Intel’s new 7th-gen CPUs sail into System76’s updated Lemur laptop

System76 said on Tuesday that it has updated its Lemur-branded laptop with Intel’s new seventh-generation “Kaby Lake” processors. This laptop specifically ships with Ubuntu 16.04.01 LTS (64-bit) installed, thus offering a cheaper price point than an identical solution packing Windows 10. Pricing for the Lemur starts at $700.

According to the product page, this laptop provides five areas that can be configured: processor, memory, operating system drive, additional storage, and the type of Wireless AC connectivity. On the processor front, there are only two choices: the Intel Core i3-7100U (default) and the Intel Core i7-7500U (an added $160).

Here are the base hardware components:

Processor:	Intel Core i3-7100U @ 2.4GHz
Display:	14.1 inch IPS panel
Resolution:	1,920 x 1,080
Graphics:	Integrated Intel HD Graphics 620
Memory:	4GB DDR4L @ 2,400MHz
Storage:	500GB 7,200RPM hard drive
Networking:	Wireless AC, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth
Webcam:	1,280 x 960 resolution
Battery:	44Wh (removable)
Ports:	1x USB 3.1 Type-C 1x USB 3.0 Type-A 1x USB 2.0 Type-A 1x SD card reader 1x HDMI 1x VGA 1x headphone jack 1x microphone jack
Weight:	3.6 pounds
Size:	13.4 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches

On the memory front, the laptop can be configured with 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB of DDR4L memory (2x slots). As for storage, options include a 250GB M.2 SSD, a 500GB M.2 SSD, a 256GB PCIe M.2 SSD, a 512GB PCIe M.2 SSD, and a 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD. In order to cram a second storage device into the laptop, customers must first choose an SSD as the primary drive, and then tack on the additional 4TB 2.5 inch SSD for an extra $1,680.

As for the wireless networking options, the default configuration uses a Wireless N component capable of up to 433Mb/s while customers can tack $20 onto the final bill and upgrade to a Wireless AC component capable of up to 867Mb/s. Other features loaded into the updated Lemur laptop include stereo speakers, a chiclet keyboard, a multi-touch touchpad, and a Kensington lock.

If you’re wanting to know the specifics of the two Intel processors used in the updated Lemur, here are some of the specs:

	Core i3-7100U	Core i7-7500U
Process node	14nm	14nm
Number of cores/threads	2/4	2/4
Base clock speed	2.40GHz	2.70GHz
Burst clock speed	n/a	3.50GHz
Cache	3MB	4MB
Energy usage	15 watts	15 watts
Max memory support	32GB	32GB
Memory types	DDR4-2133 LPDDR3-1866 DDR3L-1600	DDR4-2133 LPDDR3-1866 DDR3L-1600
Max memory bandwidth	34.1GB/s	34.1GB/s
Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 620	Intel HD Graphics 620
Graphics base speed	300MHz	300MHz
Graphics max speed	1,000MHz	1,050MHz
Max resolution	4,096 x 2,304	4,096 x 2,304

Obviously, you’ll see improved performance by choosing the Core i7 option. The processor adds $160 to the final bill, but the additional cost may be worth it. Then again, if you’re looking for an Ubuntu-based laptop that doesn’t need a whole lot of horsepower, then the default Core i3 processor option should do just nicely.

Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS is actually the latest version of the popular Linux-based operating system. The platform is free to use if you’re not looking for a complete laptop solution. The release notes state that this new version is based on Linux kernel v4.4, and includes Python 3, Golang 1.6, OpenSSH 7.2p2, and more. Links to multiple download sites are available within the release notes.

from Planet GS via John Jason Fallows on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2daQC7s
Kevin Parrish