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Kubuntu is a free and open source operating system that combines Ubuntu Linux with the KDE Plasma desktop environment. And while you can download and install Kubuntu on a wide range of computers, for the past five years the folks behind the Kubuntu project have been partnering with PC makers to sell Kubuntu Focus laptops and desktops that come with the operating system pre-installed.
The latest entry is the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen 3, a mini PC that comes with a choice of Intel Core Ultra 5 225H or Core Ultra 7 255H "Arrow Lake" processor options. Both chips should bring a big upgrade over the 12th-gen Intel Core "Alder Lake" processors used for the previous-gen model.
According to a press release, single-core CPU performs should be 22 percent better, while multi-core performance gets a 50 percent speed boost. The integrated GPU is almost three times faster. And the new chips have NPUs that deliver up to 13 TOPS of hardware-accelerated AI performance.
Prices start at $895 for an entry-level model with a Core Ultra 5 255H processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, or $1090 for a nearly identical model with a Core Ultra 7 255H chip.
The memory and storage are both user upgradeable – so while you can pay extra for more of each, you can also bring your own. There are two SODIMM slots with support for up to 96GB of DDR5-5600 memory and two M.2 slots: one M.2 2280 connector with support for PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs, and one M.2 2242 connector that tops out at PCIe 4.0 speeds.
Ports include:
The Focus NX Gen 3 has a metal body (with a plastic top) that measures 117 x 112 x 37mm (4.6″ x 4.4″ x 1.5″) and features a fan, heat sink, and Intel BE201 wireless card inside, with support for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
But the main thing setting this mini PC apart from other models with similar hardware is the software. Since it ships with Kubuntu pre-installed and configured, there shouldn't be any compatibility issues to to troubleshoot. And the computer is covered by a 1-year warranty by default, although you can pay more for up to a 3 year warranty.
There are also some Kubuntu Focus Tools including a System Rollback feature that lets you restore your computer from a recent snapshot, and a welcome experience that helps introduce Kubuntu, as well as 1-click installers for certain curated apps, power and fan adjustment tools, and more.
Meanwhile, for folks who don't care about the software that comes pre-installed, there's another way to buy the exact same computer: the Kubuntu Focus NX Gen 3 appears to be a rebranded version of the Asus NUC 15 Pro Slim, which sells for $384 and up (although a model with a Core Ultra 5 255H processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD is priced at $689).
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