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The majority of laptops available today operate on either Windows or macOS, with the Chromebook serving as a Linux-like alternative. Yet, Raspberry Pis have never officially transitioned to fit the conventional laptop style. While some individuals construct their own Raspberry Pi-powered laptops or portable setups, and kits such as Kano, Pi-Top, or CrowPi are available to help, a factory-built Raspberry Pi-based laptop known as the Argon One Up is now accessible.
This $600 open-source laptop utilizes an 8GB Raspberry Pi Compute Model 5 (CM5) and comes with a 256GB M.2 NVMe SSD. If you already possess a CM5 and M.2 NVMe storage, you can opt for a $450 version without these parts. It encompasses nearly all the features you’d expect in a laptop — including a keyboard, a front-facing camera, speakers, and more — but it lacks a compatible 45-watt USB-C power supply. While these aren’t excessively priced, considering that some budget laptops include a power supply, this is a drawback of the One Up.
The positive aspect for DIY enthusiasts and open-source aficionados is that the Argon One Up is compatible with all CM5-compatible operating systems, such as Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu, and various Debian variants. However, if you’re not already acquainted with Linux, you will need to learn how to set up the machine and understand the limitations of your selected OS. Is that worth your time? It ultimately depends on what you require. If you are seeking a plug-and-play option that works immediately, the Argon One Up likely isn’t suitable. Nevertheless, Raspberry Pis cater to tech hobbyists, and if that interests you, this laptop is worth considering. There are numerous inventive applications for Raspberry Pis, including the ability to run Steam Games!
What else does the Argon One Up offer?
Let’s explore what the Argon One Up provides for its cost. Purchasing the $600 model with the CM5 and storage yields a solid prebuilt device. This laptop features a 14-inch 1920×1080 HD IPS screen with a 60Hz refresh rate, a 2-megapixel front camera, dual microphones, stereo audio output, and a reasonably sized 55