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Let’s redesign the laptop for a work-from-home era

wsj.com

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Re: Let’s redesign the laptop for a work-from-home era

#31

Post by ghaff »

roland35 wrote: post #4

Most of the suggestions are taylored to video conferencing, such as a better camera and microphone. I have gotten around this personally by purchasing a separate external microphone and camera for a huge improvement. My main issue with my (intel 2019) MacBook Pro is the noise! Whenever I do heavy work it gets very hot and loud, and uses more power than my desktop PC. Driving a 4k monitor also contributes to the heat.…

It's also easier to get a good mic and webcam if you're not constrained by the thickness of a laptop screen. A lot of people would benefit from better lighting as well although some of that can be a function of their physical environment which can be hard to do something about.

Re: Let’s redesign the laptop for a work-from-home era

#32

Post by deadmutex »

akulbe wrote: post #14
podiki wrote: post #7

I don't really understand the point of this article as "redesigning the laptop." Nearly all of the things they mention is either software (e.g. better processing of mic input) or called a desktop (screens, noise, etc.). If people are working from home that negates a big reason for the laptop: portability. Sure it is nice to move to the couch or kitchen or whatever, but maybe that could be having a keyboard and using…

You beat me to it. I came here to say… this is a solved problem. It's called a "desktop machine". ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Does that work for everyone?

I have a desktop, but I often need to use my laptop in different rooms throughout the day.

Just thinking about my parents as well, it doesn't work for their use cases. So, I urge you to think beyond just a handful of cases.

Re: Let’s redesign the laptop for a work-from-home era

#33

Post by jedberg »

roland35 wrote: post #4

Most of the suggestions are taylored to video conferencing, such as a better camera and microphone. I have gotten around this personally by purchasing a separate external microphone and camera for a huge improvement. My main issue with my (intel 2019) MacBook Pro is the noise! Whenever I do heavy work it gets very hot and loud, and uses more power than my desktop PC. Driving a 4k monitor also contributes to the heat.…

I got an external cooling pad for my MacBook Pro and that helped a lot. I actually got the overpowered "gaming" cooler since I don't plan on taking it anywhere with me. It just sits on my desk.

One other tip for the MacBook Pro: If you haven't opened the case and blown out the dust elephants in the last year, you might want to do that. The fans and fins tend to get really crusted up and it makes a big difference.

This is the one I got: https://www.newegg.com/rosewill-rwnb17b-laptop-cooler/p/N82E...

Re: Let’s redesign the laptop for a work-from-home era

#34

Post by ghaff »

Jtsummers wrote: post #19
tpmx wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(Edited.) Perhaps mounting a polarizing filter in front of the laptop camera to kill most of the glare would make it work with glasses. Otherwise: For those who can make it work, contact lenses and lasik are nice options. Increased FOV.

Not everyone who wears glasses qualifies for lasik or can wear contact lenses. I’m lucky that I can wear contact lenses and get pretty good correction, but LASIK and PRK are off the table for me (I’d still need glasses all the time).

I wear contacts and still at least like to use readers for reading (even with multifocals). For day to day stuff I just let people deal with it. I have a key light which is elevated so the glare isn't too bad.

If I'm recording video or something like that I just make sure any notes on my screen are in a big enough font that I can read them.

Re: Let’s redesign the laptop for a work-from-home era

#35

Post by dv_dt »

deadmutex wrote: post #21
sandworm101 wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> or at least a physical cover. I want a mechanical microphone switch too. Being seen can be embarrassing but being caught saying something can end your career instantly. See that school board that all had to resign after they were caught badmouthing parents.

I don't know how a mechanical microphone switch would have helped in that case. That seemed to be a UX issue. The board was on a call with other members, and didn't realize that there was another participant. Some news stories just called it a "hot mic" issue because it is easy to glance and get an idea of what the story is about, but that's not exactly what happened.

An external microphone with a physical push to talk button would be a pretty perfect UX if that is your worry.

Re: Let’s redesign the laptop for a work-from-home era

#36

Post by hombre_fatal »

podiki wrote: post #7

I don't really understand the point of this article as "redesigning the laptop." Nearly all of the things they mention is either software (e.g. better processing of mic input) or called a desktop (screens, noise, etc.). If people are working from home that negates a big reason for the laptop: portability. Sure it is nice to move to the couch or kitchen or whatever, but maybe that could be having a keyboard and using…

I’d be surprised if even most people agree with you that the best computer is a static one tethered to a desk, even if they never leave their home. Gamers aside.

I built a desktop computer and never use it. Having to sit in the same desk just to use it is a nearly insurmountable drawback. It’s more of a niche appliance than we admit.

I’d suspect most people with the option would need more than a better deal on components to make it worthwhile to be stuck in the same chair in the same room in the same position every day. I just look around at everyone I know and everyone prefers a laptop, even the homebodies.

Re: Let’s redesign the laptop for a work-from-home era

#38

Post by viklove »

brmgb wrote: post #26
viklove wrote: post #6

This article is hilarious because it shows how poorly the average tech consumer understands pricing and hardware. You want a better camera and a better mic? Buy them. They're not cheap. You can easily spend $3-400 on a teleconferencing setup (as I have for my desktop), and it pays off. But if you think my Blue Snowball mic and Logitech webcam will fit into your Macbook Air... On that note, all of these concerns could…

You are completely missing the point (it feels like I am now posting this everyday on HN). No one is asking for a Blue Snowball mic and Logitech webcam in their laptop. People are rightfully wondering why in world a ubiquous small competent cameras (see every iPhone from the past decades) and mic, the ones laptops are using are so poor. The answer is most likely because no one cared so I fully expect that to change b…

The answer is very simple: the display of your laptop is much thinner than your phone.

So if you want something better, you will need to use an external camera.

Re: Let’s redesign the laptop for a work-from-home era

#39

Post by sandworm101 »

drcode wrote: post #24
sandworm101 wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> or at least a physical cover. I want a mechanical microphone switch too. Being seen can be embarrassing but being caught saying something can end your career instantly. See that school board that all had to resign after they were caught badmouthing parents.

Of course, let's not forget that the core problem here is the "end your career instantly" part, not the design of the microphone.

Just because something will end your career if overheard doesn't mean that it was something bad. Think of a lawyer on a long zoom call. What if they answer a client call and that conversation is pickup up by the zoom computer? Or what if someone in my office asks for login/account info and that conversation gets pickup by zoom? Or a system administrator sitting through a long zoom meeting about pension plans who accidentally has a side conversation about security issues on the production server. These are everyday acceptable office conversations that, if broadcast to zoom accidentally, can end a career far faster than looking unkempt on a webcam.

Re: Let’s redesign the laptop for a work-from-home era

#40

Post by skrtskrt »

hc-taway wrote: post #3

1) physical kill switch for camera (as in, it breaks the power or data connection to it, physically) or at least a physical cover. 2) physical kill switch for the microphone These are very much not "nerd" concerns, either. I see a lot of non-techies with stickers over their laptop cameras. [EDIT] teachers in particular spread the "put a sticker over the camera" practice, in my experience, both before and during the p…

Lots of companies distribute their employees laptops with a little plastic slider to shutter the camera, so it's further than not-just-nerds - corporate IT decisionmakers are recognizing the need too.
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