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A small notebook for a system administrator

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Re: A small notebook for a system administrator

#101

Post by taude »

yakshaving_jgt wrote: post #19

I just want a company to keep making the previous generation MacBook Air. Keep the ports. Keep the MagSafe. Don’t screw with the keyboard. More memory and disk space would be nice, but it’s not a deal-breaker. I don’t mind going for a walk or enjoying a cup of coffee while I wait for GHC to compile. It’s a good machine. Now leave it alone.

I've not really been a fan of iOS, but for the holidays this year, I got a cheap 10" iPad 6, and and add-on Brydge keyboard for it. It makes for a small 10" laptop and I'm finding myself using it for 90% of my home computing tasks.

My favorite computer of all time was my 11" MacBook Air. I almost wish that apple would make a clam-shell iPad. I find the clamshell design makes for a superior stand, that works better in angles, and I almost always prefer to use a keyboard, except when I'm reading a book on the iPad. I also wish for some more software, like maybe native Emacs and some other system-level tools. I'd be open to even newer android clamshell designs....

Anyway, for the other 10% of my tasks, I still reach for my 11" MBAir.

Re: A small notebook for a system administrator

#102

Post by tom_ »

criddell wrote: post #38

> Such notebook is suitable for posting photos on Instagram, but not for work. There's something about that statement that put me off the entire article. Maybe the author truly is 3l337, but it just comes off as condescending. Plus, who uses a notebook for Instagram? The author managed to be simultaneously derisive and clueless.

Well, the sysadmin type of role does attract a specific type of dork! - but I think you rather unfairly stopped quoting just before the key point.

Re: A small notebook for a system administrator

#103

Post by jeffreymartin99 »

morganvachon wrote: post #43

Unfortunately something like this would never come to market, but I use a laptop that comes close enough for my needs. My current portable is a HP Elite X2 1011 G1 (yep that's a mouthful), it's a previous generation version of their current 1012 G2 product. It's a Surface-style convertible that is as fast as a typical business desktop machine, with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB M.2 SSD onboard. The keyboard base has 2x USB3…

There is every possibility of something close to this coming to market. Not every device needs to sell in the millions.

Re: A small notebook for a system administrator

#104

Post by pnutjam »

Tharkun wrote: post #55
platz wrote: post #36

Not sure what I'll find to replace my T420 with classic keyboard when it dies. What laptops do T420 users migrate to that has a non-terrible keyboard? (I am not a big fan of the new Thinkpad keyboards) Can I put a t420 classic keyboard on a new-gen Thinkpad? Is it a good idea?

There are basically no laptops with good keyboards anymore. I've given up on trying to find one. Thinkpads have gone down the drain. Lenovo aren't even offering on-site support or extended warranty on all models anymore (even if you want to pay more!). They've gone from quality business models to, well, slightly better than garbage.

Run of the mill Dell's suck, but the latitude line of laptops are pretty good. They are easier to service and find parts for as well.

Re: A small notebook for a system administrator

#105

Post by taude »

isostatic wrote: post #84
robin_reala wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Preferably the 11" Macbook Air.

I'm on one right now, it has magsafe (good), 3.5mm (good), 2 usb and a thunderbolt I'd rather it was a little thicker and had two ethernets and a second thunderbolt, but aside from that it's a great alternative to a chromebook. I wouldn't do real work on it though

I do lots of real work on mine. I wish it could do 4K output to an external monitor. But I run things like Emacs and VS Code for smaller projects, iTerm for SSHing into all my beefier machines. Battery life is still great for a machine almost 5 years old now: I still get about 5 hours. And then, I can also do writing with the keyboard I prefer, over the newer style.

I'm even keeping my eyes open for a used MB Air 11" with 8 GB ram, and 128 GB storage for when this one breaks, unles I find something more suitable.

Like the people talking about using old Surface Pros from eBay, I really like a low priced, almost disposable computer that I don't care about, especially since most my tool-chain is legacy at this point....

Re: A small notebook for a system administrator

#106

Post by TomVDB »

tluyben2 wrote: post #72
robin_reala wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Preferably the 11" Macbook Air.

That was my favorite Apple laptop. So annoying they do not produce it anymore.

My big mistake was to buy the 2GB/64GB version.

I could upgrade the SSD to 128GB, but the RAM is soldered.

And it’s juat not enough for today.

Re: A small notebook for a system administrator

#107

Post by komali2 »

giancarlostoro wrote: post #49
NeedMoreTea wrote: post #24

Well now. I'd probably buy one for novelty if the price wasn't absurd. Bonus points for trackpoint. More bonus points for the USB in power supply brick. I do wish that was standard rather than usually one "power" USB port in the laptop. Lots of interesting ideas, many of which simply don't seem that useful any more. Having to carry around a bag of gender changers, PS2 USB and all the rest is thankfully becoming rarer…

> Well now. I'd probably buy one for novelty if the price wasn't absurd. Bonus points for trackpoint. More bonus points for the USB in power supply brick. I do wish that was standard rather than usually one "power" USB port in the laptop. The Surface Book 2 has a USB slot on the charge brick.

Last I checked, the surface book 2 under load consumed more power than the brick could provide. If it functions anything like my sp3 brick did, if there's a phone or whatever plugged in in such situations, they don't get enough juice to charge.

Re: A small notebook for a system administrator

#108

Post by tluyben2 »

cik wrote: post #100

I use a Microsoft Surface Pro 2 for all my mobile needs. I bought it on eBay for ~$200 two years ago, and it's now 5 years old. It's light as all get up, runs Linux perfectly out of the box and I bought it to run a browser and SSH into things. It also has a displayport, and a single USB, and I can ultimately connect it to everything I need. It's literally the best piece of technology I've ever owned. I use it for so…

I keep wanting to get one but the battery life always keeps me from doing that. Mobile for me means a lot of battery life; you do not need that or is it actually ok?

Re: A small notebook for a system administrator

#109

Post by tluyben2 »

jeffreymartin99 wrote: post #103
morganvachon wrote: post #43

Unfortunately something like this would never come to market, but I use a laptop that comes close enough for my needs. My current portable is a HP Elite X2 1011 G1 (yep that's a mouthful), it's a previous generation version of their current 1012 G2 product. It's a Surface-style convertible that is as fast as a typical business desktop machine, with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB M.2 SSD onboard. The keyboard base has 2x USB3…

There is every possibility of something close to this coming to market. Not every device needs to sell in the millions.

Yep, look at the Gemini or the Pocket (2). Niche systems which are apparently worth making.

Re: A small notebook for a system administrator

#110

Post by Steltek »

cik wrote: post #100

I use a Microsoft Surface Pro 2 for all my mobile needs. I bought it on eBay for ~$200 two years ago, and it's now 5 years old. It's light as all get up, runs Linux perfectly out of the box and I bought it to run a browser and SSH into things. It also has a displayport, and a single USB, and I can ultimately connect it to everything I need. It's literally the best piece of technology I've ever owned. I use it for so…

> runs Linux perfectly out of the box

When did that happen? I admittedly haven't looked in a while but I thought the SP2 had some basic issues with Linux (keyboard docking, wifi; the expected things).

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