Fedora Project and Slimbook Collaborate to Deliver New Fedora Slimbook Ultrabook

A Fedora Slimbook is off to the right with the words "available now" in the middle and the Fedora and Slimbook logos at the bottom.

Cover image by Daimar Stein

The Fedora Project and Slimbook announce a new ultrabook exclusively featuring Fedora software.

RALEIGH, NC AND VALENCIA, SPAIN – October 11, 2023 – Today, the Fedora Project and Slimbook are pleased to announce the Fedora Slimbook, a cutting-edge ultrabook.

Slimbook, renowned for its commitment to quality, innovation and support for the Linux community, has joined forces with the Fedora Project to bring users a new computing experience like never before. The Fedora Slimbook provides a sleek design, exclusively features Fedora software and boasts top-of-the-line features and performance enhancements, including:

  • 16” 16:10 sRGB 99%
  • 3K display 90Hz
  • Intel® Core™ i7-12700H 20 threads
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
  • Up to 64GB RAM
  • Up to 4TB Nvme SSD
  • 82WH battery
  • 1.5 kg weight

The Fedora Slimbook is optimized for Fedora’s specific hardware configurations, thereby providing users with a smoother out-of-the-box experience. This hardware compatibility leads to an improved user experience, especially for those unfamiliar with how to install a Linux distribution themselves.

The Fedora Slimbook is the first Slimbook laptop that offers pre-installed Fedora software, combining Slimbook’s signature functional and stylish aesthetics with Fedora’s commitment to open source principles and focus on cutting-edge Linux distributions. The partnership between the Fedora Project and Slimbook exemplifies Fedora’s commitment to increasing the number of systems with pre-installed Linux and reducing barriers to entry for open source adoption.

In celebration of open source and the crucial role it plays in driving a more inclusive digital future, 3% of the revenue from each Fedora Slimbook ultrabook sale will be donated to the GNOME Foundation, a global non-profit committed to building a diverse and sustainable computing ecosystem.

For more information or to place an order, visit the Fedora Slimbook webpage.

Supporting Quotes

Matthew Miller, Fedora Project Leader, Manager and Distinguished Engineer, Red Hat

“Installing Linux distributions can be a daunting task and can stand in the way of individuals adopting open source software. The collaboration between Fedora Project and Slimbook has removed this hurdle by providing users with hardware featuring pre-installed Fedora software. Red Hat is excited to see open source communities and hardware vendors working together to make open source software more accessible.”

Additional Resources

About the Fedora Project

The Fedora Project is a global community sponsored by Red Hat. We make Fedora Linux – an innovative free & open source operating system for computers, clouds, containers, and other hardware platforms. Fedora envisions a world where everyone benefits from free and open source software built by inclusive, welcoming, and open-minded communities.

About Slimbook

Slimbook started in 2015, in Spain, with the idea of becoming the top brand in the computer market with GNU/Linux. Our mission is to provide a superior computing experience by delivering top-tier products that fulfill the needs of users in the ultrabook and notebook segments.

About Red Hat

Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of enterprise open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to deliver reliable and high-performing Linux, hybrid cloud, container, and Kubernetes technologies. Red Hat helps customers integrate new and existing IT applications, develop cloud-native applications, standardize on our industry-leading operating system, and automate, secure, and manage complex environments. Award-winning support, training, and consulting services make Red Hat a trusted adviser to the Fortune 500. As a strategic partner to cloud providers, system integrators, application vendors, customers, and open source communities, Red Hat can help organizations prepare for the digital future.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on the company’s current assumptions regarding future business and financial performance. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. Any forward-looking statement in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by law, the company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

###

Red Hat and Fedora are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. Linux® is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries.

Slimbook is a trademark of Grupo Odin Soluciones Informaticas SL, registered in Europe and based in Spain. The present Slimbook is responsible for the hardware and is in charge of providing warranty for it.

New in Fedora

27 Comments

  1. hoschi

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti

    No.

    If you want open-source kernel modules, a flawless usage with the framebuffer-terminal, X11 and especially Wayland. I recommend strongly using AMD or Intel. Nvidia should have provided documentation and source ten to fifteen years ago, as AMD did. And turning discrete cards on/off? Can work. Can also fail.

    PS: I know that Nvidia is slowly shifting. Too little, too late.

    • IceGuye

      AMD or Intel? Cool, enjoy your journey of binary firmware.

      • null_pointer_00

        The same happens with most hardware in your computer, not only the graphic card. I agree with Hoschi. I’ll also add that Slimbook sells the same computer that you could buy at half o even three times cheaper at other retailers. They just sells a brand. Like Apple.

        • Claude

          I have a MacBook Air M2 that cost less than that Slimbook.

        • IceGuye

          You agree with him for what? In 10 to 15 years ago, you know how bad the open source AMD graphic driver is, right? And no, a lot of people run their crap out of computers with removed binary firmware with no issue, including running a NVIDIA with Nouveau. Wayland and Vulkcan? Cool, enjoy your journey of all hypes with them.

          But I agree with you on the price though. I would carefully choose an open source friendly machine in regular retailers, instead of paying the brand.

          • David Frantz

            If the high prices where going to building the company and supporting open source, I wouldn’t complain so much.

    • David Frantz

      This is exactly what I thought when skimming through the article. It is like there is some sort of disconnect between the GNOME foundation and the mission of the pen source world.

  2. Show me the money

    Nice. Will desktops other than Gnome be available? If so, where will the donations go?

  3. Roman

    NVIDIA? Are you serious?

  4. Scotty_Trees

    For a project that embodies open-source so much (coming from an Nvidia user myself), I find it a bit odd they didn’t go with AMD graphics. I mean, the Nvidia drivers aren’t even in the Fedora repos, you have to install RPMFusion to get them, so this choice is very odd.

    On a manufacturing/scaling level, it probably made more sense for them to use Nvidia, but for most Fedora fans, this is going to rub them the wrong way. Nvidia is working on open-source drivers, but it’s still years away from ready.

    Also, ~$2k for a base level laptop is quite a steep cost for many Linux users who will likely look elsewhere for other hardware and better deals. Hopefully in the future, you can add an AMD option, but realistically I don’t see these units flying off the shelves. Overall, it’s a good first step and I welcome the addition, but know your audience.

  5. Adriano

    I a newbie… So I have a question for those who had comment out…
    Why not nvidia on a fedora laptop?

    • Darvond

      Nvidia is infamously aggressively closed source; to the point that Linus Torvalds once swore at them during a speech. This has stifled the development and use of Wayland seeing as the Nouveau driver is practically useless for anything serious and/or fun.

  6. Andre Gompel

    Please,
    consider not using NVIDIA unless you need to do CUDA and like, then special-order.

    Else, consider using an AMD Ryzen Series, which have the best Video, the best virtualization, and for some models do support ECC memory, consider shipping with ECC memory as an option.

    Compared to AMD Ryzen (ideally 7000 series for DDR5 support) the Intel chip are very largely outdated, run hotter, use more power… and are more expensive !

    Consider one day soon, shipping a RISC-V CPU based, but it is too early.

  7. A M

    For a 16” a bigger battery would be possible, like Tuxedo InfinityBook Pro that is only 14”.
    Would be cool the possibility of removing NVIDIA.
    Why not another type c instead of AC Connector, feels like a laptop from the past.

  8. Phoenix

    Neat! Though I share the GPU concerns by others. Considering the “smoother out-of-the-box experience”, I would also like to see ATI/AMD over Nvidia.

  9. krrg

    Hardware collaborations are a good way of getting Fedora into the hands of more people, so I appreciate the value in collaborations like this. It is awesome that Fedora was chosen!

    I don’t think this would be for me though; the Framework 16 looks like a more competent competitor right now with a full AMD stack and a lot more upgrade-ability. More options are not bad though, and people should be free to run Fedora where they want, even if their hardware isn’t what I would personally pick.

  10. Sounds like progress! Separating future ideals from current needs, I need specific GPU access for AI-ML work (not optional entertainment), so being able to make the project work means being able to make the project work, which is nessesary to keep livng. Best of luck! The more of these projects, the more we’ll all learn. Let’s work together and be friendly please. Teamwork, folks!

  11. Mercury

    there are already thinkpads for this!

    • Dani_L

      While I like Thinkpads (and currently using one with fedora), I think such sentiment is wrong. I don’t want to be in a single provider market. Competition is a good thing. I would like to see many more vendors support linux (and specifically Fedora) officially and out of the box, and this slimbook is definitely a step in the right direction.

  12. Ernesto Manriquez

    1. I support everyone here who isn’t supporting NVIDIA. AMD or Intel graphics are the ideal setup.
    2. Also, can you provide a hardware enablement extra package, for this laptop, in Fedora repos? After powertop2tuned is back, it would be awesome that this laptop comes with a specially crafted package to factory tune Fedora, setting all the right options and enabling tuned. Let’s remember that, in Fedora, tuned is a native way to tune power usage.

  13. Zies

    Lets focus. Its shipping with fedora linux ?

  14. I hope the Slimbook people can use the feedback on hardware despite the negative tone. Having an open OS preinstalled is a win regardless of hardware complaints (and no device is perfect – tired of replacing Dell laptop keyboard).

    Remember what happened to Dell when they preinstalled Ubuntu – and got sued by a college student because it didn’t run MS Word. Hopefully the lawyers have taken preventative measures on that scenario. The more brands that offer preinstalled open OS choices, the fewer confused and potentially litigious customers there will be.

  15. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti

    Why? Boo! Hiss! Bad call by Fedora and Slimbook.

  16. Chuck Wolff

    Apple mac book pro here. Why has fedora not used the ARM CPU ? The trouble with apple is the security hassle inside the programs. Fedora may not be used loaded, but could be used live? Just a thought.

  17. Richard P.

    I’m still enjoying my Lenovo ThinkPad X1 that came with Fedora. When I’m up for an upgrade, this will definitely be top of my list!

  18. pimou

    I regret that these laptops are so expensive and have strange or useless features (3k display, nvdia…). If I buy a laptop for Linux, I’m looking first and foremost for good value for money and durable hardware.
    Here, it’s clevo. Idem another German brand
    To meet my criteria, I prefer Lenovo Thinkpads. Cheaper, more suitable, solids and very Fedora/Ubuntu-compatible.

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