When many manufacturers are currently looking to cut costs by using plastics or ultra thin metal, I wanted to spotlight the beginnings of System76’s new Virgo laptop by pointing out the use of solid machined aluminum for the chassis.

The reason I wanted to bring attention to this is because I recently had a stupendous accident (you really wouldn’t believe how it happened) with my HP Pavilion which is a full aluminum body. This machine hit CONCRETE on the CORNER from a meter high and survived with only a scratch/dent! The last time I dropped a laptop from half the distance it was destroyed. However, this HP has no signs of failure except the little scratch/dent and that corner of the deck sits about 1.5mm higher now. You can’t notice it unless you look. The hardware, screen, hinges and system are perfectly OK.

I paid top dollar for this at the time it was released because I have that old school European over-engineering gene ingrained. I believe things should be made to last (and be upgradeable), so I applaud System76 for starting with what looks like a massively solid machine.