So what makes a laptop better than all the laptops you see fly off the shelves? Hard to say, as competition has “gotten real” (the kids say that). When it comes to the choice of what new laptop a consumer wants, you might think the average person goes in either direction of Microsoft or Apple. See, two different operating systems are what we’re used to, and who wants to go outside of their comfort zone? I will tell you who, those who already enjoy the luxuries of having something open-sourced, free-ranged, and more suitable to their own needs. Another great thing about these options, a.k.a., Ubuntu Linux (once there’s another relative alternative I’ll be sure to fill you all in), is that there are a bunch of Linux flavors. A downside of that, however, resides in the trickiness of wooing some customers over. For a while now, there’s been difficulties in the Linux realm of hardware support, another dizzying prospect that makes it difficult for consumers to make the big switch.

I mean, how hard is it for an Apple user to make the big switch over to another operating system? Since I myself am an example of this type of consumer, I found it quite easy to go from an iPhone to a Galaxy S7, only because I had enough experience with the Google and Android environment. Additionally, there’s preexisting encouragement that both systems work fantastically. I mean, it’s all about the customer review, and for years now, both companies have been doing great. Ubuntu on the other hand, although growing in popularity at a better rate than ever, still won’t convince the average Joe to switch over.

When it comes to making the switch, folks need to be ready to understand the setting up process, and some of the difficulties that might come along with it. Not everything is as straightforward with the underdog that is Ubuntu. But guess what guys? This isn't the case with a company called Entroware, a UK-based start-up that specializes in providing Ubuntu Linux-based computing solutions and services. While stocking a wide range of laptops, desktops, and servers that run Ubuntu, the hard work of setting up all of the driver’s hardware and compatibility mechanisms are actually taken care of before the user even opens up the box..

The device Entroware has released is called the Orion laptop, a PC system using Yakkety Yak 16.10, which of course is Ubuntu’s latest OS update; either that, or the Ubuntu MATE 16.10 release. Despite the introduction of this new 14-inch Orion device, this operating system release is a big deal. Canonical unveiled it after 6 months of hard work, and there are plenty of features offered that many Linux lovers will appreciate, and they can get that experience using Orion.

So, as mentioned, although Entroware offers many Ubuntu-powered laptops and desktop computers, Orion is an excitable option because of how powerful and affordable it is supposed to be. This particular flavor of Ubuntu-style computing runs an Intel Core i3 processor at 2.4GHz, accompanied by 8GB of DDR3 RAM, and 250GB of SSD. Many configuration options are possible, especially if you wanted to bump up that Intel to an i7 chip, increase the RAM to 32GB, or even up the storage to a big 4TB SSD. The great thing is that you don't have to worry about this shooting into the thousands of dollars range, as most computers with these specs easily would. The starting price is $650 for the configuration I primarily mentioned.

And finally, as far as design, it's not going to be a spectacular show here. This is a practical computer with a little extra bulk to help with heat distribution and airflow. Reviews suggest that it stays cool, and while weighing in at 3.96 pounds, it's only slightly heavier than the MacBook Pro. Finally, everybody who is a connectivity hoarder will enjoy the plethora of ports on the Orion, which include an SD card, HDMI output, Ethernet, 2 USB Type-A ports, 1 USB Type-C port, as well as separate microphone and headphone jacks. Basically you are in a goldmine if you enjoy a Linux laptop, are not a minimalist, and are cool with some good old old-school regularity when it comes to size, weight, a nice chiclet-style keyboard, and a 1080p resolution. It's nothing fancy, but it's on par with most Windows 10 laptops these days, which come in at much higher prices.