System 76 - Interesting concept

[Joelist]

System 76 is a boutique computer shop that specializes in Ubuntu laptops, servers and desktops.

https://system76.com

Now I do recognize the laptops (they are Sager's which is a good quality OEM - for example their Galago UltraPro is the Sager NP2740). It seems they are optimizing things for their laptops (driver tweaking and the like), and also maintain Windows driver libraries should the user want to install Windows in dual boot.

I think the concept is interesting but if I wanted a Sager NP2740 I'm not sure why I wouldn't just go to Sager for it (for example).

 

[Overmind One]

System 76 is a boutique computer shop that specializes in Ubuntu laptops, servers and desktops.

https://system76.com
Now I do recognize the laptops (they are Sager's which is a good quality OEM - for example their Galago UltraPro is the Sager NP2740). It seems they are optimizing things for their laptops (driver tweaking and the like), and also maintain Windows driver libraries should the user want to install Windows in dual boot.

I think the concept is interesting but if I wanted a Sager NP2740 I'm not sure why I wouldn't just go to Sager for it (for example).

This business is a clone of what Dell started out to be, but with many very important differences:

• These machines are on the low end of power (except for the ones offering i7 and quad core processors.
• The prices are not published. Just the "$50 off!". Not one price is listed [BIG red flag].
• Ubuntu is free. Only the hardware is costing system76 money (good business move)
• The desktop computer cases are generic and widely available in bulk (due to not selling). That means these machines are handmade.
• The "servers" are way WAY overpriced as compared with Dell or HP, and other than the single example, they cannot be rack mounted (who still has tower servers?)

The biggest red flag is the wording of every page. Prices are avoided, specific specs are avoided...but I do admire the effort! These type of shops do well locally where they are. Unlike a large multi-product store like Best Buy, these shops sell just one category of product and are likely more knowledgeable about them. The lack of published prices though would turn me off before even looking into them. That is the way used car dealers and trickster "on sale!" campaigns are hatched. What made you decide to promote them?

 

[Bluce Ree]

This business is a clone of what Dell started out to be, but with many very important differences:

• These machines are on the low end of power (except for the ones offering i7 and quad core processors.
• The prices are not published. Just the "$50 off!". Not one price is listed [BIG red flag].

14″ Galago UltraPro
$1049

15″ Gazelle Professional
$799
17″ Kudu Professional
$849
17″ Bonobo Extreme
$1629 1579 ON SALE!

• 
  
• Ubuntu is free. Only the hardware is costing system76 money (good business move)
• The desktop computer cases are generic and widely available in bulk (due to not selling). That means these machines are handmade.
• The "servers" are way WAY overpriced as compared with Dell or HP, and other than the single example, they cannot be rack mounted (who still has tower servers?)

The biggest red flag is the wording of every page. Prices are avoided, specific specs are avoided...

Jackal Pro 1U
$2250

Tech Specs
ProcessorDual Socket Intel Xeon E5 2600 Series
VirtualizationIntel VT
MemoryUp to 256GB Triple Channel DDR3 @ 1333MHz w/ECC
StorageUp to 4× 3.5″ drives, 18TB of SATA III storage (RAID 1, 5, or 10)
Storage FeaturesEnterprise SATA III drives, Up to 6GB/s, 7200 RPM, 64MB Cache, S.M.A.R.T
LSI RAID FeaturesManagement Suite, SNMP support, email notification, Online Capacity Expansion, RAID Level Migration
NetworkingQuad Intel Gigabit Ethernet
GraphicsIntegrated graphics with VGA out
Expansion1× PCI Express x8 Gen 3 (occupied by RAID controller), 1× PCI Express x16 Gen 3
Front PortsPower on/off button, Reset button, ID Button, VGA, 2× USB 2.0
Front LEDsPower, System Status, ID, NIC Activity, HDD Activity
Rear Ports3× USB 2.0, 1× VGA, 1× Serial port, 4× 10/100/1000 LAN, 1× management via LAN port
Power ManagementSuspend
Power Supply460 Watt High Efficiency w/optional Dual Redundant 460 Watt High Efficiency
Dimensions16.93″ wide × 27.95″ deep × 1.75″ tall
Weight28 lbs. (Base configuration w/two hard drives. Varies based on configuration.)

You know what's an even bigger red flag?

but I do admire the effort! These type of shops do well locally where they are. Unlike a large multi-product store like Best Buy, these shops sell just one category of product and are likely more knowledgeable about them. The lack of published prices though would turn me off before even looking into them. That is the way used car dealers and trickster "on sale!" campaigns are hatched. What made you decide to promote them?

 

[Joelist]

Bluce is dead on OM, the prices are right on the website for every unit.

 

[Overmind One]

14″ Galago UltraPro
$1049

15″ Gazelle Professional
$799
17″ Kudu Professional
$849
17″ Bonobo Extreme
$1629 1579 ON SALE!




Jackal Pro 1U
$2250

Tech Specs
ProcessorDual Socket Intel Xeon E5 2600 Series
VirtualizationIntel VT
MemoryUp to 256GB Triple Channel DDR3 @ 1333MHz w/ECC
StorageUp to 4× 3.5″ drives, 18TB of SATA III storage (RAID 1, 5, or 10)
Storage FeaturesEnterprise SATA III drives, Up to 6GB/s, 7200 RPM, 64MB Cache, S.M.A.R.T
LSI RAID FeaturesManagement Suite, SNMP support, email notification, Online Capacity Expansion, RAID Level Migration
NetworkingQuad Intel Gigabit Ethernet
GraphicsIntegrated graphics with VGA out
Expansion1× PCI Express x8 Gen 3 (occupied by RAID controller), 1× PCI Express x16 Gen 3
Front PortsPower on/off button, Reset button, ID Button, VGA, 2× USB 2.0
Front LEDsPower, System Status, ID, NIC Activity, HDD Activity
Rear Ports3× USB 2.0, 1× VGA, 1× Serial port, 4× 10/100/1000 LAN, 1× management via LAN port
Power ManagementSuspend
Power Supply460 Watt High Efficiency w/optional Dual Redundant 460 Watt High Efficiency
Dimensions16.93″ wide × 27.95″ deep × 1.75″ tall
Weight28 lbs. (Base configuration w/two hard drives. Varies based on configuration.)

You know what's an even bigger red flag?

Ah,ok I did not click through the website. The units just did not grab me and the main page does not show those prices. Looking at those specs, they are still overpriced.

Why does the memory and storage only say "up to" instead of what is delivered with the unit PLUS what the max capacity is?

 

[Joelist]

That type of pricing setup (the "up to") is commonplace among shops that don't have a "standard" version.

As to pricing, actually it is about correct. The laptop prices are literally the same as Sager (the actual OEM). This of course could be thought of as a bit high as the Sager price has a full Windows license included while the system 76 one does not.

A fun thing to do occasionally is trying to figure out where your laptop really came from (as opposed to the brand name on it).

For example, many laptop makers buy their laptop chassis from Clevo then put their own badge and shell on it. And beyond that we get to the ODMs:

• Quanta sells to (among others) HP, Lenovo, Apple, Acer, Toshiba, Dell, Sony, Fujitsu and NEC
• Compal sells to (among others) Acer, Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo and HP/Compaq
• Wistron (former manufacturing & design division of Acer) sells to Dell, Acer, Lenovo and HP
• Inventec sells to Toshiba, HP and Lenovo
• Pegatron sells to Asus, Toshiba, Apple, Dell and Acer
• Foxconn sells to Asus, Dell, HP and Apple
• Flextronics (former Arima Computer Corporation notebook division) sells to HP

Now in some of these cases the ODM is manufacturing to a custom specification (Lenovo, Apple for example) and in others the OEM is buying "as is" and rebadging (Toshiba, Acer for example).

And then there are the cases where an OEM is starting to become their own ODM. Lenovo for example is in the process of being it's own ODM for it's ThinkPad laptops. They have set up manufacturing for them in Japan (in 2012) and last year started manufacturing them in North Carolina.

 

[Joelist]

Side note, while System76 is trying something interesting they are by no means THE boutique.

The granddaddy of the PC boutiques and still the king of that hill is Falcon Northwest:

http://falcon-nw.com

If you are into custom PCs these guys have always been the king of that hill. They actually manufacture their own (award winning) cases and chassis and assemble every PC individually in a workshop, do overclocking, tweaks, burn ins and such and also use only extreme high end components. The price is up there but you're buying more than parts in this case - it's old style workmanship.

I actually had the opportunity once to watch them in action on an order. You may make the initial order on that webpage but that is only step 1:

First, they call you and set up an appointment to go over EVERY element in the PC, making sure what you want is what you are getting, no conflicts in parts and such. It is an interview.

Second, they stay in touch at every stage in the build. You even hear when they are getting the parts in and such. They also send you results of the test and burn -ins and such. If you opted for painted case, you review paint samples.

Eventually both you and they agree it is ready to ship. And they ship it.

After that, expect follow up calls where they ask real questions about how the PC is performing and look for additional tweaks to make it really sing. And if you need support the hardware support goes to the same tech who built your unit and driver/software support to the tech who performed the burn in.

Sorry to gush there. Getting one of these has always been a minor "wish item" and I do like these guys - they could be a bigger company but chose to stay boutique so they could keep doing it the way they feel it should be done.