GNU/Linux Desktop: Raspberry Pi Phenomenon, System76, Kubuntu Focus Team, and Distros
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The Raspberry Pi Phenomenon - Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence
For the uninitiated, the Raspberry Pi is a single-board computer that runs the Linux operating system. It can be either operated as a desktop computer or as an embedded system (i.e., a custom electronic device), or both. Historically, computer systems were either general-purpose computers or embedded systems. General-purpose computers required too much hardware, too many chips, and too much power to work inside an electronic device. However, as manufacturers packed more and more functionality into less and less space using less and less power, eventually it became possible to have a computer that was small, cheap, powerful, and not especially power-hungry.
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System76 Meerkat Mini-Linux PC - Now with Up to Intel Core i7-1260P
Liliputing.com has an update about the System76 Meerkat, which they describe as "a compact desktop computer with support for up to 64GB of RAM, up to two storage devices (for as much as 16TB of total storage), and up to an Intel Core i7 mobile processor. It's basically a rebranded Intel NUC." (Escept that System76 offers a choice of Pop!_OS or Ubuntu Linux pre-installed.)
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The Kubuntu Focus Team Announces the XE Gen 2 Linux Laptop
The Kubuntu Focus Team announces the second generation of the powerful Focus XE laptop. This ultra-portable and affordable laptop is a great choice for developers, creators, and those who are looking for the best out-of-the-box Linux experience but don't need the power, complexity, or expense of a dedicated GPU.
This generation features the i7-1260P CPU, which provides a 16% and 60% boost in single and multi-core Geekbench 5 scores. In real life, this translates into very snappy performance and the ability to handle large, multi-process tasks with speed and ease. Other highlights of this laptop are the numerous high-speed audio and data ports, include Thunderbolt 4, and the capacity to attach multiple 4K displays. Customers can tailor their system with up to 64GB of high-speed 3200Mhz Dual-Channel RAM, up to 2TB of 7,450 MBps NVMe storage, and optional no-cost disk encryption. They are shipping now and the base model starts at $895.
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How to choose the right Linux desktop distribution for you
The Linux operating system is a powerful, flexible, secure, and reliable platform that can serve just about any purpose you need. From server to desktop, IoT to containers, embedded systems, and much more… Linux can be anything you want it to be.
You may not even realize how prevalent the open-source operating system is. It's literally everywhere. Your car, your fridge, your cloud account, your social networking account, your bank, Netflix, Spotify, Twitter... just about every network service you use depends on Linux.
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One of the biggest reasons for this is that it's not easy for the average consumer to head to Best Buy, Target, or Walmart, and buy a new PC or laptop with Linux pre-installed. Sure, there are plenty of companies that offer Linux systems (such as System76, Dell, Lenovo, Purism, Slimbook, Tuxedo Computers, Vikings, Ubuntushop.be, and Juno Computers), but consumers can be turned off by the higher prices of those systems. That's fine, because Linux can be installed on most modern (and even older) computers, and it's actually quite easy.
Another reason for this is choice. For users who are already familiar with Linux, choice is a big selling point because it means there are so many options to choose from (on just about every front).