Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

wsj.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

121–130 of 194 posts

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

#121

Post by neogodless »

draklor40 wrote: post #94

There exists a good solution. It is called a desktop. I turned my company provided laptop into an almost full desktop with external monitor, keyboard and mouse, speakers, a USB microphone, USB camera. At this point I am wondering why do I even have a wimpy ULV processor to write code 8 hrs a day. The sheer amount of time I could save by switching to even a basic 4 core 45-65w Desktop class CPU. Saving pennies on the…

When I'm working, most of the time I'm on my desktop, with a ~5 year old web cam attached to a monitor. For a while, I wondered if software was just making "me" look good (quality, not my face, ha!) but I had someone do a screen shot. And my $50 web cam is 5x better than basically every Macbook web cam for video chat. And my desktop is a ~2 year old 8-core, 32GB machine. Not a monster but excellent power plus 27" and 32" monitors, and an ergonomic chair, keyboard and mouse. The webcam mic works well, too, even in conjunction with my external speakers.

I can game on a laptop (with a decent laptop stand and flat surface for a mouse) but I certainly wouldn't want to do 8 hours of work on it. (Or a laptop on a table/desk, which isn't the right height or a good keyboard setup either...)

Long-winded way of saying I agree with you. But I did buy all of my desktop gear - nothing was work supplied.

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

#122

Post by ClumsyPilot »

pwinnski wrote: post #68
drcode wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

By which I assume you mean that the core problem is that they were casually denigrating the parents rather than trying to work with them?

Sometimes people vent. While I am not aware of that particular situation, bitching to your friends about some situation is different than live broadcast

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

#123

Post by nwienert »

dingaling wrote: post #111
gcatalfamo wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, in theory. But I end up not liking having to sit at the desk for "everything computer". Sometimes I just want to work while sitting comfortably on the couch.

> Sometimes I just want to work while sitting comfortably on the couch. Grab some paper and a pencil and use it as non-screen time. Else you can find yourself spending too long on a poor posture on furniture that's designed for lean-back, not lean-in.

I have a minor issue with my lower spine, not crazy but actually sit at desk 0% of the time as a result.

Laptops on the couch are quite cozy and sustainable.

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

#124

Post by bitwize »

draklor40 wrote: post #94

There exists a good solution. It is called a desktop. I turned my company provided laptop into an almost full desktop with external monitor, keyboard and mouse, speakers, a USB microphone, USB camera. At this point I am wondering why do I even have a wimpy ULV processor to write code 8 hrs a day. The sheer amount of time I could save by switching to even a basic 4 core 45-65w Desktop class CPU. Saving pennies on the…

> At this point I am wondering why do I even have a wimpy ULV processor to write code 8 hrs a day. The sheer amount of time I could save by switching to even a basic 4 core 45-65w Desktop class CPU.

Sounds like someone who hasn't heard of the M1 Macs. They smoke all but the beefiest of desktops.

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

#125

Post by KptMarchewa »

anotheryou wrote: post #73

Make usb-c docking work... I got an older dell xps that get's heart trouble on 3rd party usb-c chargers (short freezes under moderate load) and is throttled even through the expensive dell dock. I got a lenovo with linux (maybe linux is at fault) where hdmi through usb-c causes all sorts of issues. --- allow to limit charging to 80% (dell can do it, should double battery life. Too bad my xps batteries die a bloaty de…

>I got a lenovo with linux (maybe linux is at fault) where hdmi through usb-c causes all sorts of issues.

What issues? I'm literally writing this answer on LG CX connected through USB-C -> HDMI on TV.

    -> % swaymsg -t get_outputs
    Output DP-1 'Goldstar Company Ltd LG TV SSCR 0x00000101' (focused)
      Current mode: 3840x2160 @ 60.000000 Hz

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

#126

Post by tehjoker »

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…

These items are so trivial and so obviously cause consumers angst by being missing that I can only presume the near universal lack of them is an intentional ploy to train people to be used to being on camera so that various additional invasive techno-gadgets can be introduced over time. A "market" would have produced "choice" but we have to stick with tape.

It was extremely obvious what they were doing when Google Glass was released without even a glowing video indicator.

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

#127

Post by ClumsyPilot »

jedberg wrote: post #33
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. Thi…

I got an external cooler an it reduced Mac's temperature by a whopping 1 degree...

The damn thing has no intake on the bottom, coolers don't do jack.

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

#128

Post by llampx »

olyjohn wrote: post #75
asdff wrote: post #64

If we are to redesign the laptop why can't we admit that it's current design and use cases are at odds? People are running zoom and docker and slack and a dozen other things at once. We waste more resources than ever doing the same chat/etc. stuff we've been doing for 25 years. Things aren't moving faster, fans are going full tilt and CPUs throttle down. What the people need more than anything is for manufacturers to…

It's the same craze affecting smartphones. We get rid of useful features like headphone jacks just to save 0.25mm of thickness. Thickness that nobody would ever notice in a practical use case. We buy thin, fragile phones and then put them in big thick cases.

Tell Apple how they can sell $200 accessories by adding jacks and they will happily do it. iPhones have been getting thicker and heavier since the iPhone 6s and we've lost the jack.

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

#129

Post by ClumsyPilot »

throwaway74737 wrote: post #76

Smartphones come with many physical sensors. Laptops are bigger and have more power, so they should have just as many. - Very good quality cameras front and back, including IR, dot projector and flash - Analog audio I/O - GPS receiver - 3D accelerometer and gyroscope - Magnetometer - Ambient light level and color temperature - Ambient temperature, air pressure, hygrometer - Radiation detector - Wasn't there some rese…

I am looking forward to that radiation detector, better watch out for gamma rays!

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

#130

Post by emkoemko »

hombre_fatal wrote: post #36
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 compon…

there is going to be a lot of people with back and neck problems. "niche appliance" ?? to me i can't stand the keyboard being right up against a screen what do we do? bend our head down? or lift our arms high? that's going to be very very bad to our bodies. Laptops should only be used in moderation and when they are the only option, but to use it daily that's very bad. Sounds like you work with hipsters who care about superficial stuff more then their health.
Post reply on HN