System76
System76 business and news from across the web.
Colorado and California age verification bills exempt open source operating systemsNew age verification laws in Colorado and California will exempt open source operating systems and applications. The Colorado bill, effective July 1, 2028, and the California bill, effective January 1, 2027, both include similar exemptions for software distributed under licenses that permit modification and redistribution. This distinction is expected to benefit Linux distributions and devices like the Steam Deck, while proprietary systems like Windows will still be subject to the regulations.
I've spent 30 years with Microsoft but Linux and Pop! OS might have converted meAfter 30 years of using Microsoft Windows, the author details their experience switching to Pop! OS, a Linux distribution. While praising Pop! OS for its responsiveness and customization, the author notes challenges with app availability and performance in certain games compared to Windows. Despite these drawbacks, the author expresses a continued interest in exploring Linux further.
Colorado Age Attestation bill gets amendments to have open source excludedSystem76 Founder and CEO Carl Richell provided an update on the Colorado Age Attestation bill, announcing amendments that exclude open-source operating systems and applications, code repositories, and containers. Richell is seeking stories from the open-source community about positive contributions made by children to aid in the bill's passage and potentially serve as a template for similar legislation in other states.
Debian Linux waiting on further info for how age verification will affect itThe Debian Linux team is monitoring new age verification laws, such as California's AB 1043 and a law in Brazil, to understand their potential impact on free software operating systems. Project leader Andreas Tille stated that the implications for a decentralized, volunteer-driven project like Debian are unclear, with potential obligations likely falling on commercial redistributors.
System76 fighting for open source being excluded from Colorado age checksSystem76 is actively campaigning against age verification bills in Colorado, specifically SB26-051, to protect open source software. Founder Carl Richell met with Senator Matt Ball, who suggested excluding open source from the bill, a possibility System76 hopes to extend to California's similar legislation.
I'm a Linux bore now, so I used my new powers to resurrect a ten year-old laptop forgotten by WindowsThis article details the process of resurrecting a ten-year-old Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop by installing a lightweight Linux distribution, Origami Linux, to replace Windows 10. The author highlights the improved performance, battery life, and user experience compared to the original OS, despite the laptop's aging hardware and a failing battery.
Many more US states are planning or already have operating system age verification lawsMultiple US states, including California, New York, Louisiana, Illinois, Texas, and Utah, are implementing or planning operating system age verification laws. These laws could require device manufacturers and OS developers to implement age assurance measures, potentially impacting Linux distributions more severely than Windows. System76 founder Carl Richell criticizes the New York bill for its strict requirements and emphasizes education over restrictive measures.