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Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

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Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#71

Post by slantyyz »

ch4ch4 wrote: post #24
jimbokun wrote: post #18

"Here are the names Apple still uses for their laptops (and yes, these are the actual model names): 13-inch MacBook Pro with 2.0GHz Processor and 256GB Storage 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and Touch ID, 2.9 GHz Processor and 256GB Storage 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and Touch ID, 2.9GHz Processor and 512GB Storage The ThinkPad naming convention makes marketing easier, product differentiation simpler, and…

Except that you still don't know which generation of processor the MBP has- I still see tons of deceptive Craigslist ads for MBPs that have a "2.0Ghz" processor, with no indication that it's a model from 2011, which is not at all comparable with a "2.0Ghz" processor from 2015.

This is probably offtopic, but I hate, hate, hate Intel's CPU naming strategy for the Core i line.

An i7 (U,M) in an ultrabook is vastly different from the i7 (MQ, HQ) in a gaming laptop.

A lot of people don't realize that, they just assume that i7 means "fastest intel processor".

It also doesn't help when computer manufacturers say "#th generation Intel processor". Unless you're keeping up with that stuff, how does a consumer buying a computer even make sense of that stuff?

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#72

Post by mst »

massysett wrote: post #48
kinkdr wrote: post #8

Lenovo lost me when the did the exact same mistake and decided to replace the exceptional Thinkpad keyboard for an inferior one.

I have used old and new Thinkpad keyboards and in my view the new one is far superior.

I'm a little disappointed that you seem to've been being downvoted for this.

Personally, I liked the key feel of the old installs better but find the new ones perfectly serviceable.

But I think the key point here is that, shockingly enough, people's opinions differ and you probably need to try any given keyboard yourself to make an informed decision.

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#73

Post by xj9 »

sliverstorm wrote: post #63
jimbokun wrote: post #18

"Here are the names Apple still uses for their laptops (and yes, these are the actual model names): 13-inch MacBook Pro with 2.0GHz Processor and 256GB Storage 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and Touch ID, 2.9 GHz Processor and 256GB Storage 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and Touch ID, 2.9GHz Processor and 512GB Storage The ThinkPad naming convention makes marketing easier, product differentiation simpler, and…

My first car was a 1986 Toyota MR2 . It was not a Beige Toyota Sports Car with 1.6L 4 cylinder gasoline engine and 5-speed manual transmission, 14" wheels, sunroof, and cassette player

The second label is more useful and informative. You gave me information about the thing, rather than an arbitrary label that I have to go resolve manually.

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#74

Post by rifung »

hyperbovine wrote: post #51
ch4ch4 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except that you still don't know which generation of processor the MBP has- I still see tons of deceptive Craigslist ads for MBPs that have a "2.0Ghz" processor, with no indication that it's a model from 2011, which is not at all comparable with a "2.0Ghz" processor from 2015.

What are you doing that you would even notice? Honest question. I can't recall a single instance where my 2012 rMBP slowed down due to its age. I mainly code, open tons of browser tabs, and listen to Spotify. Once I got a laptop with built-in SSD, everything just seemed to run at the speed of thought. That has not changed in four years or three operating systems.

Not sure why you're being downvoted for asking a question..

I care about CPU performance for compiling large projects. If I ever end up having time outside of work, I would like to try my hand at GHC development. I have made an attempt at it in the past and builds could take hours on my 2011 MBP.

I don't use an IDE by choice but back when I had to use Android Studio, I definitely would have appreciated a faster CPU as well. I'm not sure if this is still an issue.

Even if you aren't doing anything CPU intensive, I think it's nice to know just because you want to know what you're paying for.

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#75

Post by sliken »

slantyyz wrote: post #71
ch4ch4 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except that you still don't know which generation of processor the MBP has- I still see tons of deceptive Craigslist ads for MBPs that have a "2.0Ghz" processor, with no indication that it's a model from 2011, which is not at all comparable with a "2.0Ghz" processor from 2015.

This is probably offtopic, but I hate, hate, hate Intel's CPU naming strategy for the Core i line. An i7 (U,M) in an ultrabook is vastly different from the i7 (MQ, HQ) in a gaming laptop. A lot of people don't realize that, they just assume that i7 means "fastest intel processor". It also doesn't help when computer manufacturers say "#th generation Intel processor". Unless you're keeping up with that stuff, how does…

What's worse is that even if you know the exact CPU and it's performance intel has a new program to arbitrarily throttle CPUs to fit a particular power/cooling envelope.

So vendors can cheap out on cooling, cripple the cpu, and there's no way to tell until you buy it and check yourself.

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#76

Post by mschuster91 »

barongrounds wrote: post #33
marklyon wrote: post #2

In addition to Lenovo, consider the XPS 13 and 15. While Dell's quality has been somewhat inconsistent as they launched the line, they stepped up and took care of the problem I encoutered with my XPS 13 and it's quickly become my favorite laptop ever. Great battery life, super portable, an external battery for long flights and an AMAZING screen. It even supports touch, which I don't use all the time, but find nice to…

Make sure you replace the worthless Broadcom wifi chip with an Intel. It's puzzling that Dell would cheap out on an otherwise excellent machine. At least swapping them out is an easy job.

At least the Broadcom chipsets can do soft-AP mode on Linux, something that IIRC even the top-notch Intel chipsets can't.

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#77

Post by matthewking »

CrazedGeek wrote: post #19
slededit wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Despite not being as good as the old IBM keyboards, can you name a laptop with a better one? It seems all the manufacturers make terrible keyboards.

The Razer Blade Pro has a mechanical keyboard: http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-systems/razer-blade-pro

That is a seriously nice gaming laptop. Id like a 15" version with the trackpad in the usual place though, id consider that for my main machine.

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#78

Post by qwertyuiop924 »

antirez wrote: post #38
gkop wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Debian Testing (Stretch) with all its defaults, including its default desktop environment (Gnome 3).

I admit it's a few years at this point I don't use a Linux box as my desktop. Is it at a point where, to do all the obvious things like, use Skype, configure a printer, have a decent presentation or video editing software, update my system without hacking with the drivers, I can just have it? My fear is that I'll not be able to do everything I do with my Mac now. A solution could be to install Windows 10 in dual boot…

Skype on linux works well, last I checked.

Configuring a printer is pretty good, actually: for the most part, you plug it in, and it Just Works™. Networked printers are another matter, but by no meand impossible.

Presentation on Linux can be handled by LibreOffice, Google Slides, or Reveal.js (which has become increasingly popular with developers of late)

I've never had trouble with updating my system, and I'm on ArchLinux. The one thing you may have trouble with is wifi, but if your wifi chip's supported, the rest is most likely good. However, it does depend on your setup.

Really, the only thing you might have trouble with is video editing, and even that's not so bad anymore: OpenShot is as good as WMM ever was, and Lightworks, the NLE of choice for many professionals, has a Linux version.

As for gaming, I've been gaming on linux since 2011, when Steam on Linux was but a madman's dream. It was possible to play many exellent games (some through wine, some native), and with the dawn of Steam on Linux, that's never been more true.

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#79

Post by ant6n »

CrazedGeek wrote: post #19
slededit wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Despite not being as good as the old IBM keyboards, can you name a laptop with a better one? It seems all the manufacturers make terrible keyboards.

The Razer Blade Pro has a mechanical keyboard: http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-systems/razer-blade-pro

Interesting company, terrible website. How are the keyboards on their smaller laptops?

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#80

Post by antisthenes »

My recent experience with Lenovo shunned me away from Thinkpads for the foreseeable future and from Lenovo in general as a customer.

After placing an order for a Thinkpad that I needed urgently, they, without explanation or email canceled the order the next day.

Trying to contact customer service, I found out that their online chat employees have no access to customer order history, because "the functionality isn't there yet". Direct quote from support.

2 months later I got an email from them, asking how I like my purchase (7 weeks into using a Dell laptop)

Not to mention their site being unusable in 3/4 browsers I tried to order.

The level of incompetence from them is just staggering.

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