If you’ve kept up with recent technology news, you may have noticed that the world’s most popular operating system has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Users are now required to log in with a cloud account, the use of AI is basically a requirement, surveillance data is sent off to unknown servers, and users are forced to accept ever-changing license agreements that invade privacy. Why do we put up with this?
Security experts often recommend installing Linux to avoid these problems, but that can be inconvenient at best. Thankfully, since 2019, Kubuntu Focus has optimized a popular Linux OS for compatible hardware and assumed its installation and maintenance so that all the features you need continue to work for years after your purchase.
Do you want sleep-resume to always work, even with multiple external screens attached? System snapshots with the click of a button? Sound and microphones over HDMI/Bluetooth/Speakers/USB? Video conferencing? Ethernet and Wi-Fi networking? Wireless and USB peripherals? Keyboard color and CPU power controls? These capabilities, and many more, are validated on all models, and you won’t see a kernel, driver, or desktop update unless they all work.
How-To Geek recently reviewed the 6th-generation Kubuntu Focus M2, a laptop built for power users who need premium CPU and GPU performance. It benefits from rigorous validation as described above, and it excels in machine learning and other demanding fields that thrive on computing power. It comes with a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, a 12GB NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti mobile GPU, and up to 96GB of DDR5 RAM. One M.2 Gen5 slot and two M.2 Gen4 slots can provide up to 12 TB of fast storage.
This laptop is impressive on the inside and also offers a top-class experience on the outside. The showstopper here is the gorgeous 16-inch 16:10 LCD running at a crisp 2560×1600 and 240Hz. Offering 100% of the sRGB range, it’s suitable for color-sensitive work and amazing media reproduction. You also don’t have to deal with typical poor laptop sound, as the M2 GEN 6 has crisp and loud side-firing speakers and a noise-canceling microphone to make meetings a snap. Speaking of meetings, the sharp 5MP webcam has an integrated privacy shutter, so you’re only seen when you want to be.
Any serious laptop needs a serious number of ports, and the M2 GEN 6 comes with all the ports you’ll ever need:
- 1 x HDMI 2.1b Output Port (with HDCP)
- 2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 with Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort 2.1b, and Power Delivery DC In
- 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 Ports (1 x Powered USB, AC/DC)
- 1 x 2-in-1 Audio Jack (Headphone and Microphone)
- 1 x 2.5 Gigabit RJ-45 Ethernet LAN (10/100/1000/2500 Mbit/s)
- 1 x Kensington Lock
- 1 x DC-IN Power Connector
- 1 x Micro SD Push-Push Card Reader
This means you can connect up to three 4K external displays!
To complete the integration between the M2 and the OS, it comes with the Kubuntu Focus Suite (KFS), a collection of open source tools that provide fine control over power profiles, keyboard colors, system snapshots, video sync, and more. Comprehensive documentation helps you tackle complex tasks quickly and correctly.
The Kubuntu Focus M2 GEN 6 goes far beyond just Linux on a laptop—it is an official Ubuntu flavor expertly optimized for this hardware and supported as a complete product.
- Operating System
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Kubuntu 24.04 LTS
- CPU
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Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (2.7GHz up to 5.4GHz)
- GPU
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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (dGPU), Intel Graphics (iGPU)
- RAM
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32GB Dual-Channel DDR5 262-pin SODIMM (5600MHz)
- Storage
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1TB M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe GEN 5×4
- Battery
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80 Wh Embedded 4-Cell Polymer with FlexiCharger Battery Optimization
If you’re looking for power, Kubuntu’s Focus M2 Gen 6 laptop is an excellent choice. The Linux-powered device is the ideal work and gaming station, offering everything from a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU to a 12GB NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti mobile GPU.
