x2400 500-nit 100% DCI-P3 60Hz IPS * Lenovo ThinkBook 13X Gen2 - 14" 16:10 2560x1600 400-nit 60Hz IPS * Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 - 13.3" 16:10 2880x1800 400-nit 100% DCI-P3 60Hz IPS * ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED UX5401 - 14"…

My last 2 company laptop were a Lenovo X1 Carbon G8 and a Lenovo X1 Carbon G9. These machines are so reliable and resilient, no matter how much you travel, they are indestructible. I definitely recommend them.

Re: StarBook 14-inch

#177

Post by Beltalowda »

3np wrote: post #150
Beltalowda wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm sure like usual when this comes up, some people will come reply with "you can't make out the difference anyway", which is just not true. It is true for those people. No doubt that's not true for you , but you're not everyone. With fairly small screens (14" is small compared to a 24" desktop monitor) I genuinely don't notice the difference. I'm sure if you would put two screens next to each other I'd be able to…

Of course it's true for them and they should go with that. It's a tired myth that "the human eye can't perceive the difference and you don't either". We're all different, with different needs and preferences.

> We're all different, with different needs and preferences.

Yeah sure; actually, it just so happens I more or less said the same thing in a different comment a few days ago (very different topic, but similar sentiment): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30984309

I mostly just wanted to hook in on why these kind of systems still frequently come with a 1080p screen.

Re: StarBook 14-inch

#178

Post by thawaya3113 »

yzmtf2008 wrote: post #113

Tangantially related, I remember reading the Asahi Linux wiki [0], and was shocked by this statement about Apple Silicon machines. It's fascinating that Apple has a reputation for being anti-libre, yet the hardware they built is arguably very libre-friendly. > This puts them somewhere between x86 PCs and a libre-first system like the Talos II in terms of freedom to replace firmware and boot components; while a number…

It was probably easier for them to be more libre than less during early development. This has often been the case with Apple products.

Don’t worry. They will lock it down.

Re: StarBook 14-inch

#179

Post by lhl »

ChuckMcM wrote: post #130

So close. I really want a laptop with a "2K" 4:3 aspect ratio 14" screen, 64GB of ECC ram, a Ryzen processor, and an M.2 SSD. Would be interesting to get a nice web cam too but that is less important to me. I'm also not a huge "thinness" type, thicker is fine if it isn't heavier.

Not really so close, though right? Using Laptopmedia's database, the only mobile ECC workstations are Xeon not Ryzen, and the minimum size for those are 15.6". 16:10 is the best ratio you can get for displays. In fact, AFAIK, there are no current COTS laptops with a 4:3 aspect ratio display at all.

I suspect if all of what you listed are actually hard requirements, the only way you'd ever get that is if you built your own - source an industrial 4:3 panel+controller, find the smallest Ryzen board with ECC support and get a Ryzen Pro APU (none of the ThinkPads will boot ECC SODIMMS on their boards, despite Pro APUs having nominal unvalidated ECC support) - you could try your luck with an A320TM or otherwise, might need to go embedded Epyc and an M.2 display adapter (like the SM750 ones). You could probably build a "tablet" form factor that's reasonably thin (<30mm?) and light (and use an external USB-C PD compatible chargers/battery packs and simple DC conversion to make life easier on the power side).

Re: StarBook 14-inch

#180

Post by bzzzt »

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #131
yzmtf2008 wrote: post #113

Tangantially related, I remember reading the Asahi Linux wiki [0], and was shocked by this statement about Apple Silicon machines. It's fascinating that Apple has a reputation for being anti-libre, yet the hardware they built is arguably very libre-friendly. > This puts them somewhere between x86 PCs and a libre-first system like the Talos II in terms of freedom to replace firmware and boot components; while a number…

>yet the hardware they built is arguably very libre-friendly Well they're already in legal trouble for abusing their iOS market dominance with the new EU proposed legislation, they know the tides are turning against big tech, so they didn't lock down the MacBooks preemptively to brace themselves for what's coming, not because Apple has somehow now become a FOSS supporter. Before you applaud Apple for being too libre…

> Before you applaud Apple for being too libre and think the company has changed direction, keep in mind this is the same company that ships recently launched monitors without user replaceable power cords and locks out in firmware the possibility to upgrade the SSDs on the very expensive Mac Studio despite teardowns showing that it's phisically possible by end users.

I don't get all those accusations that are constantly recirculated on tech forums. A non-removable power cord has a big advantage: it's hard to lose it. I've never damaged a power cord before (or heard of someone who had) so is it really that damning you should go to a repair shop for something like that? Also, Apple never advertised removable SSD modules. I don't care what they put in that box as long as it works as advertised.

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