Looking at the specs sheet, this stood out:
Fingerprint reader (Windows-only)
Great! It’s good to see they are also contributing upstream!
If you’re not rich or willing enough to contribute to this, the ASUS TUF Advantage (2023) is a very similar all-AMD gaming laptop, a good fit for Linux, at roughly half the price on sale. I’ve been using it for a few months now. Zen3+ cores instead of Zen4 but 32GB RAM and an RX7600S, but with only 1920x1200 pixels at 165 Hz, instead of 1440p.
Just make sure to install a distro with a recent kernel version:
- Pop!_OS (best “just works” distro with recent kernel)
- Fedora 39+ or derivative (such as Nobara)
- Archlinux or a derivative like EndeavourOS or Garuda
Linux Mint will not work out of the box so if you insist on Linux Mint, you will have to install a newer kernel yourself.
It’s good but not strictly necessary to install asusctl and supergfxctl on it for stuff like limiting battery charge to 80% and turning off the dGPU when working away from wall power.
For a gaming laptop it lacks sex appeal. I’m not asking for rgb keyboard, but maybe something that doesn’t look like an office issued accounting computer.
I actually love the fact that it DOESN’T have some tacky leet gamer design like nearly every other gaming laptop
I’m with you. I was in the market for a new laptop earlier this year and it was surprisingly hard to find something that didn’t look like it was designed by and for a bunch of teenagers. Not that there’s anything wrong with that if that’s what you enjoy, but it’s thoroughly not my style.
You want to make sex to your laptop?