Note: It has been brought to my knowledge that Alpha is not processing orders or responding to complaints in last few weeks. Some people purchased it during Christmas sale and never received it. I have tried to contact the owners of Alpha and have got no response so far. It’s a registered business and is run by two people so maybe they are short on the manpower but that doesn’t explain why they cannot reply to emails.
So if you are planning to buy one, please contact them beforehand and see if they respond.
Year of the Linux desktop might not have arrived, but the year of Linux laptop is certainly here.
Only a few weeks back we saw a dedicated laptop specially tweaked for KDE Neon. Today we have got a new laptop series running elementary OS by default.
elementary OS is a Linux distribution mostly focused on the design element. This aesthetic OS is often considered the best Linux distribution that looks like MacOS.
To cash on the beauty of elementary OS, a new, rather unknown company has revealed a Chromebook like laptop series: Litebook. It is basically a 14″ laptop running on elemnetary OS. The hardware configuration is in the range of entry-level Chromebooks and so is the price tag ($249).
Litebook specification
- Litebook boasts of the following configuration:
- 14.1-inch Full HD (1920×1080)
- Intel Quad-Core processor running at 1.6 GHz
- Graphics: Intel HD 400
- 4GB LPDDR3 RAM
- 512GB HDD (can be upgraded to SSD for additional price)
- 802.11n and Bluetooth 4.0
- 2 USB 3.0 ports
- 1 HDMI port
- 1 Ethernet port
- MicroSD card reader
- 720px webcam
- 1.3 KG weight
- 9 hours battery claimed
- Price starts from $249, shipping extra
Litebook also claims to have modified elementary OS to make it more compatible with Litebook hardware. It also claims that “come without performance hogging bloatware” and at the same time Skype, Spotify and bunch of other software are installed by default.
Note: An earlier version of this article raised question over the authenticity of LiteBook because it used fake images of laptops to promote the product and did not provide a physical address of its business and wasn’t even a registered company. Things have changed since then so I have removed that section of the article.
This company is a scam. They deliver non-functional laptops at best, nobody in sales or support answers emails.
I’m with the other complaints on here. I actually got my litebook when they were released and instantly found their customer service is horrid (which is an overstatement) because I got a pink one and had ordered black. No big deal, I accepted that it would be the wrong color but I was instantly turned off the ZERO response from their customer service. Next I found out if you tried to reinstall or even update the same elemetary OS on it it would become unuseable as not all the drivers are there for the device if using the normal packaged OS . This means searching the forums for bits and pieces to download and make the trackpad and WIFI actually work EVERY time you update the OS. Annoying indeed, but after searching you can make it work. I recently saw they started selling USB sticks which had those components all together so that I could toy with it and reinstall things easier and quickly ordered one. It had been years since my initial distaste and I had hopes this company had improved. After a month of not getting my USB I researched the forums and found what I feel is highly inappropriate ways to run a business noted all over web forums and even on their own site. Reading over the owners posts about excuses for people being sick, etc. I had even read on one forum where someone was getting the run around while the owner jet skid. In all instances the owner seems to push off responsibility for shipping on anyone but himself and sounds like some trust fund wealthy college kid who has an attitude problem. He acts like he has a company but takes no responsibility for making it actually function. I’ve never seen posts like this on any company EVER and can’t believe he’s not shut down yet. This time around I’m only out $20 for the USB stick but wow, Just DON’T DO IT. Order a cheaper lenovo off ebay or something that’s noted to work with linux. The drivers will be more reliable and honestly that litebook is cheeeeeeap materials… guaranteed any other computer is more solid and will actually get shipped to you without some pre teen snob whining about the shipping department being sick. Ok, go to Florida and start shipping them yourself!? Honestly if that was my company that’s what I’d do! It’s insane his level of obligation and where he sees his role.
Same issues here with the new Litebook model as others have mentioned .
I was really hoping this would be a slick widget but I’m very disappointed with this product. It is half-baked and not ready for shipping to customers. Wifi is flaky too. Touchpad stopped working after initial self-prompted SW updates, and I was amazed they shipped it with other features not even working yet.
The the icing on the cake- after I confirmed up front via email that I would be able to install Mint with no issues, I find a loose sheet thrown in the box saying nope that isn’t possible: i have to get a special ISO from Apha. Wow- they lied to me in my face essentially. I would have never purchased it had I known this.
After 5 attempts to contact Alpha to return the product, with no replies, I have contacted the Better Business Bureau and filed a complaint, and I suggest others do so also. There is a note since I originally submitted my complaint a few days ago that they have received several complaints recently similar in nature to mine.
Alpha has ripped me off and they will rip you off too.