Ms. Kloepfer, first of all, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us. You wrote in the F.A.Z. about your attempt to rely more heavily on European and German hardware and software: Read the article here. You not only mentioned TUXEDO Computers, but also chose one of our devices yourself. We would like to learn a little more about that.
The journey to TUXEDO Computers
TUXEDO: How did you first hear about TUXEDO Computers? You wrote that you were not familiar with the company before starting your experiment. What ultimately led you to TUXEDO?
Inge Kloepfer: As someone who knows very little about technology, I asked AI how to organize my planned decoupling. I don’t use American AI, but rather the offering from the French company Mistral AI, one of the few providers that can keep up with the American competition and has also become very popular in the US.
Mistral AI created a private roadmap for me and suggested various products at each stage of my journey toward independence. It started with hardware. TUXEDO was one of the European companies recommended to me.
The article appeared in the F.A.Z. on July 26 – the online version is still available.
TUXEDO: What was your first impression of TUXEDO Computers – and did that impression change once you actually had the device in your hands?
Inge Kloepfer: I’m not particularly demanding. And certainly not a tech freak. Basically, I need a work device with fast RAM, a comfortable keyboard and a good screen. Of course, I couldn’t try out any of the devices beforehand, but I had received advice over the phone. Together, we figured out what would suit me.
Then the device arrived, I installed it quickly and simply got started. It felt as though I had never worked on anything else. I should add that I’ve used many different brands: from MacBooks to Microsoft devices, Samsung, Acer and Asus. For me, it’s like renting a car: you have to get in and drive. That’s exactly how it was with the TUXEDO computer. Open it, get started, and you’re good to go.
For me, it’s like renting a car: you have to get in and drive.
TUXEDO: What were your main reasons for purchasing a new notebook? Which aspects ultimately made you choose TUXEDO Computers?
Inge Kloepfer: I usually have two notebooks. I’m well equipped, but because I wanted to consistently follow through with my decoupling experiment, I initially needed European hardware. That was worth the investment in a new work device for me.
TUXEDO: Before buying, did you have any particular expectations of a smaller European manufacturer and a Linux laptop? Which of those expectations were met – and was there anything that surprised you?
Inge Kloepfer: My expectations were the usual ones. I’m not particularly demanding. Things have to work, and be fast, practical and easy to access. Just like a car.
But what I really appreciate is that if something doesn’t work, I can call or email TUXEDO and get an answer straight away. For example, I asked whether I needed to invest in separate antivirus software. The answer came promptly. You don’t get that from the big manufacturers, especially not the American ones.
I can call or email TUXEDO and get an answer straight away.
Experiences with the device
TUXEDO: How satisfied are you with your TUXEDO notebook today? Are there any features or details that stand out positively in your daily use?
Inge Kloepfer: The keyboard is brilliant, in my opinion. I’m an author and writer, and I’m constantly creating texts. And the screen is very good – very bright and matte. Also great. When I’m sitting outside in the sun, perhaps writing in a café or on a terrace, there are no reflections.
TUXEDO: How did you experience the support provided by TUXEDO? Did you have any contact with our team before purchasing, for example for advice, or later with our support team?
Inge Kloepfer: I received advice before purchasing. I explained how I work, they recommended a device, and I’m happy with it. By the way, I’ve since bought a second one. It simply feels great that these are devices from a German manufacturer.
TUXEDO: What do you use the notebook for in your everyday life? What tasks do you now handle with it, and are there areas where you still rely on other systems?
Inge Kloepfer: I mostly use the device for research, writing and communication. I also have a smartphone – unfortunately, it’s still American. That’s the next thing I’ll be changing.
Linux in everyday life
TUXEDO: How did you experience the switch to Linux? What worked better than expected in everyday use, and where did you initially have to adjust?
Inge Kloepfer: There was no adjustment period for me, which completely surprised me. Switching to Linux and LibreOffice was done in no time. You barely notice anything, which makes me wonder today why I always relied on American office programs, American operating systems, American browsers and American clouds.
But everyone did that. Crazy, really.
There was no adjustment period for me, which completely surprised me.
TUXEDO: What was the biggest hurdle for you when switching from familiar systems to Linux and other open or European alternatives?
Inge Kloepfer: There were two hurdles for me:
The investment in a new work device.
Switching to a search engine other than Google.
After years of being used to Google, I was worried that I wouldn’t find anything equally good. Not so much because of the results, but mainly because of the interface I had grown used to. I now use Ecosia (browser and search engine), an offering from a Berlin-based company, because the interface is very similar. That also felt completely normal right away.
TUXEDO: In your experience, where can free and European alternatives already keep up with established offerings without problems? And where do you still see significant gaps?
Inge Kloepfer: I’m not an expert, but a simple user with fairly limited needs. I write, communicate and do research. But that makes me representative of the majority of users.
As such, I can only say this: I no longer think there is any level in the entire spectrum of tech services where Europe cannot keep up. Perhaps Mistral’s AI isn’t quite as good at coding. But its LLM has other advantages over its American competitors. So I really ask myself why I didn’t switch to European alternatives much earlier.
TUXEDO: As part of your experiment, you deliberately stopped using services such as Google and ChatGPT. What did you actually miss – and what were you surprisingly able to do without?
Inge Kloepfer: To be honest, I could do without everything. I have never used American AI. With Mistral AI, there is a European alternative that can keep up very well.
The French company is used by very, very many large European corporations. For good reason: the data stays in Europe, with a high level of data protection.
TUXEDO: Were there situations where you consciously gave up convenience in order to gain more control over your data and your digital environment? How did you feel about that compromise?
Inge Kloepfer: I don’t feel that I made any compromise. The same applies to the cloud, where I currently use TUXEDO’s offering (Nextcloud). I will definitely no longer use an American cloud – for reasons of independence and security.
I will definitely no longer use an American cloud – for reasons of independence and security.
TUXEDO: Was there a moment while working with Linux or your TUXEDO notebook that particularly surprised you – positively or negatively?
Inge Kloepfer: No, everything feels as though I had never used anything else. Isn’t that amazing?
European digital sovereignty
TUXEDO: In your opinion, what can companies like TUXEDO Computers concretely do to advance Europe’s technological and digital independence?
Inge Kloepfer: European independence or resilience can only emerge if demand for European services grows. Only then can companies scale, and only then will Europe become an attractive location for the production of high-performance chips. So it’s about intelligently organizing market pull.
My decoupling is only an infinitesimal contribution to this, nothing more. But if, for example, the German government were to switch its software contracts with American companies, worth €8.35 billion, to European providers, if businesses followed suit, as well as the entire Mittelstand and the majority of private users, then European companies offering equivalent products and services could finally grow and compete on a completely different scale. That is essential.
So it’s not the providers that stand in the way – the quality of the international competition has long been available here. It’s the users who are always willing to run billions of pieces of data through American servers.
In France, all public authorities across the country are now required to draw up a roadmap for moving away from American systems by the end of the year. Purely for security reasons. What do you think that alone will mean in demand for the European market from France?
European independence or resilience can only emerge if demand for European services grows.
TUXEDO: What role do you think open software and Linux can play? Can they make an important contribution to greater digital sovereignty?
Inge Kloepfer: Yes, I believe these systems are fairer, more transparent and more efficient. We simply need to finally recognize that.
AI is a good example: Why do the majority of private individuals and companies use ChatGPT from OpenAI, Claude from Anthropic or Gemini from Google? Why don’t we all use Vibe (formerly Le Chat) from Mistral AI, a French LLM developer that works with open source? Is it convenience or ignorance?
The question isn’t trivial: If we send our data to American servers by always using only American AI, these systems will automatically become faster and better.
And finally: another TUXEDO
TUXEDO: Shortly after your first purchase, you decided to buy another TUXEDO device. We’re very pleased about that – but what made you choose TUXEDO again?
Inge Kloepfer: I already answered that above. Because it simply works for me. At this point, I should also say: I paid for my devices myself. TUXEDO didn’t know that I was writing an article about my experience for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. And I’m not receiving anything in return for this interview either.
TUXEDO: Looking back on your experiment today: Would you take the step toward European or open hardware and software again? And what would you tell other people who are considering a similar step?
Inge Kloepfer: There is nothing to regret. It’s completely simple and organic. My advice: Just do it!
We sincerely thank you for answering our questions and wish you continued enjoyment and success with your TUXEDO devices!
Ingeborg Kloepfer
Photo: Inge Kloepfer
Inge Kloepfer is an award-winning business journalist, documentary filmmaker and author. She has been writing for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung for many years and has published numerous non-fiction books, including several bestsellers and long-running sellers. Most recently, together with the renowned investor Jeannette zu Fürstenberg, she published the book Wie gut wir sind, zeigt sich in Krisenzeiten. Ein Weckruf . Before that, she published her first novel, Die Zweifel des Homer Spiegelman .
Learn more about Inge Kloepfer on her homepage: www.ingekloepfer.com
