Planet Computer systems hits the desktop with a line of touchscreen Linux computer systems

Planet Computer systems turned heads when it arrived on the scene virtually precisely 5 years in the past. The London-based {hardware} startup was banking on a little bit of nostalgia for the times of tactile cellular keyboards, because it tried to pull the PDA kicking and screaming into the twenty first century with the Gemini. 2020’s Astro Slide 5G adopted in an identical vein, spurring on a extremely profitable crowdfunding marketing campaign, regardless of being launched at the start of the pandemic.
At this time, the agency hit MWC in Barcelona with, considerably satirically, a non-mobile system. Planet is launching a line of ARM-powered Linux desktop PCs. The brand new XR line is being pushed because the “first-ever out-of-the-box Linux mini desktop expertise,” that means that the tip person has to do little to get the Ubuntu bins up and working.
“The XR collection is Planet’s first foray into the non-public pc market,” CEO Janko Mrsic-Flogel says in a launch tied to this morning’s information. “By productizing Linux right into a mini desktop PC, the XR is one other step in the direction of making a extra open and inclusive computing ecosystem.”

Picture Credit: Planet Computer systems
The road is launching with two methods – the XR1 and XR2, fittingly. The previous encompasses a 4-core processor, coupled with 4GB or RAM and 32GB of storage. The latter will get you eight cores and a Mali-G610 GPU. RAM runs 4GB to 32GB and storage is obtainable from 32 to 256GB (you will get that as much as 2TB with add ons).
There isn’t any the identical built-in nostalgia current that you simply’ll discover in Planet’s cellular gadgets. The addition of a coloration touchscreen is actually attention-grabbing, providing controls and particulars on system efficiency.
“Planet has at all times innovated with system type elements,” says Mrsic-Flogel, “and we’re particularly excited in regards to the XR’s built-in coloration touchscreen, which supplies Linux customers a brand new stage of management and confidence, in addition to the right platform for builders to entry good Linux home equipment.”
Like its predecessor, the XR will likely be made obtainable by way of Indiegogo. Those that get in early can choose up the XR1 at £399 ($477) or the XR2 for £499 ($596).