Let’s redesign the laptop for a work-from-home era • Hacker News Board

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

#141

Post by uncledave » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 11:31 PM UTC

bitwize wrote: post #124

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.

I’ve got an M1 Mac mini. That it does. But it still doesn’t run a bunch of software I need so I’m sitting here thinking about replacing it with a mid range windows box.

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

#142

Post by tomjen3 » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 11:34 PM UTC

neogodless wrote: post #121

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…

I have a 13 year old Thinkpad with a webcam and an M1 Macbook Air. I have been meaning to compare the recording from their webcams, but I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't that big of a difference.

I also have a nice external USB webcam that I normally use, but when you run that through Zoom or Google Meet the quality is degraded tremendously, to the point where I don't think it make sense to upgrade your camera, until you are able to use better video software.

As for audio, I tested both the microphone in my external webcam today and a Rode Lavier, and the webcam had a distinct room sound to it, that the Lavier didn't.

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

#143

Post by masswerk » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 11:34 PM UTC

tmotwu wrote: post #139

masswerk wrote: post #136

Some things I could think of, regarding the general form factor and basic ergonomics: * detachable keyboard (the Olivetti M15 managed this quite well in 1987, compare [1], [2] -- also mind the full-travel keys) * height adjustable screen (e.g., using an arresting sliding mechanism) With powerful while minimalistic hardware around, like the M1 chip, we may start to think about the convertible laptop the other way roun…

What's wrong with the Surface Book?

I guess, the viewing angle? You couldn't have introduced this into a workplace in the last century, because of ergonomic workplace regulations. (Or, you would have been required to permit for at least half an our of pause in any working hour.)

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

#144

Post by WalterBright » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 11:41 PM UTC

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…

For me, the desktop is primary and the laptop is a peripheral.

1. big monitor, even multiple monitors

2. full size keyboard

3. no trackpad always being accidentally touched

4. terabytes of disk space

5. wired connection for privacy, reliability, and speed

6. separate mike that costs more than 5 cents. Unplug it when not in use

7. ditto for camera

8. pipe the sound through your real stereo

9. lots and lots of memory

10. high performance, don't worry about heat cooking your junk

11. not likely to get stolen

12. no worries about dropping it

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

#145

Post by paulcole » Thu, Mar 11, 2021, 11:59 PM UTC

WalterBright wrote: post #108

paulcole wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you’re saying things that can end your career instantly, be more careful about what you say?

So you don't share confidences with a trusted friend? I'm sad for you.

What the heck are you people saying that could end your career?

I say things that would get me fired but not things that would prevent me from ever getting hired again.

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

#146

Post by dv_dt » Fri, Mar 12, 2021, 12:09 AM UTC

cbm-vic-20 wrote: post #47

dv_dt wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

And trusting that the internal mic is actually off.

Good point, my work-from-home "laptop" is a desktop I built so I guess I'm pretty sure there is no internal mic .

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

#147

Post by lukifer » Fri, Mar 12, 2021, 12:10 AM UTC

tokamak-teapot wrote: post #58

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…

If you're on MacOS, open 'Audio MIDI Setup' and look at 'Built-in Microphone'. You can tick the 'Mute' box next to 'Master' and your microphone is now muted independently of Teams, WebEx, or whatever. It's not a physical switch, but it's a good second safeguard. Teams is even polite enough to tell remind you that you're muted because it can detect this. A slightly folded post-it note also works well as a camera cover…

As much as I'd still like a physical mic kill-switch on MacBooks (if any company has its interests aligned with privacy-signaling, it's Apple), this is a very useful tip, thanks for sharing!

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

#148

Post by reader_mode » Fri, Mar 12, 2021, 12:13 AM UTC

gcatalfamo wrote: post #102

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…

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.

Get something ultra portable and RDP over LAN

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

#149

Post by MarkLowenstein » Fri, Mar 12, 2021, 12:15 AM UTC

kps wrote: post #22

Let's not. Laptops are an ergonomic and productivity nightmare.

Here are things that are not good with the standard laptop form. They may seem minor, but I believe these little physical discomforts manifest themselves in a reluctance to use the device.

1. It's oblong with few safe surfaces to touch. To carry it with one hand forces you to hold it from one edge at least for awhile each time you pick it up and put it down. That feels heavy because of the leverage it pulls against that little edge you get to hold.

2. By opening frontwards/away from you, opening feels bad. Compare with opening a tablet that folds horizontally like a book.

3. It's often hard to find a clear spot to fit your laptop footprint at home. Corollary: when most people are not using it, it takes up a lot of desk or counter space. Very few people store it vertically. I store mine vertically under my desk and it gets kicked a lot.

4. It's really hard to just keep it closed and use it as a desktop replacement. Most have power buttons on the inside only, so when you have to wake it up or reboot, you've got to open it a crack and wedge your finger in there.

5. You can't tell how much battery is left, or what time it is, or when your next appointment is, without opening up the lid. Often you have to do one of those things while walking. Opening the lid and checking something on the inside while walking feels terrible.

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

#150

Post by jxramos » Fri, Mar 12, 2021, 12:23 AM UTC

zozin wrote: post #87

jxramos wrote: post #61

Products to help the macbook out with work from home variation - a lapdesk, to rest the laptop directly or an external keyboard for stability - https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJ2R2LL/A/magic-trackpad-... , best when paired with an external keyboard to gain distance to the macbook. - https://www.raindesigninc.com/mstand.html , to elevate the laptop for more comfortable viewing - https://www.goalzero.com/shop/porta…

I agree with most of these, but the Rain Design laptop stand sucks. Why is it static when it can easily adjust based on various people's heights and use cases. This was a much better buy (I compared it to the Rain Design one side by side): https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-EPN-Heat-Vent-Aluminum-Com... As far as a second monitor is concerned, in the Apple universe you're better off buying an iPad and using that as a…

The mStand is definitely not adjustable, but it's also very robust/firm/rigid/solid. There's no question it will go the distance from a quality perspective, should last a lifetime. The rubber pads also seem like they'll go the distance too. I trust Rain Design because they don't skimp on the heft of the aluminum they use or the means they mount the rubber pads. I've bought some cheap competitor ones in the past, their lightweight bodies tend to tip over easily and their adhesive fails over time. Rain Design is what we used at Apple, and I use it at my current job too.

It appears they do offer a more adjustable model too. https://www.raindesigninc.com/ilevel.html

That iPad tip is a great one, never knew about Sidecar before today https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210380. Excellent advise.