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System76 Pangolin Linux-first laptop with AMD internals now in stock

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Re: System76 Pangolin Linux-first laptop with AMD internals now in stock

#231

Post by jagger27 »

lmm wrote: post #228
jagger27 wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

See layer8’s comment above. Let’s say there’s a sweet spot somewhere between ultrawide and square. Why would 16:9 be ideal? The golden ratio is pretty close to 16:10, which is the basis of A4 (etc.) paper.

> Why would 16:9 be ideal? The golden ratio is pretty close to 16:10, which is the basis of A4 (etc.) paper. No it isn't. A4 paper is roughly 7:5 (actually sqrt-2). The fact that people consistently get this wrong suggests that the golden ratio isn't actually all it's cracked up to be (IME the golden ratio makes for things that are too wide. My laptop has a 3:2 screen that I'm very happy with)

Whoops, so it is. I agree that 3:2 is close to ideal in a laptop form factor.

Re: System76 Pangolin Linux-first laptop with AMD internals now in stock

#232

Post by qudat »

freedomben wrote: post #46
jagger27 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed it's nearly perfect, but I would only buy it with a considerably better processor. Both Intel and AMD have incredible stuff lined up for the next few years in that space. For now though, since I have to keep a Mac around for work, I'll probably stick with my M1 MacBook Air for my portable needs and keep using Linux on my desktop.

a great thing about the framework though is the processor is upgradeable! So once the new stuff comes out ...

You're still forced into buying an intel chip now. I'm holding out for an AMD with frame.work before purchasing. Hopefully they will come out with one before I purchase a M1 macbook air.

Re: System76 Pangolin Linux-first laptop with AMD internals now in stock

#236

Post by grifball »

ben-schaaf wrote: post #220
caslon wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Southpaw here! I'd never buy a laptop without a number pad. The track pad being off-center is also good. Gaming? 78462 make for the best movement, and the number pad also has seven non-numerical buttons to bind things to. It also puts your index finger right next to lENTER, which is so useful for games that make use of it. Programming? Bind the buttons to commonly-used UNIX programs to make for a better IDE than an I…

Another big one is Blender; I don't think I could use it without a numpad.

You can buy a usb numpad for blender. I did this to save money on a mechanical keyboard.

Re: System76 Pangolin Linux-first laptop with AMD internals now in stock

#237

Post by jiggawatts »

protomyth wrote: post #2

I wish a person could order one of these without the numeric keypad. I deeply hate being off-center to the screen when typing on these larger portables.

You interact with a computer only through the screen, speakers, microphone, and keyboard.

So of course, the advertisement for every laptop emphasises internal component metrics that don't actually matter that much. "Now with X8-7820Z SUPER!" or whatever.

Instead they have terrible screens, tinny speakers, noisy microphones, and non-customisable keyboard layouts. The latter of which are always cramped, and I mean always, even on 17" laptops.

Do you have any idea how cheap it would be for these manufacturers to allow you to choose your keyboard layout? It's a removable tray already! They can be swapped out in seconds! There are multiple keyboard layouts available from the parts manufacturers!

Can you order such a thing? No.

Re: System76 Pangolin Linux-first laptop with AMD internals now in stock

#239

Post by smichel17 »

deepsun wrote: post #191
smoldesu wrote: post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? I bought an Ideapad for my mom a few months ago and I was pretty impressed with the build quality. It was plastic (as all $450 laptops are) but felt relatively rugged, and the internals were surprisingly open too. I was rather happy with the thermals too, there wasn't much we could throw at it to make it sustain uncomfortable temps.

Plastic laptop cases are objectively better than metallic ones. Plastic doesn't heat up your legs that much, and good carbon plastic is stronger than steel, weight-wise. Subjectively, metallic feels better though.

What about by volume? Also, stronger meaning what? There's a combination of factors here: not just whether it breaks, but also how (dent vs crack..). Also, how well it ages. Also, how much flex does it have and how does that affect the lifespan of the internal components?

I don't know those answers; perhaps carbon plastic wins on all metrics. It would be interesting to learn.

Re: System76 Pangolin Linux-first laptop with AMD internals now in stock

#240

Post by lathiat »

johnzim wrote: post #8
protomyth wrote: post #2

I wish a person could order one of these without the numeric keypad. I deeply hate being off-center to the screen when typing on these larger portables.

I have no idea who thought this was a good idea. The trackpad is even off to the left to accommodate it. I'm not a fan of symmetry for symmetry's sake, but I do think some affordances for the human body might be a good idea. How do southpaws enjoy this keyboard setup? The ergonomics of laptops are bad enough without stuff like this.

As this thread is highlighting, in my experience there are two kinds of keyboard users. Those that love their numberpad, and those that never use it. There seems to rarely be people in the middle. On desktops it mostly doesn't matter because you can shift the keyboard over relative to the screen. On laptops this translates into people completely loathing or loving the laptop entirely :)

Personally in the never use it camp, and hate these offset laptops. Sometimes its because people do a lot of number data entry spreadsheet style, I can understand that case a little more, however even people that mostly type text I've seen for example will like to enter IP addresses on the number pad for no obvious reason. God speed IPv6 adoption :)

On the other hand laptops are terrible for ergonomics and daily usage anyway, it's unfortunately we've moved so far into laptops from desktops and it doesn't seem so common to dock them and use an external keyboard.. to my feeling mostly because the screen ends up being too small once you push it back to use an external keyboard so then you need an external monitor and the cost and complexity goes up.

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