Ask HN: Why doesn't anyone make a laptop like the Cr-48? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't anyone make a laptop like the Cr-48?

#21

Post by phaus » Mon, Feb 11, 2013, 5:42 AM UTC

nkorth wrote: post #11

stevenrace wrote: post #9

After my 13" MBP was stolen, I brought my CR-48 out of hibernation and have been using it as my primary machine for nearly 6 months. It is indeed a great computer, but I can't help thinking a used Macbook, Thinkpad, or the plethora of netbooks on the market would better serve even the most avid of hackers. May I ask what puts you off with it's current incarnation, the Chromebook? It 's only $200 (and up). The externa…

I have been looking at Samsung's ARM chromebook. It looks like it might be the best of my options right now, but I would really like a higher-resolution screen, even if that meant a bigger screen size. (Every laptop is 1366x768 these days...)

If you aren't in a hurry, you may want to wait and see if Google's Pixel turns out to be real. I know that most people initially thought it was fake, but since then someone has found interesting stuff in Chrome's code.

It may very well be fake, but if it isn't, it's probably gonna be worth waiting for unless you need something right now.

Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't anyone make a laptop like the Cr-48?

#22

Post by phaus » Mon, Feb 11, 2013, 5:46 AM UTC

nkorth wrote: post #17

DanBC wrote: post #7

The ASUS eee pc 701 was dirt cheap; had limited hardware; had a few problems; but was robust. It should be easy to replicate it with better hardware and avoiding some of the biggest problems (tiny SSD soldered to the motherboard; weird trackpad; tiny keyboard) especially if you're not trying to cram it into a teeny tiny package.

That's the "original" netbook, isn't it? I can't believe I hadn't ever seen one of those before. At a quick glance, I think the biggest problem with it would be the 800x480 screen! If screen resolution wasn't an issue, I think a netbook could meet my criteria.

I had an EEE PC 901, which was one of the first 9" netbooks (and considered by many to be the best netbook Asus ever released.) The screen was bumped up to 1024 x 600. It was a nice little machine, but there's lots of stuff that doesn't display very well on something with that low of a resolution.

Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't anyone make a laptop like the Cr-48?

#23

Post by nkorth » Mon, Feb 11, 2013, 12:13 PM UTC

phaus wrote: post #21

nkorth wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have been looking at Samsung's ARM chromebook. It looks like it might be the best of my options right now, but I would really like a higher-resolution screen, even if that meant a bigger screen size. (Every laptop is 1366x768 these days...)

If you aren't in a hurry, you may want to wait and see if Google's Pixel turns out to be real. I know that most people initially thought it was fake, but since then someone has found interesting stuff in Chrome's code. It may very well be fake, but if it isn't, it's probably gonna be worth waiting for unless you need something right now.

The Verge says this about the Pixel: "Google’s greatest advantage is that it doesn’t need bleeding-edge specs to build a high-functioning computer." That could be exactly what I'm talking about.

Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't anyone make a laptop like the Cr-48?

#24

Post by DanBC » Mon, Feb 11, 2013, 12:20 PM UTC

stevenrace wrote: post #9

After my 13" MBP was stolen, I brought my CR-48 out of hibernation and have been using it as my primary machine for nearly 6 months. It is indeed a great computer, but I can't help thinking a used Macbook, Thinkpad, or the plethora of netbooks on the market would better serve even the most avid of hackers. May I ask what puts you off with it's current incarnation, the Chromebook? It 's only $200 (and up). The externa…

Frustratingly, the Samsung Chromebook is $249 in US, but £229 in UK. ($249 is £158).

The Acer chromebook is $199 in US, but £199 in UK. ($199 is £126)

The UK prices do include our sales taxes (VAT at 20%), but still.

Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't anyone make a laptop like the Cr-48?

#25

Post by kunai » Mon, Feb 11, 2013, 6:24 PM UTC

stevenrace wrote: post #9

After my 13" MBP was stolen, I brought my CR-48 out of hibernation and have been using it as my primary machine for nearly 6 months. It is indeed a great computer, but I can't help thinking a used Macbook, Thinkpad, or the plethora of netbooks on the market would better serve even the most avid of hackers. May I ask what puts you off with it's current incarnation, the Chromebook? It 's only $200 (and up). The externa…

The perfect option for you is to buy a Thinkpad T430U and install Chrome OS on it. It's remarkably similar to the CR-48 with regards to hardware design, it's $600, and it's a Thinkpad.

Which means you can use it as a breakfast tray when you're at a business summit, as a bludgeon when intruders come into your home, as a bulletproof plate if you live in a ghetto, as a riot shield if you're a journalist in Syria, and also as a skateboard if your car is broken.

Or, if you really want, you could use it as a really good, durable computer.

Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't anyone make a laptop like the Cr-48?

#26

Post by salahxanadu » Wed, Feb 20, 2013, 12:13 AM UTC

I seem to own computers for a long time(3-4yrs), so paying a little more for a solid machine is worthwhile to me. I spent the most I have ever to get a MBPr and it..is..the..damn..future. I've not owned a sub $700 laptop for more than a year. They just aren't built for that.