C100 Developer Terminal

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Concept & Positioning

  • Marketed as a “Computer for Experts” and a focused “developer terminal” that “removes distractions.”
  • Some see value in an opinionated, Linux-first, preconfigured desktop with support, rather than a generic Windows box repurposed for Linux.
  • Others argue any machine with a terminal is already “for experts” and that “get out of your way” is just cover for missing apps.

Hardware, Price & Value

  • Rough specs (where known): ~RTX 1650-class GPU, 96GB RAM, low-profile mechanical keyboard, laptop-like modularity.
  • At ~$2,000 plus a ~$100 reservation fee, many feel it’s “a headless laptop” priced like a premium notebook or better desktop.
  • Comparisons: used ThinkPads, Framework, System76, DIY desktops, Mac Studio/MBP + Asahi Linux seen as better value or more capable.
  • Critiques of physical design: holes on top inviting spills, CPU right under hands instead of in a better-cooled box.

Keyboard & Ergonomics

  • Keyboard dominates the discussion:
    • Left-side numpad polarizes: intriguing for some workflows, instant deal-breaker for others (muscle memory, left-handed mousing).
    • Very long Esc key, odd Fn placement, missing Insert/Print Screen, three Ctrl-like keys, unusual F-key order, Mac-style ⌘ on a Linux box.
    • Legends criticized as low-contrast, inconsistent, and nonstandard; ISO 9995 and XKB conventions apparently ignored.
  • Many question bundling such a nonstandard fixed keyboard at all, instead of letting users attach their own.

Workbench OS / Software Story

  • Described in comments as a Fedora spin with an opinionated tiling/WM setup, pitched as “sovereign and secure” and distraction-free.
  • Skepticism that “no entertainment/shopping/ads” is a real differentiator given other minimal Linux distros.
  • ToS mentions a “proprietary Linux OS,” raising eyebrows in a Linux-targeted product.
  • Some are genuinely interested in features like the always-available notepad overlay and would like to try the distro separately.

Target Audience & Use Cases

  • Many developers say it doesn’t match their needs: they want either a MacBook-like polished laptop or a highly configurable workstation.
  • Others posit the real audience is design-conscious, retro/hipster, or mechanical-keyboard enthusiasts with disposable income.
  • Debate over whether a separate, “deep work” machine with fewer apps makes sense; several note devs still need browsers, office tools, media, etc.

Vaporware & Marketing Concerns

  • Strong suspicion of vaporware: highly polished site, almost no hard specs, renders instead of internals, tiny demo videos, preorder before clarity.
  • Some external photos and a livestream suggest prototypes exist, but details remain thin.
  • Many view it as a design/branding exercise (even likened to Teenage Engineering or a “hipster typewriter”) more than a serious dev tool.