Live data from Hacker News

StarFighter 16-Inch

us.starlabs.systems

241–250 of 409 posts

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#241

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?

These are not laptop computers, they are notebooks. The only laptop I've personally seen had a 80286 processor... We call them laptops, but historically that name is wrong.

While it is possible to use a notebook on your lap, you are not supposed to. It is a terrible place that is unergonomic. You are supposed to put them on a table of some sort. If you are using it for more than something quick you should have a separate keyboard and mouse (ie attached to a docking station on your desk). The portable form factor is useful for meetings, presentations, or other such - but for real work they are terrible.

Since the lap what it was designed for, and a lap is a bad idea anyway: putting vents on the bottom isn't bad.

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#242

FWIW I have had a StarLite Mk IV for three years now and haven't run into a single issue with it (except maybe the speakers being quite poor). Unfortunately the company stopped releasing firmware updates for it soon after they launched Mk V. I don't know if it can be still built from source for the older devices.

I'm also the happy owner of a StarLite Mk IV. The perfect travel laptop. Thin, light, fanless, excellent keyboard and touchpad, matt screen, rock solid chassis, good battery life. I'm dreading the day when it finally breaks as there's nothing comparable on the market today. I wish they could do another run. Very different niche from the StarFighter but StarLabs make excellent machines.

Their Horizon model is probably closer to a Mk IV successor than Mk V. I would consider it as an upgrade path.

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#243

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?

These are not laptop computers, they are notebooks. The only laptop I've personally seen had a 80286 processor... We call them laptops, but historically that name is wrong. While it is possible to use a notebook on your lap, you are not supposed to. It is a terrible place that is unergonomic. You are supposed to put them on a table of some sort. If you are using it for more than something quick you should have a sepa…

I frequently sit on my balcony, with my MacBook Pro in my lap. I'm still alive.

I also frequently use that computer, that doesn't have vents on the bottom, for watching movies in bed. And I don't need to think about vents. My last non-Apple computer was some ThinkPad, with vents on the bottom, and I remember always chasing some book to put under the computer to make the vents free. Boy, how I hated that.

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#244

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.

It's not $megacorp, try contacting them and asking.

They do reply on webchat and are quite nice.

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#245
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't imagine the supply chain challenges inherent to startup laptop manufacturers. I think it's "go with what you have access to at reasonable prices, or forget about it. "

I don’t believe they actually make the hardware. I know sytem76 always just rebadges Clevo hardware. You were basically paying for Linux to be preinstalled and for the Linux focused support. EDIT. Actually it looks like I was wrong about that. They do apparently at least make their own chassis’s unsure about the motherboard’s or screens though.

system76 does not make their laptops, they do make some of their desktop lines though. System76 however is large enough that they get input into what Clevo designs - they Clevo often changes the hardware internals, but system76 ensures that the new hardware still has linux drivers. (in some cases system76 has shipped a laptop with something announced as not supported on linux, but this is rare and the rest of the features still works, and this is only done for a feature they figure linux users wouldn't use anyway)

System76 has long been working on their own laptop - every few years they make a progress report announcement - but I don't expect to see it anytime soon.

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#246
I was minutes from ordering my 4th Thinkpad X1 when I found out about them. Although the Starfighter is a bit too big and heavy for me they also have the Horizon model which is exactly what I'm looking for - if only it came in 64GB ram option and a newer CPU (the former - not yet, the latter is coming soon). In any case, they made me decide to hold off and wait. If they do release a 64G Horizon model I'm all over it.

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#248
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

100% agreed. it upsets me when i see companies like framework advertising themselves front and centre as Linux-first, yet won't sponsor a coreboot port. starlabs, system76 and novacustom actually walk the walk

Framework plans to eventually support coreboot, as far as I am aware. (Or open source the current one they purchased). It just wasn't the main priority. They focused on making a repairable laptops ecosystem first. Switching to different firmware later isn't ruled out.

they originally announced their intention to open the firmware 4 years ago

https://community.frame.work/t/responded-coreboot-on-the-fra...

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#249
Has the availability of Starlabs hardware gotten better? Back in August 2024 I ordered a Starbook and then cancelled the order 4 months later when the laptop was still not delivered and Framework started selling in my country.

Re: StarFighter 16-Inch

#250
post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know it inside out but I'm following the basic standard "it should be as easy to withdraw consent as give it" The overall point being that if you want to use a product/service, you'll look past minor violations of local regulations on account deletion or charger bundling.

Giving consent required you to receive an email to verify your account. Revoking consent requires you to send an email. It’s symmetric, like poetry.

[deleted]
Post reply on HN