System76

Last updated

System76 Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryComputer hardware
Founded2005;20 years ago (2005)
Headquarters
Denver, Colorado
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Carl Richell (CEO)
Products Desktops, netbooks, notebooks, servers
Website system76.com

System76, Inc. is an American computer manufacturer [a] based in Denver, Colorado that sells notebook computers, desktop computers, and servers. The company utilizes free and open-source software, and offers a choice of Ubuntu or their own Ubuntu-based Linux distribution Pop!_OS as preinstalled operating systems. [5]

Contents

History

System76 was founded by Carl Richell and Erik Fetzer. [6] In 2003, Fetzer registered the domain system76.com to sell computers with Linux operating systems preinstalled, but the idea was not pursued until two years later. The number 76 in the company name is a reference to 1776, the year the American Revolution took place. Richell explained that the company hoped to spark an "open source revolution", giving consumers a choice to not use proprietary software. [7]

In mid-2005, the founders considered which Linux distribution to offer, with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, openSUSE, Yoper and other distributions evaluated. Ubuntu was initially dismissed, but Richell and Fetzer changed their mind quickly after a re-evaluation. Richell liked Canonical's business model of completely free software, backed by commercial support when needed. The first computers sold by System76 shipped with Ubuntu 5.10 Breezy Badger preinstalled. [7]

In response to Canonical switching to the GNOME desktop from the Unity interface for future releases of Ubuntu in May 2017, System76 announced a new shell called Pop. [8] The company announced in June 2017 that it would be creating its own Linux distribution based on Ubuntu called Pop!_OS. [8] [9]

System76 began manufacturing their Thelio line of desktops in 2018 at a factory in Denver, Colorado. The company moved into a 24,000-square-foot warehouse. [10]

Products

System76's products include the Thelio series of desktops, the Meerkat mini computer, several laptops, and several rack mount servers. The computers are shipped with Pop! OS, the company's in-house Linux Distribution.

System76's computer models are named after various African animals.

In May 2016, [11] the company released the Launch series of mechanical keyboards, which feature the open source QMK firmware and built-in USB hubs. [12]

System76's firmware partly disables the Intel Management Engine; [13] [14] the Intel Management Engine is proprietary firmware which runs an operating system in post-2008 Intel chipsets. [15]

On 4 April 2023, System76's CEO and founder Carl Richell announced System76's first in-house designed laptop, code-named "Virgo". [16]

Pop!_OS

Pop!_OS 21.04 Pop! OS 21.04 with the COSMIC desktop.png
Pop!_OS 21.04

Pop!_OS is a Linux distribution developed by System76 based on Ubuntu, using the GNOME desktop environment. It is intended for use by "developers, makers, and computer science professionals". [17] Pop!_OS provides full disk encryption by default as well as streamlined window management, workspaces, and keyboard shortcuts for navigation. [9]

In 2022, a System76 Engineer revealed that the company was working on a new Desktop Environment for Pop!_OS called COSMIC. [18]

Community relations

The company has sponsored the Ubuntu Developer Summit, Southern California Linux Expo, and other Open Source/Linux events and conferences. [19] Their official support forums are hosted by Canonical Ltd., the primary developer of Ubuntu. [20]

System76 is an active member in the Colorado Ubuntu Community, serving as the corporate sponsor for Ubuntu LoCo events and release parties in downtown Denver. [21] [ better source needed ]

See also

Notes

Related Research Articles

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Pop OS is a free and open-source Linux distribution, based on Ubuntu, and featuring a customized GNOME desktop environment known as COSMIC. The distribution is developed by American Linux computer manufacturer System76. Pop!_OS is primarily built to be bundled with the computers built by System76, but can also be downloaded and installed on most computers.

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References

  1. ↑ Yegulalp, Serdar (14 October 2013). "Preloaded Linux systems: Weighing the options". Computerworld. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  2. ↑ Sanders, James (28 October 2015). "The two reasons why software companies are making hardware". TechRepublic. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  3. ↑ Gilbertson, Scott (22 November 2016). "System76 Oryx Pro review: Linux in a laptop has never been better". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  4. ↑ Hinum, Klaus (23 August 2013). "Clevo, MSI, and Compal Barebones". www.notebookcheck.net. Translated by Martina Osztovits. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  5. ↑ Stevens, Tim (25 January 2011). "System 76 brings Sandy Bridge to Ubuntu with Gazelle and Serval laptops". Engadget. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  6. ↑ Bhartiya, Swapnil (30 April 2011). "Exclusive Interview With System 76 CEO Carl Richell". Muktware. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  7. 1 2 Richell, Carl. "How System76 Began". Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Making Ubuntu Pop". System76 Blog. Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  9. 1 2 "Pop!_OS by System76". system76.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  10. ↑ Chuang, Tamara: Colorado Sun (21 November 2018). "Why a computer maker moved manufacturing to Denver despite ongoing trade war with China" . Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  11. ↑ Liam Dawe (13 May 2021). "System76 releases the open source Launch Configurable Keyboard". GamingOnLinux. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  12. ↑ "System76 Launch review: Linux-friendly keyboard with a USB hub". ArsTechnica. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  13. ↑ "Management Engine (ME) - System76 Technical Documentation". tech-docs.system76.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  14. ↑ "What is the Intel Management Engine? - System76 Support". 10 January 2023. Archived from the original on 18 June 2023.
  15. ↑ "What is Intel Management Engine?". Archived from the original on 30 December 2022.
  16. ↑ Mark Tyson (6 April 2023). "System76 Shows First Pics of Fully Customized Linux Laptop Prototype". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  17. ↑ King, Bertel Jr. (10 November 2017). "Pop!_OS Has Arrived: How Does It Compare to Ubuntu?". www.makeuseof.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  18. ↑ Ankush Das (8 November 2021). "Oh, Wow! Pop!_OS Linux Devs Are Creating a New Rust-based Desktop Environment". It's FOSS. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  19. ↑ "Ubuntu Developer Summit Sponsors". Canonical Ltd. 1 October 2012. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012.
  20. ↑ "System76 Support". Ubuntu Forums. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  21. ↑ Overcash, David. "Colo Loco Team". LoCoTeams. Wiki.Ubuntu. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.

39°46′26″N104°49′43″W / 39.774010°N 104.828659°W / 39.774010; -104.828659

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