Linux Laptop Spotlight: System76 Adder WS

As Linux itself is growing, the world of Linux laptops is also expanding with more and more laptops, so if you’re in the market looking for such a device, it really shouldn’t be too hard to find the one that perfectly fits your needs.

Today we’re going to have a closer look at one of the best (and also the most expensive) Linux laptop out there. It’s the Adder WS from System76, one of the companies that are fully committed to Linux devices, as it builds not only laptops, but also desktops, mini computers, and servers.

The Adder WS is one of the company’s best laptop, and I specifically selected this one for today’s spotlight article especially because it comes with Intel’s 10th Gen processors. This is living proof the device was built from the very beginning with power in mind, but at the same time, it’s also an indication that you shouldn’t expect it to come cheap.

First and foremost, this is a Linux laptop that comes with 15.6-inch 4K OLED display. This is something that you can hardly find in the Linux world, and it features as glossy finish and a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels.

As said, power comes from the latest Intel chips, and in this case, the Adder WS is offered with the i7-10875H (8 cores, 16 threads, 16MB cache, 2.4 GHz normal speed, up to 5.1 GHz). The processor is paired with a maximum of 64 GB of RAM, while for storage, you’re getting a maximum of 8TB.

The graphics card is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super, and according to System76, this is what makes the laptop just perfect for “modelling, animation, and development programs.” And of course, this is a good choice for gaming, which is pretty important as well given the world of Linux gaming is also growing bigger and bigger these days.

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In terms of connectivity, you’re getting pretty much everything you need, including UBS Type-C, Thunderbolt 3, and a microSD card reader. As we know already, Thunderbolt ports are something that other companies refuse to add to their devices, as it’s the case of Microsoft, who thinks that such a slot could actually be a security concern for owners.

Leaving aside this odd reason, System76 also equipped its laptop with a Kensington lock, a headphone jack and stereo speakers, and a 62Wh battery.

The laptop tips the scales at 2.5 kilos.

As for the price, this is the part where it all gets tricky. The Adder WS starts at $2,199, but if you want to get the best of the best, you’ll have to spend no less than $5,170 (only the laptop cost, with extra charger and battery, and without extended warranty). So yes, it’s a pricey device that costs more than a Microsoft Surface Book 3 and almost as much as the top-the-range MacBook, but it’s a Linux monster that should be ready for pretty much everything you throw at it.