We need better CPU
Please upgrade it.
i wouldn’t mind it if we would get a chasis-integrated-volume-knob for the integrated laptop audio stereo speaker system < someone was complaining about sw-volume in another thread here on Purism …
i would be up for it if we could pre-order (when and if it’s available) a simple AMP/DAC with a volume-knob for external IEMs/head-set that is also open-hw/free-sw certified …
I’ve been using a Librem 13v4 as my daily driver for about a year now. Most of that time I used Fedora; a few weeks ago I switched to Manjaro.
Overall, I’ve been extremely happy with this machine. I have only 2 complaints, both involving the keyboard:
- The broken scan code on the "| " (vertical-bar/backslash) key is an embarrassment that needs to finally be fixed in future models.
- A set of Caps/Num Lock indicator LEDs would have saved me a lot of annoyances.
Fix these bugs, incrementally upgrade the CPU/memory/SSD, lower the price a little: that would be a Librem 13v5 I would buy and recommend.
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One more thing…
I upgraded my wifi card to an Intel 9260 and the improvement is stunning. It requires a proprietary driver, so obviously that violates the Purism ethos. But something better than the Atheros 802.11n hardware needs to be used in future Librem models.
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Why would this need a new model, instead of just a firmware update?
Firmware update to what exactly? If you mean to the keyboard’s embedded controller chip then yes that would probably do it but I don’t think Purism can do that. No source.
If you mean to the BIOS, I think it is more complicated than that due to the number of different environments that all have to work: BIOS x 2, GRUB, early boot, LUKS, live boot (various distros), Qubes, PureOS, other distros
It was stated that this will be fixed by a new model (v5, using a different keyboard embedded controller): Keyboard layout unable to recognize pipe
Obviously it is awkward that the ‘|’ character is so frequently used by anyone who uses a shell but, as the above-linked topic notes, you can be in strife if your LUKS password contains this character.
It is also implied in that topic that they have upstreamed a quirk accommodation for this but maybe that was after @zenbum bought the 13v4.
Ahh thanks, I had just assumed Purism could update the firmware to the keyboard embedded controller. Or rather that they could talk to the ODM to do that.
My further wish is to have the kill switches put back in the hinge.
I don’t like that on the side, the switches can be affected while putting the laptop in and out of a bag, or just while in transit. Certainly not a deal breaker for me either way. This is just a preference thing.
Since they don’t use dedicated GPU, could they use a CPU with eDRAM? The main problem of intergrated graphic is not the performance of iGPU, but they share memory with main CPU, this will:
●Bottleneck the iGPU,
●Slow down the operation of the main CPU, because they have to fight for memory bandwidth.
Not mentioning they still use single channel RAM… But I’ve heard this will change in v5.
Also, Librem products with x86 arch seems always use CPUs with low TDP, eDRAM is a good way to get higher performance without draw much more power.
I guess (or is it just me) that you are talking about Coffee Lake-U processors Iris Plus Graphics with 128MB eDRAM like Intel® Core™ i5-8279U or i7-8569U? If xwayland and libdrm-common are ready to support such processors in high quality on v5 some people might be very pleased. Sorry if I’m misleading, just asking. Such upgrade might even include one Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gb/s) over USB-C (DP 1.2 or USB 3.1 Gen2), therefore PureOS support over LVFS (fwupdmgr) would be must to have feature (Purism has test account on the LVFS).
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Yes you guessed right, I meant those CPUs, and there’s even more model than you mentioned.
eDRAM does not only help iGPU, but also help almost any operation because it’s like L4 cache.
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AMD Ryzen 4700U/4800U/4900U
-The best integrated graphics in the market, giving comparable performance to entry-to-mid level discrete graphics cards from NVIDIA.
-It uses the same security platform as the ones used on the Librem 5 - ARM Trustzone, so Purism only has to deal with that, that’s hitting two birds with one stone.
-The most power efficient 15W x86 cpus available today, lets give the poor fan an easier time.
-Ryzen cpus are manufactured by TSMC, a much much larger company than Intel, focusing simply on being the best semiconductor foundry in the world, they are already manufacturing in the next node (5nm) after the current 7nm and has already started risk production on the next node after that (3nm), obviously TSMC will continue to have its process lead over Intel in at least the next 5 years so why not jump ship now?
-Have I also mentioned that they are more competitively priced than Intel’s offerings?
USB 3.2 if not Thunderbolt 3
Hinge designed & tested to withstand at least 20,000 cycles (Asus Zenbooks have this requirement), I mean, Librems are not supposed to be designed with planned obsolescence in mind right?
HDMI 2.0 or higher to carry 4K at 60 Hz with 24 bit/px colour depth
Dual-channel RAM
16:10 2K display for the Librem 13 (just like last last year’s macbook air)
Brighter display but with less bleed (some of us sometimes like to work outdoors)
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I’m one of those that use mine heavily for media. As my portables are all my methods of media access (my own and streaming) a quite large amount of time on it involves watching something.
I’m privacy minded in work and even greater just daily life usage, but also media enjoyment.
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I’m genuine in this request. And I hope it’s heard and addressed - stronger mounting hinges. I will totally buy the beefiest model you have if that can happen. I’m serious.
There’s lots of other items in there I agree with:
- USB-C
- 4 cores
etc
but hinges, hinges, hinges, it is for me. I’m almost a single topic voter on this one. 
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I can agree with you partially. I mean the hinge is crucial to a laptop, but isn’t the current one already pretty nice? I mean I don’t see any problems forthcoming with the hinge on my v2/v3. How exactly would you like the hinge beefed up?
There’s a lengthy thread here that discusses the challenges that myself and other users have had: Librem 13 hinge and screws. Like others in the thread, I had what seemed like a disproportionately catastrophic breakage to the level of resistance in the metal hinge itself. The breakage occurred at the mount point with what I can only describe as a couple of tiny screws mounted into small plastic receivers. Disproportionately low quality assembly for an otherwise high quality laptop. I feel like a spurned lover! I love my laptop but it doesn’t love me back!
There are a few counterpoints made by some participants that the mount points MIGHT be sufficient but I feel that when I compare it with other laptops, like the HP I am using now due to my Librem breaking, the mounts are not equivalent. For example, the hinge assembly in the HP is a discrete single unit that runs continuously. Is this the right mode? Maybe yes, maybe no. But it certainly speaks of better attention to durability than my previous Librem.
I really, really want to use Purism for my phone, laptop, and more but I feel like some changes are in order to make that happen.
Ahh, so from that perspective, I totally agree with you. Metal hinge means very little if secured by plastic components…
I have a 13" laptop and the touchscreen is very handy when I’m just browsing and relaxing on the couch. I don’t think this would be in v5, but maybe v6. It would also help in developing for the Librem 5.
I have been using a Librem 13v2 for a few years.
The only drawback I really notice is that wifi reception is not competitive with other modern laptops. I need to be closer to the router. How is this on v4?
Everything else is perfect and I would buy this laptop today in a heartbeat for the same price. Keyboard and trackpad are fantastic for me (I recall the trackpad took some getting used to vs Mac but now I love it). Very sturdy, has survived some dents. I’m very satisfied with the battery life but that is always something I would ask to prioritize. Screen, killswitches, hinges great. Fan noise rarely audible except under heaviest loads.
Just a fantastic machine. Can’t speak for newer models but again, except for wifi, the 13v2 nailed it.
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This is pretty much the only thing I ask ^^ would be great to be able to charge the laptop using USB.
Also, wired ethernet would be nice, but that’s just a bit of hassle.
Longer battery time would be nice in general. I don’t care about greater CPU or GPU performance if it comes at expense of battery time. If I wanted a full-time plugged in gaming laptop I’d buy some alienware thing.
System76’s Lemur Pro (https://system76.com/laptops/lemur)
-is smaller & lighter than the Librem 13
-but has a larger display (14.1”)
-has the latest CPUs (on Coreboot & with disabled Intel ME)
-dual channel RAM up to 40GB
-a higher capacity battery to last much longer
-…and…USB-C charging.
(Maybe Purism should consider either putting on a larger display in the same sized chassis Or shaving those bezels. Just a thought.)
System76 is also moving back manufacturing (not just assembly) of their products back to the US, business is doing very well it seems for System76. But that shouldn’t be a surprise right? The better the specs, the larger the market segment it captures, the easier it is for Librems to sell, the more money goes to the Purism cause. One shouldn’t have to choose between productivity & the Purism cause.