Re:StarFighter 16 inch: 4K Coreboot/Ryzen Linux laptop
by jnsaff2 on Sunday February 12, 2023 @02:32AM
(#34760732)
> that business model does not involve owning your own factories
Apple does not own their own factories.
Re:StarFighter 16 inch: 4K Coreboot/Ryzen Linux laptop
by brookst on Sunday February 12, 2023 @11:38AM
(#34764187)
Apple’s manufacturing story is complex. They design most of the parts, and they often own the much of the equipment in the factories. Apple’s involvement with their suppliers is much much deeper than companies who resell ODM equipment.
Re:StarFighter 16 inch: 4K Coreboot/Ryzen Linux laptop
by chx on Sunday February 12, 2023 @02:44AM
(#34760785)
Do they? I was under the impression most small brands simply resell such ODMs as Clevo or TongFang perhaps they add RAM/SSD/such -- but they do not design custom motherboards and chassis.
Re:StarFighter 16 inch: 4K Coreboot/Ryzen Linux laptop
by Brian_K_White on Sunday February 12, 2023 @06:05AM
(#34761905)
They did exactly that already for a few years. It doesn't seem crazy to me that after a while of that, they advanced to do a bit more. Still sounds like they mostly employed others, just now a level up from before, employing designers rather than buying finished product.
Re:StarFighter 16 inch: 4K Coreboot/Ryzen Linux laptop
by mardifoufs on Sunday February 12, 2023 @06:14AM
(#34761944)
Wait so they design it in house? That's pretty amazing considering their small size, especially compared to system76.
>In 2017, we started using Clevo as a supplier. The result was; the Star Lite Mk I, the Star LabTop Mk II and the Star LabTop Pro Mk I. There were a vast array of options to chose from in these laptops, from wireless to memory to pre-installed distribution. You may be familiar with Clevo as they have a lot of resellers across the world. It was a step in the right direction but they left something to be desired when comparing them to the competition - the batteries were small, the bezels were big and modern standards such as USB-C charging were not available.
>We had to build our own. When 2018 came around, we started working on our very own laptops. We used a variety of suppliers, design houses and factories. It was 6 long months of tooling and testing on repeat until two new laptops were born in December 2018; the Star Lite Mk II and the Star LabTop Mk III.
Simply put, they have the same business model as any other small brand for laptops, and that business model does not involve owning your own factories. Now, their small size and limited financial resources certainly casts doubt on their ability to provide ongoing support for their products, but it doesn't preclude getting a product out the door in the first place.