The Perfect Laptop • Hacker News Board

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#31

Post by LorenDB » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 5:37 PM UTC

This is why I own a Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Yoga :)

It also has quite nice system specs - 11th gen i7 and 32 GB RAM.

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#32

Post by LorenDB » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 5:38 PM UTC

twic wrote: post #7

> the body of a 12" laptop I've always owned 15" laptops, and i've never had any trouble fitting them in bags, even in a sleeve. I understand why people might want 7" or 10" netbooks, but a 12" machine just seems like a waste of space to me. I understand that most people feel very differently, though! > webcam that doesn’t make it look like your laptop (or you) are a potato during a videoconference And also doesn't l…

Power delivery should absolutely come on every device, period.

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#33

Post by lapcat » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 5:38 PM UTC

The closest I've ever seen to the perfect laptop (for me) was my 2006 17-inch MacBook Pro, to which I wrote an ode: https://lapcatsoftware.com/articles/macbookpro.html

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#34

Post by pachico » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 5:42 PM UTC

I'm tempted to say that it also needs IPS/anti-reflection screen.

I am currently in the process of choosing a laptop and it's one of my main requirements. So far, I'm looking with tender eyes to the MSI Prestige 13 EVO. I have no idea about Linux compatibility, thought.

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#35

Post by marginalia_nu » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 5:45 PM UTC

jpm_sd wrote: post #29

lylejantzi3rd wrote: post #14

Am I the only one who likes 17" laptops? I miss my old lunch tray.

I'm 6'3" and I have large hands. I'd love another 17" laptop. Anything less than 15" is an ergonomic torture device.

Yeah, I'm also in this camp. Also my eyesight isn't great so I want a large keyboard and a large screen to make it work.

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#36

Post by t3rabytes » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 5:47 PM UTC

qwytw wrote: post #18

TheRealPomax wrote: post #2

I'd add "expandable storage" (and "can be fixed") because even if it's an Apple-esque SoC (which we're clearly going to be seeing more of in the future by other brands), there is no reason to not offer one or ideally two m.2 slots that you can just stick more, "slower", storage in.

> there is no reason There is a very good reason called "profit margin"... Good luck charging $500 for an extra 768 GB of storage if there is an m2 slot.

I'd venture to guess that the take rate on custom configs from any manufacturer is quite low. Most consumers are going to go to Best Buy, Apple Store, et al and buy what config is available today, not wait to order some custom model.

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#37

Post by bombela » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 5:47 PM UTC

lylejantzi3rd wrote: post #14

Am I the only one who likes 17" laptops? I miss my old lunch tray.

Same, I don't mind carrying a big machine. Problem is most have a numpad, which shifts the keyboard and touch pad to the left. Being right handed, I find this very annoying.

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#38

Post by bombela » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 5:50 PM UTC

WesolyKubeczek wrote: post #12

Two aspects in which Apple's newest Macbook Airs fit at least my own "peak laptop" definition are: 1) no fans whatsoever 2) no coil whine when I plug my headphones in and stress the CPU The keyboard is exactly the right size and the right font for me, but I'll concede that muscle memory is an individual thing. I've owned Apple's laptops and keyboards made in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2019, and 2022, and they are very h…

Sometimes I find the coil whine useful to detect a stray Firefox tab ;)

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#39

Post by TheRealPomax » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 5:50 PM UTC

qwytw wrote: post #18

TheRealPomax wrote: post #2

I'd add "expandable storage" (and "can be fixed") because even if it's an Apple-esque SoC (which we're clearly going to be seeing more of in the future by other brands), there is no reason to not offer one or ideally two m.2 slots that you can just stick more, "slower", storage in.

> there is no reason There is a very good reason called "profit margin"... Good luck charging $500 for an extra 768 GB of storage if there is an m2 slot.

Then it's a good thing no one charges that. I'm all for calling out Apple for bullshit, but their "768 GB more" model is a $200 upsell, not $500. And yes: it's a huge leap from $200 to $500.

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#40

Post by bee_rider » Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 5:51 PM UTC

I was initially annoyed at the lack of a headphone jack on my laptop, but USB-C to headphone dongles are very common and good enough for portable use. For desk use, might as well get a devoted DAC/AMP. So, I think they are a waste of space now.

Webcams are a waste of bezel space, might as well get a non-junk USB one. Plus you can position it for shots other than up your nose.

Give me like 8 USB-C ports and nothing else.

16:10 is OK but if we’re going for Perfect Laptop, obviously 4:3 is the correct aspect ratio.

The current Apple Bluetooth magic keyboards are fine, use that (with a non wireless interface of course).

These opinions are my own but they are also objectively correct.