Sunflower
lu: 19 October 2025
Sunflower is what I call my laptop. I bought it in 2023 to replace my old desktop computer and it's been my main driver ever since. It came with Windows 11 which I later replaced with Debian 12 once I discovered what Linux is.
I bought this before knowing anything about computers which is something I would sometimes lament. This model isn't very good in terms of built quality or upgradeability. It also costed a loooot of money. It also had lots of issues with its hinges which needed to get repaired. Had I known about how older laptops are generally better, I would have gone with a refurbished laptop like a Thinkpad or Latitude, which go for about half the price of this one.
But I'm still very thankful for this laptop. Of course I benefit from the generally higher-end specs it has. It's also light and portable, and has a really nice touchpad. I hope it lives a long life!
Specifications
History
- Bought in May 2023 (cost: 37k PHP)
- Left hinge started showing damage in Jan 2024
- Hinge repaired in Mar 2024 (cost: 1.5k PHP)
- Right hinge broke in Jul 2024, repaired immediately (cost: 1.5k PHP)
- incredible update on 04 June 2025: The thing broke the day after I wrote my praise. See the autopsy photos (peeled it back even further there and put my fat thumb on it for our viewing pleasure~)
- Hinge repaired on 15 June 2025 (cost: 3.5k PHP)
- Replaced top cover and hinges
- Loosened hinges
- They didn't replace the adhesive... The bezels are peeling off and dust gets inside
- The hinge cover in the middle is popping off the body
- They also did something that made the right corner thicker or something; the power button doesn't 'click' like before
- Total cost: 43.5k PHP
18 Oct 2025: cracks
I think the right corner issue is finally manifesting into something scarier now. There's a crack on the laptop's back/bottom panel and a bend crease where the tightness is. I fear that the hinge came loose again to the point where we would need a replacement cover.
I have to open it again to check the insides, but I've been delaying it. I have opened it before for cleaning so this will be the second time. I plan to clean the fan and replace the thermal paste and check while I'm at it, but I have yet to buy the cleaning stuff I need like a can of air and new thermal paste. I missed the sale so I'm waiting before purchasing anything. Until then I'll just be careful and hope the laptop doesn't get any worse.
The repair guy did this. Fucking sucks.
My webcam isn't working anymore either... We replaced the top panel of the screen which included the camera. I hope the camera isn't dead and instead something is just misaligned inside. The last picture I took with the webcam seems to be taken on July 27, 2025, so the repair guy probably didn't replace it with anything faulty.
It's not built to but I want this laptop to really last.
Linux Distro-hopping Timeline
Linux Mint 21.1
'mint'
taste test — 2 weeks dual-boot with Windows 11
Debian 12
'rose'
first daily driver — 1 year
Void Linux
'aloe'
taste test — 2 weeks
Ultramarine 42
'sunflower'
present daily driver — since Feb 2024
Desktop 'sunflower'
I use the GNOME desktop environment since it has the most sensible implementation for digital desktops (called Workspaces). I often use my laptop on my lap so GNOME's nicely implemented touchpad gestures keep my workflow smooth without needing a mouse.
Linux is known for its uber customizeable desktops but as I really like the default Adwaita theme. I haven't changed my wallpaper in over a year because no other wallpaper will ever come close to the taste of this sunny sunflower picture.
The extensions I use are a clipboard manager, a close windows in Overview function, a Places menu, a "keep screen awake" button, a thing that makes the Workspace Switcher bigger and a light mode theme.
Older pictures
Desktop 'cogito'
I revisited the r/unixporn community to discover there was a new window manager in town called Niri, and its gimmick is that it's a scrolling window manager. Most notably, it has an Overview similar to GNOME. This is pretty much the window manager I was looking for before I permanently settled with GNOME, but it was too early in development then.
I tried it out for a bit and actually put together a desktop. I don't ever use it now though since I discovered the PaperWM GNOME Extension not long after.
