Offers in the computer market for free and/or open source software are quite sparse. Dell sells laptops based on Ubuntu, and some HP systems come with FreeDOS to lower their cost, but there isn't much else. Fortunately, the KDE Slimbook is something of an exception to the rule. The KDE community joined forces with Spanish distributor Slimbook to create an Ultrabook based on latest-generation Intel chips, with a configuration that fits the KDE application platform perfectly.
The desktop remains Linux's biggest unresolved subject, and I mean that as a general project. Its technology is everywhere, from routers and smartphones to supercomputers, but there are many reasons why it hasn't yet solved the desktop equation. Of course, there are Linux cowboys out there laughing from their terminals, but the market is a direct communicator of reality (at least in this case). If we go to a computer store and ask for a system with some flavor of Linux preinstalled, we'll most likely leave with a negative answer. As always, most manufacturers doesn't show great interest in selling systems with Linux... but “the majority” doesn't mean “everyone”, and that's how we come across the KDE Slimbook.
What we have here is a laptop in Ultrabook format distributed by the Spanish company Slimbook, which combines the software repository KDE Neon (based on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS) with the Plasma environment. According to the official announcement, the contact was initiated by Slimbook itself, and after being delighted with the idea, KDE developers and designers began working to make the entire software side work flawlessly with the Ultrabook's hardware.
- Processor: two variants, Intel Core i5-6200U or Intel Core i7-6500U
- RAM: 4, 8, or 16 GB
- Storage: SSD from 120 to 500 GB
- Display: 13.3-inch 1080p panel
- Connectivity: WiFi ac and Bluetooth 4.0
- Ports: two USB 3.0, memory card slot, Ethernet adapter
- Battery: 6,800 mAh
- Weight: less than 1.4 kg
It goes without saying that using KDE is not mandatory. The initial offering is limited to KDE Neon, but the KDE community has said they are willing to welcome distros that offer the option to use Plasma. Unlike other similar projects, there's no crowdfunding here: the computers can be purchased today for €729 (Slimbook i5) and €849 (Slimbook i7). With the purchase of each Ultrabook, a portion of the money goes to the KDE project.
