Its one thing to say you support being FLOSS, its another thing actually do it

I’m seeing a lot of lip-service to FLOSS, but not a lot of practicing what they preach.

I’ve been talking to a lot of members of the FLOSS community and stories like yours are all too common. People buy expecting full user freedom, and end up finding out that information they need is gated behind the service desk.

They use excuses like “we are a small company” – but I ask you, which takes more staff time and resources. Answering emails and service desk requests one at a time, or just having a parts list up?

Put tape over it. The webcam light is a security feature that lets you know when an application is using your webcam. Bypassing this feature would allow someone to watch you via your webcam, with out you knowing. Or worse, you forgot to close a meeting/streaming session and didnt notice the light is on.

There is a lot of malware based on turning off webcam lights, but leaving the webcam on.

I will say it sounds like a terrible design if the webcam light is impacting the video quality.

I have trouble believing System76 tests their builds before selling them

I am not sure if System76 tests fan-speed control before shipping. A lot of people report being burned by this.

I only bought from System76 because they claim to be open. Per their own about page: https://system76.com/about “The freedom to truly own a computer you purchased, and upgrade or repair it yourself”
It is a smack in the face to find out that they do not practice what they preach

Even Lenovo, one of the most non-free laptops on the market… Puts their part numbers on their website

The real question here is, why are you defending System76 as a fan boy… When they are less open than Lenovo

We are a very small company. About 60 people. We do as much as we can. Not very many people have asked for a part list. Which is why it’s not there. There’s also a lot that changes too often for one person to keep up with. (Yes, it’s mainly one person who does the tech docs from what I know) We change GPU SKUs all the time for an example.

1. A production model should NEVER CHANGE. If a Gaze16 is having “parts swapped out all the time” then it is no longer a Gaze16, and you must update your model #s to reflect the chips and parts used in the laptop are different. It will make repair almost impossible if we are sold a Gaze16 that could have “randomly different parts” – This is unacceptable if you really “We change GPU SKUs all the time for an example” – If you change the GPU SKUs your marketing and support information must reflect this

2. According tho system76’s own website: “The freedom to truly own a computer you purchased, and upgrade or repair it yourself” - How does hiding the part list give me the power to “upgrade or repair” my computer myself? If I have to reach out to support for every little upgrade or repair, this feels like I am locked in to depending on your service desk for a repair. Which is not what system76 advertises on their own website: https://system76.com/about - This feels like false advertising. If I am to truly repair and own my own computer, the least you could do is tell me what you put inside it.

3. The “tech-docs” you link contain no part numbers. What use is documentation if I have no clue what part numbers to buy? I saw those before I bought my laptop, and I feel like I was tricked into thinking part #s would listed if the repair process was. This feels a bit dishonest.

FYI they gate part numbers behind their “service desk” - My fan is broken and its been 72 hours with not even a single reply from their service desk.

Luckily there are 3rd parties out there who have some of the part numbers.

Be warned, System76 does not make laptop part numbers public, and this can really burn you if your laptop breaks. Having to wait 72hours+ just to get a part number, or the even the option to buy a new part from them really leaves a bad taste.

Imagine if your laptop fans break, and you have to wait over a week just to get a replacement part quoted. Not cool, not user freedom.

FYI Its been over 72 hours and system76 has still not provided me with either:

1. An option to buy a new part from them

2. The part # so I can buy it myself

Imagine if your laptop breaks, and you might have to wait over a week just to get a quote on a new part (they dont list parts on their site). You can’t even know you’re buying the right part from a 3rd party since they keep this information gated.

It just feels very anti-freedom anti-opensource to gatekeep these things behind support tickets.

Why is it not listed on the website, it feels very anti-opensource to hide it behind a gatekeeping process