Experience with Wootbooks?

[Rocco1]

Which drivers does one need to get from Wootware directly?

Wootware install the drivers if you ask them to set it up, they also send a google drive link for them (I think) if you wanted to self install. mentioned above before for the the bios etc. if you format your PC without copying the drivers/ lose the link, would need to contact wootware to get them again. not that easy to get them online

 

[Rain King]

Wootware install the drivers if you ask them to set it up, they also send a google drive link for them (I think) if you wanted to self install. mentioned above before for the the bios etc. if you format your PC without copying the drivers/ lose the link, would need to contact wootware to get them again. not that easy to get them online

Thanks for going into a bit more detail.

The little wrinkle in all of this is wanting to run Linux (while keeping Windows as a backup in case I need it for something specific), and I'm unsure how smooth the experience with drivers would be. On the one hand, Linux device retailers like Tuxedo and System 76 all use the same Tongfang chassis that Wootbooks are based on, which makes me think that it should not be that difficult to find Linux-based software to get keyboard lighting, fan control and GPU switching to work -- but it's still a bit of a gamble.

 

[Rain King]

Look at steam link/remote.

Have a wootbook with an i7 9750H and and an RTX 2060, works decent, like the fan profile change option for work or gaming, not sure if they still have it.

Suffers from the normal laptop issues of super loud and heat dissipation. Desktop is just better besides portability.

Drivers are not really an issue, did have a problem with a bios update with resume from hibernate, wootware gave me the copy, also replaced the cmos battery, and all sorted. It's traveled through 3 continents, many train rides and flights, build quality is good. They skimp on the mic and Webcam, though Webcam is decent for a laptop since they all generally suck, speakers are okay, rest is really decent.

Up until two or three months ago it had near daily usage as a work (RDP mostly) and gaming device with one 3 month stint of none, for probably 4 years.

Ended up upgrading to PC as needed something stronger for VR, and at this point PC is fine with steam deck for on trains and flights.

If in the market for a laptop in South Africa, would buy again.

Thanks! It's very useful to have a summary of a device life cycle like this. It really does seem like they are just a cut above other laptops in this price range -- both in their hardware and build quality. Based only on that, and other people's experiences, I'm very tempted.

The only snag is that I'd like to primarily run Linux, with Windows as a backup, but have no idea whether I'll be able to control the fan profiles, keyboard lighting or iGPU/dGPU priority like you mention or whether there might be other hardware/software issues. While they could understandably not make any guarantees, Wootware did mention that they are aware of clients that have successfully run Linux on their machines. I'd just feel a lot more comfortable with a bit more of a detailed account from someone that's done it.

 

[Retro1337]

Bought my wootbook back in 2019/2020 ish, it did arrive with a bad battery and had to be sent back for replacement, I have noticed that over time the new battery lifetime had gone down substantially, only lasts an hour, but then again similar to other brands out there. Other than that, I've been pretty happy with the quality of the laptop. No other issues.

 

[RustyJacobz]

My brother and father both have wootbooks and are very happy with them. They are pretty good specs for the money. I think they are rebadged Chinese makes but Wootware’s support is excellent.

I don’t much care for the keyboards or trackpads myself but that’s very much a matter of personal taste.

Tongfang, in fact.

 

[_kabal_]

Installed Kubuntu 23.04 on the Metal 16 13th Gen Intel on Friday.

Everything just worked, graphics, WiFi, Bluetooth, Trackpad, 90hz monitor

 

[Rain King]

Installed Kubuntu 23.04 on the Metal 16 13th Gen Intel on Friday.

Everything just worked, graphics, WiFi, Bluetooth, Trackpad, 90hz monitor

Always nice to come across another local Linux user. Most people just look at me funny.

Glad to hear things have gone smoothly for you. Installing Linux is of course much simpler on a laptop with only an iGPU. I've had no problems at all with either Ubuntu or Linux Mint on an old HP ProBook lying around the house.

However, as far as reliable gaming goes, I ended up playing it safe and cheaper by just upgrading my desktop with some new parts from Wootware. Fedora 38 picked up my AMD RX6600 immediately without any hitches so far

 

[_kabal_]

Always nice to come across another local Linux user. Most people just look at me funny.

Glad to hear things have gone smoothly for you. Installing Linux is of course much simpler on a laptop with only an iGPU. I've had no problems at all with either Ubuntu or Linux Mint on an old HP ProBook lying around the house.

However, as far as reliable gaming goes, I ended up playing it safe and cheaper by just upgrading my desktop with some new parts from Wootware. Fedora 38 picked up my AMD RX6600 immediately without any hitches so far

I don’t game on it, but my work desktop is a Ryzen 5900x and AMD RX480 and I’ve run every very of Ubuntu/Kubuntu since 20.10, no issues. Driver issues, as least for me, are vestigial, and no longer exist.

 

[VioletVenom]

I've been daily driving a wootbook for going on a year now for work. I have run Ubuntu 23.04 and windows 10/11 on it daily. I find them to be robust powerfully machines. That rarely have issues. The only issue you will sometimes have is that the fans can become loud when the machine works hard but since i wear headphones while working it doesn't bother me. Powerfully machines and I'm happy using mine. I have an older 9750h wootbook with a gtx 1660ti

 

[Rain King]

I've been daily driving a wootbook for going on a year now for work. I have run Ubuntu 23.04 and windows 10/11 on it daily. I find them to be robust powerfully machines. That rarely have issues. The only issue you will sometimes have is that the fans can become loud when the machine works hard but since i wear headphones while working it doesn't bother me. Powerfully machines and I'm happy using mine. I have an older 9750h wootbook with a gtx 1660ti

This would have been really helpful about a month ago (several people spoke highly of Wootbooks' quality, but not many about running Linux), but I think I probably still made the right call just upgrading my desktop for now. It's great to know you've had such a good experience with Linux, especially with a Nvidia GPU. It's definitely something to keep in mind when eyeing laptops again sometime down the line when money is less of an object.

 

[Rain King]

I don’t game on it, but my work desktop is a Ryzen 5900x and AMD RX480 and I’ve run every very of Ubuntu/Kubuntu since 20.10, no issues. Driver issues, as least for me, are vestigial, and no longer exist.

Ja, open-source AMD drivers (Mesa, I think it's called) are included and updated with the Linux kernel. On my other SSD, I had to first download the corresponding drivers from AMD's website before Windows 10 would even recognise my new GPU.

 

[rambo919]

Well if everything works out of the box with linux then that in itself makes them worthabuy.... more than you would think a laptop has some obscure chip somewhere that just needs windows.

 

[VioletVenom]

Hey happy the info I provided helped even if it was a little late

 

[Danielle Tshabalala]

I wish they'd also include the original name of the laptop so we can find reviews more easily,they don't hide that they're rebranded since they link to the reviews ufd tech did when he was in SA.