System76 Meerkat

Topic

New Reply

A brief summary of where I am with the System 76 Meerkat I purchased.

When I first saw the Meerkat I couldn’t resist getting one for experimental purposes. I wanted to see if I could run that while connected to my entertainment system. So I bought the cheapest model available. The base model is designed to be a desktop computer and not for an entertainment system. However the unit did exactly what I hoped it would. I was on the internet within a few minutes and I had Steam installed and running shortly after that. I did not try any gaming though. I had to get into the bios menu (which is awesome as well) and maximize the memory for the GPU in order to get desktop graphics running well on a 55” television screen. And once I did that the system ran as well as you would expect for a desktop computer with the same specs. It was at that point I realized I definitely want to have one connected to my entertainment system, but this particular model is not what I want permanently connected to my entertainment center.

The POP!_OS is great and no hardware issues with the OS at first boot. I had to tweak some settings but all hardware is working as it should.

I’ve decided I’m taking this Meerkat to work and use it as a desktop computer as this model is intended. I will be buying another beefier model in the future for my entertainment system.

On a side note you may notice that System 76 is running a back to school sale right now. I received my Meerkat a day or two before the sale. So I contacted them. I didn’t make a big deal out if it, but I mentioned that maybe I should have waited a couple more weeks. I received a response that they are honoring that offer with my purchase, so I will be receiving all the goods associated with that sale.

These guys are awesome and if you’re ready for a Linux system I highly recommend these folks. Thanks System76. I’ll be in touch again soon.

Red Ruffnsore

3 users thanked author for this post.

Bill C., Elly, HiFlyer

Reply | Quote

Replies

Mr. Natural,

Thanks for explaining about the Meerkat. (I wonder why that particular name for something so squat, but no matter.)

It looks like something that could be quite interesting. So, a few questions that come to mind:

(1) The Meerkat can be used as a personal computer? Just by plugging in a keyboard and a mouse (plus a printer and other commonly used peripherals)?

(2) The OS is Linux? Is it updated by the Meerkat makers or one has to get the patches oneself? (Ditto for installing Linux software one might need to use and that does not come pre-installed.)

(3) It comes with how many ports: USB (types?), HDMI and Ethernet?

(4) Does it support Bluetooth and WiFi (to connect wirelessly to a router)?

Thank you, in advance, for explaining these points.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

Reply | Quote

https://system76.com/desktops/meerkat

1 user thanked author for this post.

OscarCP

Reply | Quote

Thanks, PKCano. That link you have provided leads to a Web page where most of my questions are clearly answered. This machine is very interesting, because it is (at the top of the price range) a fully-fledged personal computer that comes with Linux pre-installed. Such machines are not common, although there are already a very few known brands that include a PC line with some variant of Linux pre-installed.

Fully configured, with nearly all the biggest and priciest items, it comes at 2008 $US, which is comparable to a fully loaded Mac. But no peripherals, but also no big deal, as I already have them, the same as many potential users do. The only drawback I have noticed is that its most powerful CPU is an I-7 dual-core one.

One more issue that maybe Mr. Natural could amplify once he has become more  acquainted with this interesting device, would be:

(5) Are there incompatibilities with many printers and displays that work well with Windows?

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

Reply | Quote

OscarCP wrote:

Thanks, PKCano. That link you have provided leads to a Web page where most of my questions are clearly answered

The link comes from @mr-natural’s original post, linked above…

1 user thanked author for this post.

OscarCP

Reply | Quote

Wild Dog Pro? https://system76.com/desktops

greynad

Reply | Quote

One more question: With Meerkat, can one access the Linux command line? This is usually done in Linux using an application that comes pre-installed, called “Terminal” and is the equivalent of Windows’ DOS emulation “command console.”

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

1 user thanked author for this post.

Mr. Natural

Reply | Quote

Sorry about the late response. You probably already have the answer. I’m on the Meerkat now at work and this base model works just fine as a desktop. I’m going to work at getting this machine onto our AD network along with a lot of learning.

I’ll be getting a beefier model for my personal entertainment system. The unit I have now worked great on the entertainment system.

Meerkat comes with POP!_OS which is a flavor of Ubuntu or you can get it with Ubuntu itself. Both have an icon for the terminal in the activities menu. So the answer is yes.

Red Ruffnsore

1 user thanked author for this post.

OscarCP

Reply | Quote

Mr. Natural: Thank you for answering my question on “Terminal”. It was the sort of silly question I sometimes ask because experience has taught me that certain silly questions, when asked to the right people, tend to get interesting and even useful answers. I have learned a lot that way.

Now, a perhaps not as silly question: all things considered, would you recommend POP!_OS or plain Ubuntu?

Bringing to people’s attention the Meerkat now is very timely, and this machine is certainly worth looking into.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

Reply | Quote

From my early experience I would sat POP! The reason being would be the HiDPI graphic option. https://support.system76.com/articles/hidpi-multi-monitor/

Here’s a link to the differences. https://pop.system76.com/docs/difference-between-pop-ubuntu/

Red Ruffnsore

1 user thanked author for this post.

OscarCP

Reply | Quote

BTW – this unit comes with adapters for any electrical outlet worldwide that I am aware of.

Red Ruffnsore

1 user thanked author for this post.

OscarCP

Reply | Quote

Mr. Natural wrote:

I’m going to work at getting this machine onto our AD network along with a lot of learning.

Did you ever get the machine on AD? Does it integrate as well as a Windows computer does? I remember that Novell used to integrate very nicely into AD.

An advantage to buying these machines for corporate use is that they are tested and everything works. You don’t want to have problems on the corporate desktop.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

Reply | Quote

This post might be useful: https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/manjaro-discussion-continued/#post-215511

The Pop!_OS install guide is there too (post #199500)

greynad

Reply | Quote

Forgot to mention about Timeshift…

In Pop!_OS I opened Terminal and used following 3 commands…
sudo apt-add-repository -y ppa:teejee2008/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install timeshift

greynad

Reply | Quote

If you want Asunder and Lame (MP3’s) for ripping CD’s (not Sound Juicer)…
Open Terminal and run the following command…
sudo apt-get install asunder lame

greynad

Reply | Quote

Thanks to Mr. Natural!!! This is a great option. I found the desktop specced and priced out to be a bit high at first, but when you consider they are uilt machines it was not bad and actually had very flexible build options.

The Gazelle laptop though was a real standout in specs for an under $1K NON-WINDOWS device. I downloaded the nVidia and standard ISOs and will be doing some test drives of POP! OS.

Thanks.

Reply | Quote

For any Pop!_OS users who’d like to try G’MIC for GIMP.
Open Terminal and use the following 3 commands…

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gmic gimp-gmic

greynad

Reply | Quote

Accessing ‘Pop-dark’ Shell theme in Pop!_OS.

See: https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/manjaro-discussion-continued/#post-223250

greynad

Reply | Quote

Also, if you’d like a ‘Start Menu’ in Pop!_OS…

See: https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/manjaro-discussion-continued/#post-224652

greynad

Reply | Quote

$600 for the base model?

A bit steep for a tinker box – I’ll stick with my $30 Raspberry Pi 3. (I’m actually thinking of picking up a Pi Zero W for grins just because they’re so cheap.)

1 user thanked author for this post.

OscarCP

Reply | Quote

Pop!_OS with dark theme and Dash to dock…

And Arc menu…

To get Breeze icons in LibreOffice, open Terminal and…

sudo apt install libreoffice-style-breeze

Reply | Quote

Also, Pop! 18.04 can be re-themed to look like Manjaro-Gnome…

If anyone’s interested, here’s how I did it…
Open Pop!_Shop & type in:
font
Look for Cantarell & install it
Open Terminal & type in:
sudo apt install fonts-hack-ttf
Once done, type in:
sudo apt install typecatcher
Once done, type in:
sudo apt-add-repository ppa:tista/adapta
Then type in:
sudo apt update
Then type in:
sudo apt install adapta-gtk-theme
Open Typecatcher
look for Noto Sans & install it
Open Tweaks > Fonts & set to…
Window Title: Cantarell Bold 11
Interface: Noto Sans Regular 11
Document: Sans Regular 11
Monospace: Hack Regular 11
Then Tweaks > Appearance & set to…
Applications: Adapta-Nokto
Cursor: Pop
Icons: Pop
Shell: Adapta-Nokto
now just Restart computer!
G

Reply | Quote

I want to use this for editing photos but I’m not sure that it will work. Does anyone have any experience in that department, and specs of what would be needed? I was thinking 16gb of ram, and upgrading the memory.

Reply | Quote

Depends a bit on how big the photos are (how many MB), how many photos you need/want to have open at any given time, and the number and extent of the modifications (edit changes). Unless you’re a pro, 16 GB should be fine. Make sure you get an SSD at least 500 GB and preferably 1TB. With an HDD you might spend a lot of time running – well, probably strolling since you’ll be killing time – to get coffee while an editing program opens/closes, saves editing changes, etc. GIMP is fairly lean but the more memory the better, and the larger the SSD the longer it will last, I think.

One other thing to consider, if you’re going to print photos, you might want to make sure your printer has software/drivers specifically for Linux. IMHO you don’t want to settle for generic CUPS software; it won’t give you the flexibilty (printer options) you may want or need.

Reply | Quote