I really like the idea of what Purism is doing with their Librem devices, from a privacy and transparency perspective. Obviously that is of primary concern for their customers including myself. I’m happy to support their mission.
But for a device I’m going to use every day (Librem 14 and potentially Librem 5), I have some other practical concerns before I make the leap. So for anyone with a Librem device, I have the following questions:
1.) How’s the build quality in general? I know there have been issues with e.g. hinges on the older laptop models, which have supposedly been fixed in the upcoming Librem 14. And I read something about headphone jacks being loose.
Anything else you have noticed over time? Are they solid and robust mechanical designs? My old computers are pushing 10 years and still holding up fairly well, albeit slowly. It would be nice if Librems seemed comparable.
2.) How’s the thermal management? Do the laptops tend to run hot or overheat under load, or is this well-designed?
3.) How noisy are the laptops? I don’t want something that sounds like a jet taking off. When I built my old PC, I specifically chose quiet components. Obviously I don’t expect Purism to have the same focus, but it’s something I consider. Ideally, I won’t hear it most of the time and can enjoy either the silence of my surroundings or some quiet music.
4.) How are the keyboard and touchpad? Responsive and comfortable for extended use, or any issues lingering here? How does the keyboard noise compare to other laptops?
5.) How is the screen quality? Color accuracy, brightness and contrast, how does it perform in movies and gaming, as well as professional tasks?
And anything else you’ve noticed from a build/usability perspective?
I guess only the Purism team could weigh in on the Librem 14 right now, maybe I’ll get lucky and they’ll chime in here