Kubuntu Focus M2: the power and privacy of Linux without the hassle

If you’ve been following recent technology news, you may have noticed that the world’s most popular operating system has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Users are now required to log in with a cloud account, the use of AI is effectively a requirement, surveillance data is sent to unknown servers, and users are forced to accept ever-changing license agreements that violate privacy. Why do we tolerate this?

Security experts often recommend installing Linux to avoid these problems, but that can be tricky at best. Fortunately, since 2019, Kubuntu Focus has optimized a popular Linux operating system for compatible hardware and taken on its installation and maintenance, so all the features you need will continue to work for years after your purchase.

Do you want sleep resume to always work, even when multiple external displays are connected? System snapshots at the click of a button? Sound and microphones via HDMI/Bluetooth/Speakers/USB? Videoconferencing? Ethernet and Wi-Fi networks? Wireless and USB peripherals? Keyboard color and CPU power? These capabilities, and many more, have been validated on all models, and you won’t see a kernel, driver, or desktop update unless they all work.

How-To Geek recently reviewed the 6th generation Kubuntu Focus M2a laptop built for power users who need high-end CPU and GPU performance. It benefits from rigorous validation as described above, and excels in machine learning and other demanding areas that thrive on computing power. It comes with a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, a 12 GB NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti mobile GPU, and up to 96 GB DDR5 RAM. One M.2 Gen5 slot and two M.2 Gen4 slots can provide up to 12 TB of fast storage.

This laptop is impressive on the inside and also offers a top experience on the outside. The showstopper here is the beautiful 16-inch 16:10 LCD screen with a crisp 2560 x 1600 resolution and 240 Hz. It offers 100% of the sRGB range and is suitable for color-sensitive work and stunning media reproduction. You won’t have to deal with the typical bad laptop sound either, as the M2 GEN 6 has clear and loud side-firing speakers and a noise-canceling microphone to make meetings a breeze. Speaking of meetings: the sharp 5MP webcam has an integrated privacy shutter, so you’re only seen when you want to be.

Any serious laptop needs a lot of ports, and the M2 GEN 6 comes with all the ports you’ll ever need:

• 1 x HDMI 2.1b output (with HDCP)

• 2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 with Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort 2.1b and Power Delivery DC In

• 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports (1 x USB with power supply, AC/DC)

• 1 x 2-in-1 audio jack (headphone and microphone)

• 1 x 2.5 Gigabit RJ-45 Ethernet LAN (10/100/1000/2500 Mbit/s)

• 1 x Kensington Lock

• 1 x DC-IN power connector

• 1 x Micro SD Push-Push Card Reader

This means you can connect up to three 4K external displays!

To complete the integration between the M2 and the operating system, it comes with the Kubuntu Focus Suite (KFS), a collection of open source tools that provide fine control over power profiles, keyboard colors, system snapshots, video syncing, and more. Extensive documentation helps you tackle complex tasks quickly and correctly.

The Focus Supply M2 GEN 6 goes well beyond just Linux on a laptop: it’s an official Ubuntu flavor expertly optimized for this hardware and supported as a complete product.