Missed Clevo opportunity (2025)
Submitted by marcin on Sun 23-Nov-2025

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Linux
Ubuntu
Hyperbook

Few years ago I have bought Clevo L140MU branded by Polish Hyperbook. It was revolutionary in this time (36h after limiting power) and I even wrote few articles about setting it up. Shortly speaking: weight 1kg, battery 73Wh, LCD B140HAN06.2, fully black case, almost no holes in the bottom & SSD Samsung 980. I’m using it even now and have few notes:
  • speakers shouldn’t be on the bottom (many new laptops have them on the top)
  • need USB-A and USB-C on the left and right side
  • small arrow keys are very weak (much better is solution from Lenovo)
  • piano black area with cameras needs matt and privacy mechanism – I have to use electric tape to cover it
  • one of weakest elements is limited options BIOS without updates (I would like to disable Intel ME, camera, microphone, card reader, USB, TPM, green power light and generally everything, what is not required for writing texts and takes battery energy)
  • touchpad is VERY bad (I don’t expect Macbook quality, but pressing it in all places should give some left / right key reaction)
  • I don’t use two SSD & would welcome even bigger battery (carbon technology already?)
  • hinges 180 degress and lack of ventilation holes on the bottom are good and useful
  • too big off / standby battery usage (I expect, that power is used just for RTC and eventually refreshing RAM, I could simply press concrete button to return from standby)
  • excellent full HD non PWM low power LCD makes good work, the only annoying thing is, that keyboard can make pressure on it, when laptop is closed
  • keyboard is not bad, but maximally medium (I like much more Macbook Air or Acer Swift 1 SF114-32)
  • build quality is max. 4 in school scale (up and down part are not ideally aligned, some edges are not perfect equal, etc.), but it doesn’t matter in the end
  • device doesn’t need any “power on” light – it’s only taking power and doesn’t give any added value

I was thinking about replacing this device with some later model from this line (L24xLUx with Lunar Lake), but:

  • it has ugly power button with bright white LED (enabled all the time & working like torch) – the biggest stupidity ever especially that this is second “power on” button
  • it seems to be just fast-done ugly refresh with place for one SSD and no USB-C in both sides
  • it’s provided by PC Specialists only – they give probably medium screen (72 percent NTSC doesn’t sound very good) and their reviews (review1, review2) say something about 16 Wi-fi or video playback hours, when other Lunar Lake machines have even 24h (methodology can be different, but in this situation it’s better to buy something from known, better supported brand)
  • new generation won’t be probably so good supported in Linux because it’s not sold by Tuxedo (in old model theoretically I could disable fan and camera)

Generally speaking Clevo missed market opportunity. Current Macbook Air M1 or M4 with extra matt foil (when battery life is not critical), XPS 13 with grey color (when ugly design is not problem) or Dell Pro Premium 13 (with small size SSD) are much more promising or at least it’s possible to find their reviews. Big shame.

PS. My ideal scenario is simple – writing something in the Libre Office on the light silent machine with good input devices, black, matt case & matt screen (no PWM please), long battery life (in idle, power off and standby), protection against small moisture or liquid and good Linux support. I don’t need big speed or 4K screen or some latest technologies, it must be just very functional. I don’t even want to have fan inside – it can be like Macbook Air, but just fully working with Open Source software (not only Gnome based)

PS. Mail marketing@clevo.com.tw from Clevo website seems to be unavailable.