When comparing Asus Zenbook series vs System76 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 Asus Zenbook series is ranked 8th. 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 Excellent chassis design
The chassis is built using brushed aluminium instead of plastic that's more common in laptops. It creates a more rigid construction.
Pro High quality screens
Except for some of the early models of Zenbooks that had average screens, Zenbooks are known for their high quality screens.
Pro Beautiful brushed aluminum aesthetic
Pro Long battery life (7 hours on regular use)
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.
Cons
Con Certain models are pricey
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.