When comparing System76 laptops vs Dell Laptops, the Slant community recommends System76 laptops for most people. In the question“What are the best Linux laptop vendors?” System76 laptops is ranked 1st while Dell Laptops is ranked 2nd. The most important reason people chose System76 laptops is:
The system is built for Ubuntu, so Linux support is basically built-in. If you want to swap Ubuntu for some other Linux, you can do so with ease after purchase, and you do not need to worry about whether or not all the laptop features will work.
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Pros
Pro Linux will Just Work
The system is built for Ubuntu, so Linux support is basically built-in. If you want to swap Ubuntu for some other Linux, you can do so with ease after purchase, and you do not need to worry about whether or not all the laptop features will work.
Pro Ubuntu comes pre-installed with auto updates
All of the hardware has been selected and tested for compatibility with Ubuntu, without headaches. That usually means it works flawlessly on other distros too.
Pro Great quality
The XPS family laptops have great build quality. Aluminum chassis and everything.
Pro Battery life
Using one of the XPS family laptops, it has great battery life. Browsing + Working: 68 hours; Only writing (Office/Gedit): 1012 hours; Gaming: 3~4 hours.
Pro Great Linux support
Other than running well Linux, it has Firmware updates and functions such as Keyboard lighting very well integrated with the OS.
Cons
Con Bad customer support
Multiple people have reported that the customer support is subpar. Support often tries to avoid replacing defective laptops, applies temporary or wrong fixes and generally avoids taking responsibility.
Con Hardware issues are common
Laptops in multiple instances have arrived defective or started experiencing issues within the first few weeks of use. Notably, ZaReason, a company that, like System76, does not manufacture laptops themselves and instead relies on rebranding Clevo's laptops, has not had as many issues with their laptops, suggesting that the laptops System76 resells are those that don't pass Clevo's quality assurance yet are in working condition.
Con If preinstalled with Windows, the disk is fully encrypted.
If preinstalled with Windows, it is harder to install Linux since the disk is fully encrypted.
This means you need to decrypt the disk in Windows, resize the Windows partition, install Linux, and encrypt Windows partition again...
Con Hard to find preinstalled with Linux
If you live outside US or the UK you might find it difficult to find a Dell with Linux preinstalled.
Con Expensive
Although the price is fair, is still is high. For an XPS Dell 13 9360 with some good specs, it will easily rise to prices around 1800€.
But if you have that money to spend, it is totally worth it!