System76 is one of only a handful of PC vendors that exclusively sells computers with Linux-based software. Up until now, that’s meant the company has chosen hardware that it could guarantee would work well with custom firmware and the Ubuntu Linux operating system.
The company says it plans to start with desktops, since they’re “easier to work with.” Eventually System76 hopes to expand to notebooks as well.
Odds are that most potential customers won’t notice a huge difference between custom-built System76 computers and those made by someone else. But like most things Linux-related, the goal is to provide a more open experience.
In addition to giving System76 more control over the hardware, the decision to design and manufacture its own computers gives the company the ability to share the information. CAD files for System76 computers will be open source, allowing anyone with the appropriate skills and equipment to build or modify their own cases based on the company’s designs.
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