System76 was founded by Carl Richell and Erik Fetzer.[6] In 2003, Fetzer registered the domain system76.com to sell computers with Linux operating systems preinstalled, but the idea was not pursued until two years later. The number 76 in the company name is a reference to 1776, the year the American Revolution took place. Richell explained that the company hoped to spark an "open source revolution", giving consumers a choice to not use proprietary software.[7]
In mid-2005, the founders considered which Linux distribution to offer, with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, openSUSE, Yoper and other distributions evaluated. Ubuntu was initially dismissed, but Richell and Fetzer changed their mind quickly after a re-evaluation. Richell liked Canonical's business model of completely free software, backed by commercial support when needed. The first computers sold by System76 shipped with Ubuntu 5.10 Breezy Badger preinstalled.[7]
In response to Canonical switching to the GNOME desktop from the Unity interface for future releases of Ubuntu in May 2017, System76 announced a new shell called Pop.[8] The company announced in June 2017 that it would be creating its own Linux distribution based on Ubuntu called Pop!_OS.[8][9]
System76's products include the Thelio series of desktops, the Meerkat mini computer, several laptops, and several rack mount servers. The computers are shipped with Pop! OS, the company's in-house Linux Distribution.
System76's computer models are named after various African animals.
In May 2016,[10] the company released the Launch series of mechanical keyboards, which feature the open source QMK firmware and built-in USB hubs.[11]
System76's firmware partly disables the Intel Management Engine;[12][13] the Intel Management Engine is proprietary firmware which runs an operating system in post-2008 Intel chipsets.[14]
On 4 April 2023, System76's CEO and founder Carl Richell announced System76's first in-house designed laptop, code-named "Virgo".[15]
Pop!_OS is a Linux distribution developed by System76 based on Ubuntu, using the GNOME desktop environment. It is intended for use by "developers, makers, and computer science professionals".[16] Pop!_OS provides full disk encryption by default as well as streamlined window management, workspaces, and keyboard shortcuts for navigation.[9]
In 2022, a System76 Engineer revealed that the company was working on a new Desktop Environment for Pop!_OS called COSMIC.[17]
System76 is an active member in the Colorado Ubuntu Community, serving as the corporate sponsor for Ubuntu LoCo events and release parties in downtown Denver.[20][better source needed]
^Hinum, Klaus (23 August 2013). "Clevo, MSI, and Compal Barebones". www.notebookcheck.net. Translated by Martina Osztovits. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
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