Star Labs Systems, a UK-based Linux hardware startup, has finally launched the StarFighter laptop — a high-performance laptop built with premium materials and designed primarily to run a Linux operating system.
This is actually impressive. Y’all dunking on it probably don’t realize just how tiny this company is, yet they somehow managed to pull this off without being just another Clevo reseller. It’s a whole custom chassis that actually looks sick, and a sane keyboard layout.
Unfortunately, this is probably the worst possible time to launch a laptop. Those prices are wild, and I say that as someone willing to pay a premium for Linux support. I also already upgraded recently, so it’ll be a pass from me for now… But I wish them the best of luck!
And y’all in the comments wonder why Linux doesn’t get the support it deserves.
Am I alone as an EU citizen that I don’t bother with buying anything from the UK since brexit was finalized? I can’t be bothered to look up whether the customs crap has been resolved or not and I don’t feel like finding out either. It’s basically the same to me as made in the US.
Yeah, UK is still a roll of the dice when it comes to customs (at least in my head). Ordering from EU is so much easier and more reliable. Also I don’t have to deal with multiple currencies.
Why does it seem to be impossible to find smol laptops these days?
Framework has you covered there.
Even the Framework 12 is bigger than I’d like.
Then you are in a very niche market
Wake me up when we’re releasing capable, open, repairable RISC-V systems.
This machine isn’t “capable”.
It is capable of many things :)
Currently, an entry level Chromebook trounces that laptop in performance. IMO, when that stops being the case, we can then crown this machine as “capable enough for daily driving”.
Same! I heard Raspberry Pis kind of use Risc-V. But I don’t understand enough to know which of their devices do.
Have I got a treat for you:
Oh man, this thing is long. I just need to know what I can use to host a Valheim server with.
There is no way thing can run a Valheim server:
This ain’t your answer. The Pi you’d want to use for that isn’t RISC-V…and it probably never will be since the Pi has corporate sponsorship.
But it does answer a lot of questions I had about RISC-V architecture and what it means in the world of microcontrollers rather than the world of SBC’s and their microprocessors.
I’d love to use these are signals to know when I my home server services are down though. I might be one. I do have an Raspberry Pi 4B, but I’m not sure how I will connect LEDs to it with the case open. I might be better open opening up my RPI 4B.
Wow, Invidious link too, good stuff!
Personally I’d love a big ass Raspberry Pi, but I might be bitting my tongue at that one.
Unfortunately, the StarFighter uses soldered RAM, so users cannot upgrade it down the road
And like that, any interest I had in that system is gone.
In 2026, it’s unforgivable for any system to have soldered components. I’m not about to spend premium pricing(in this case it’s almost $1900 USD starting) on a system that if a ramstick dies I have to replace the entire main board.
The laptop was announced back in 2022, they’ve had some problems with suppliers which is why it’s a bit odd for a 2026 laptop.
Yeah that’s a no for me.
Especially when Framework exists, and to a lesser extent, Valve’s hardware.
Uhhh…Framework literally makes soldered RAM desktops. They did it because replaceable RAM simply can’t meet the same performance.
Framework also has used soldered RAM in the past. Getting their newest model to use modular RAM was quite the boast.
yeah, like I always thought that the framework was a little steep on pricing(Although compared to this…) , but at least you get the ability of cold swapping parts out.
While I’m with you, there is one advantage: RAM can work on higher speeds when soldered and few actually upgrade it when not soldered.
I agree with that. My issue isn’t upgrading it, It’s a laptop. It’s unlikely I would upgrade it anyway just because of the compact design. My issue is strictly the repairing/replacing a damaged component point of view. Soldered components easily turns a repair job from “does this person have access to YouTube?” to a “do I still know a shop that’s willing to still use a soldering iron?”
Surface mount rework station
Yep, true, soldering really kills reparability for most.
If they use CAMM that’s no longer the case.
Yeah, thats true but framework solved this with LPCAMM2 modules, which have much higher write speeds that sodimm. And just because “few actually upgrade it” doesnt mean all ram should be soldered, as having unsoldered ram caters to a completely different consumer market.
Didn’t they go with soldered RAM with their desktop PC, though?
They did but there was no alternative for the “AI Max”, it has much higher requirements for bandwith than traditional CPU RAM. They were investigating the possibility for LPCAMM2 or LPCAMM for that system but it was not feasible to maintain that bandwith while retaining data integrity. For the Desktop it was the right choice. It was designed for local inference applications and there the memory bandwidth is absolutely crucial.
For the new Framework 13 Pro however with an Intel based SOC they have now successfully implemented LPCAMM2.
I think so, because that was during the peak of the ram shortage, and LPCAMM2 was barely produced then.
I understand, but I had to trash a great laptop because the soldered ram died. Never again.
Yeah. That’s really bad.
If you took it to a place that does board repair place I’m sure they’d replace it for you.
In Australia there’s a company called microtec engineering.
We send crane to boards and displays etc to them for repairs.
10k for a new component or 2k to freight repair and return.
And often a life saver on machines that are so old the manufacturer has discontinued parts.
We had that repaired last year by them.
LMAO. Good luck with that. Absolutely absurd price point.
Painful price point. Thats about as much as my current desktop PC, all peripherials included.
Edit: before ram prices went mental, but post GPU price shift
This is great for business users!
