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Ask HN: What does one look for in a laptop these days?

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Re: Ask HN: What does one look for in a laptop these days?

#101

Post by godDLL »

Const-me wrote: post #48

Latest-generation AMD CPU No discrete GPU, I don't want to pay neither money, electricity or weight for a thing I don't need. Reparability. Removeable SSD is absolute requirement. With a soldered SSD, broken laptop = lost data. Upgradeable RAM is less important but still very welcome. If I needed a new one I'd look at HP Probook, check their support channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxMMjSF4QFw

Just from the picture, this will fail my keyboard requirement. That is not a keyboard I'd type on.

Re: Ask HN: What does one look for in a laptop these days?

#102

Post by godDLL »

yodelshady wrote: post #36

XPS 13 currently, and probably next as well. I look for: - track record of linux compatibility. If it's Windows or out, I'm out. - good keyboard. - good screen, > 1920x1080 although 4K is overkill, preferably 16:10. Macbooks look tempting, but I just don't trust Apple to not break any workflow that isn't editing videos about how great Apple products are. The current keys are good but - sorry, the (pre-butterfly!) key…

I hear you about Apple breaking things.

But we disagree on the keyboard. I'd say that all their mobile keyboards past 2015 are utter crap, and I'd wager that this can technically be measured in breakage, dust sensitivity, typing comfort and typing performance.

Re: Ask HN: What does one look for in a laptop these days?

#103

Post by godDLL »

undecisive wrote: post #4

I think it would be useful to know what kind of profile you fit, because everyone's must-haves are slightly different. For example, I would add: - at least opens 180 degrees: I often find myself having to do the odd bit of work in the car - which is a nightmare generally, but having a laptop that can open flat is essential. - Fingerprint reader (that works well under Linux): this is one of the saddest things about my…

We are in the process of finding out, I've listed above what I think, and am combing through the comments now.

Thank you for the ideas presented, I appreciate the time taken.

Re: Ask HN: What does one look for in a laptop these days?

#104

Post by godDLL »

chenxiaolong wrote: post #67

1. 120Hz screen with a HIDPI resolution. 60Hz feels very stuttery after using 120Hz on my phone/tablet/desktop. 2. S3 suspend or at least a good S0ix implementation. 3. Good support for replacing UEFI Secure Boot keys. 4. No numpad so that the keyboard is centered. 5. Absolutely no coil whine. My Dell XPS 9560 had this since day 1, while my work MacBook Pro and Lenovo P1 developed it over time. 6. Biggest battery pos…

> 4. No numpad so that the keyboard is centered.

I've had that preference (strong preference) for as long as I can remember. It has recently changed, as I've discovered the convenience of scripting the UI and tiling my windows.

Now I'm using the NumLock as a "dead key", that triggers a script or a layout change if followed by one of the num-pad numbers. It is a life-changing hack, I have to tell you.

Re: Ask HN: What does one look for in a laptop these days?

#105

Post by godDLL »

tpxl wrote: post #45

1. Linux support 2. Upgradeable RAM/storage 3. Preferably AMD GPU and CPU In roughly that order. Sadly I couldn't really find that recently ): Searching for upgradeable RAM is a pain, and current GPU shortage prevents me from being picky about GPUs as well ):

Wait, so your list is just 3 items, and they can't make a thing for you? That is so sad.

I understand myself to be a seasoned sceptic, and hard to please after seeing my own list, having typed it out. But you...

It is just weird you can't find something that will satisfy. Have you looked at the AliExpress crop of no-name lappies at all? They sometimes do on par with name-brands, I hear.

Re: Ask HN: What does one look for in a laptop these days?

#106

Post by godDLL »

random_kris wrote: post #2

M1 MacBook pro no competition

I've looked at those. They are glossy. But that's not even the thing that turned me off. The keyboards did.

One speck of dust and that thing gets stuck. The keys have no travel, that's no good. And having typed on it a bit, I can attest there is not much difference between those keyboards and typing on straight up glass, feeling-wise.

I love what they are doing with the CPU, GPU, no significant interconnect overhead so that everything is way snappy – like the big 2TB RAM machines I used to maintain back when I coded for a living.

But they aren't thinking of me and people like me when they create those past-2015 products, let me tell you. There is much to hate about the current crop of them.

Re: Ask HN: What does one look for in a laptop these days?

#107

Post by godDLL »

olalonde wrote: post #6

Why do you prefer SIM over WiFi? Almost everywhere I've been it's been slower and more expensive than WiFi.

I happen to live and hang out in an area where it is cheaper. I have two operational desktop computers at home, so the laptop is for when I'm not at home, hence SIM is preferable to have.

Re: Ask HN: What does one look for in a laptop these days?

#108

Post by godDLL »

legacynl wrote: post #42
qwerty456127 wrote: post #11

> Bluetooth has to be good Does this even exist? Never met a reliable (even in context of using within a single meter of range) BlueTooth in my life. Only Apple seems to offer reasonably good. For this very reason (although my experience comes solely from earphones) I hesitate to buy a BlueTooth keyboard which I would normally prefer over occupying a USB port with a separate wireless KB dongle.

> Does this even exist? What has your experience been with bt? I have the cheapest bt-dongle I could find (4 euros) and it never failed me and is super solid.

Well, let's say that if connecting my audio system and a keyboard and mouse at the same time causes problems with either, it's not good. And 95% of what I've used and seen is not good. Even in the world of Apple, it's about 60% pure frustration, depending on the model.

Re: Ask HN: What does one look for in a laptop these days?

#109

Post by godDLL »

qwerty456127 wrote: post #74
kbob wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you in a crowded office with lots of Bluetooth devices? At my house, Bluetooth is rock solid up to 10 meters. But there are only a handful of devices in the house, and the neighbors are far away.

No, I'm not. I'm mostly alone in the rather big office (although there are neighbor offices above and below obviously) and I've specifically mentioned the woods. I probably just have a too intense aura and may need a new-age guru to get me a magic pyramid to harmonize it :-] Is there a BlueTooth channel scanner by the way? Like the "WiFi analyzer" app but for BlueTooth?

> Is there a BlueTooth channel scanner by the way? Like the "WiFi analyzer" app but for BlueTooth?

I'd love that, but alas.

Besides, there is 0 things you can configure about BT, and that's intentional. I mean, if you could just upturn the signal x10 you'd get 50 good reception meters out of just that. But you can't.

Re: Ask HN: What does one look for in a laptop these days?

#110

Post by godDLL »

qwerty456127 wrote: post #56
yread wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good point the current Thinkpad T14 and P14s and super difficult to open without breaking the plastic tabs

What's the solution if you break them? I broke some (if we are speaking about the same thing - I mean those little things that click and keep the bottom cover in place after you remove the screws) on one HP ProBook, now the trackpad-push clicking works unreliably. I thought of buying a whole new bottom cover on eBay but the serial number and the Windows sticker is on it so replacing it would probably void the warrant…

Screws have to be sourced. Stored. Present at repair site, etc.

That I can understand.

But the thing about broken tabs is that only some form of double-sided adhesive or drilling a hole and socket for a screw to replace the tab actually works sufficiently well.

So yeah, not a fan.

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