C100 Developer Terminal
32 comments
·November 26, 2025doug_durham
"Get out of your way" is marketing speak to cover for missing applications. I've rarely seen such a blatant piece of marketing. "A computer for experts". Any computer with access to a terminal prompt is a computer for experts.
notnmeyer
ehhhh, i disagree partially. a less cynical take would be to call it “opinionated”.
any computer can be for “experts”, but that’s not the same as delivering something preconfigured and opinionated.
nobody has actually seen this thing in action yet, but in my head it’s hardware + some opinionated linux distro (i imagine something like omarchy) + support.
certainly not what everybody would want, but if there are people that enjoy configuring their systems then there’s people that don’t.
StrLght
A laptop without a screen for the price of a regular laptop?
I get that economies of scale don't apply to something so niche, but that's just a bad deal. I'd rather get Framework Desktop.
OzzyB
Put in a couple of MIDI ports and I'll pretend it's a modern day Atari ST and run some Cubase...
necrotic_comp
This isn't made by developers, that's clear, and I don't think it's going to be very functional. However, I do love the aesthetic and I do love that someone is trying something new.
garciasn
By new you mean they’re making a 1980s all-in-one keyboard/computer with the 10 key on the wrong side of the keyboard running a version of a familiar-to-most-of-us OS that isn’t at all new looking?
I’m sorry; none of this is new to me except the absurd price tag.
BrouteMinou
That's a weird keyboard, some computer specs and a weird linux distro... that's going to cost you $2k.
$100 to have the rights to reserve one? That's really nice of them.
Well... Good luck guys!
gorgoiler
I was hoping to see a flip up 12” x 4” screen. A bunch of devices have been showing up recently with this particular format of OLED. Here’s one that may or may not be vaporware, but which links to a couple of other devices with the same screen, so presumably something is shipping:
https://liliputing.com/kernelcom-is-a-compact-mini-laptop-wi...
Alas, this is more of a BBC B / Amiga format nostalgia fest, from the homeland of the hipster dads, Central Shoreditch.
This device could certainly add real value though if the OS / hardware integration gets nailed. That is, after all, where the Raspberry Pi really shone brightly: defining a standardised and working platform.
flir
> the homeland of the hipster dads, Central Shoreditch
Old enough to remember when the hipsters moved in, I feel vindicated. Vindicated!
(I like the beeb/amiga comparison, and I like the textured case, but I don't like the left-hand numpad).
rickcarlino
I’ll be really happy if this becomes a market segment. A commercial desktop specifically for technical users on Linux is great to see.
overgard
System76 exists
data-ottawa
Beautiful webpage but I would like to know more about both the machine and the OS.
notnmeyer
i’ve been following this for a while and still find it completely wild that you can preorder but there’s effectively no details.
theres a couple completely unimpressive videos (like 15s long) from employees on linkedin where they show off… tiling window management.
keithnz
the choices made on the keyboard layout seem weird to me, though I do like the left hand numpad. But the big esc? the Fn key up top right seems like it makes key chords with it kind of hard. No ins key? no prt scr? is that 3 ctrl keys? or is that a caps lock? arrow keys etc seem a bit far away from main keyboard...
xorvoid
Here's someone trying to build a serious PC focused on Linux. But the comments are very negative. And people wonder why the year of the Linux desktop still haven't arrived.
If you want PCs targeting Linux with good support... don't complain when someone tries doing exactly that.
summa_tech
I think a lot of the negativity comes from the odd choice of keyboard layout.
You can think of it as a weirdness budget: this is an odd-purposed device, running a specialty distribution of Linux by design. It is not portable despite having portable-like specs. And on top of this, it has an unusual keyboard layout.
It costs a lot of money and requires pre-orders, so you can't even impulse buy it. You can't actually see if you'd like the keyboard switch or layout in stores, either.
canucker2016
I just assumed that the keyboard designer was a left-handed accounting/Excel geek (numeric keypad on the left side of the keyboard).
chrsw
I could be wrong but I think a lot of the negativity comes from people who want a modern laptop, with decent port selection, a good screen and a good keyboard, fully supported by Linux because everything is open. Quality hardware with support when you want it and open documentation and open drivers if you want to do something yourself. Like a MacBook Pro but with USB-A ports and built with 100% Linux compatibility from the ground up.
wmf
You can get a normal PC with Linux preinstalled from Lenovo, Dell, Framework, System76, etc. This isn't bringing much new other than a retro case, a few widgets, and pretentious marketing. I understand that they're probably "lean' so the first version isn't going to be impressive, but that means they need to sell it below cost not at a premium.
keithnz
you should complain a lot when the offering is not great, odd design decisions, bad price point, etc.... All of that is information to make better offerings. Instead of this thing, I think there are far better offerings from things like https://system76.com/laptops
api
It’s just not a good deal and it’s a bit weird. A Framework laptop or desktop, a DIY build, or any number of other brands are better and sometimes cheaper.
Who is this for?
Because it's not for the developers I know – they either want a Macbook or an infinitely configurable (hardware and software) workstation, whereas this has the configurability of a Macbook with the ease of use of the workstation, clearly not a combination people want.
I can only assume this is for mechanical keyboard collectors. Developer-adjacent tech enthusiasts who like the idea of Linux, without an actual professional need for it. People who like well built devices, but don't really care about swapping out hardware. People who have a lot of disposable income and want to buy cool things.
If that's the target market, that's fine. I guess the problem is that market only buys it if you claim its for a different market, developers/etc. As a result it's going to rile up developers every time as they always feel the need to push back with "this isn't what I want".