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The Perfect Laptop

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Re: The Perfect Laptop

#131

Post by addisonl »

treprinum wrote: post #122
pico303 wrote: post #84

> another Apple can’t put my finger on why this is so much better than everyone else things Once you’ve used a Mac touchpad, it’s impossible to go back to a Windows/Linux laptop. I’ve tried…

Dunno, my Zenbook S UX393 has a glass touchpad as well (with some mini display underneath) and feels like the one on my MacBook but I can set up three buttons at the bottom, not just one. Moreover, it has 3300x2200 screen with slim bezels and without any insane notch and it can run Linux smoothly without waiting for GPU drivers to be usable.

Glass stopped being the special sauce for the MacBook trackpads a while ago when they introduced Force Touch. Now you can click anywhere on the trackpad with adjustable “click” feedback. I’m sure yours is nice but no one comes close to MacBook trackpads’ usability.

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#132

Post by amatecha »

post-it wrote: post #101
pico303 wrote: post #84

> another Apple can’t put my finger on why this is so much better than everyone else things Once you’ve used a Mac touchpad, it’s impossible to go back to a Windows/Linux laptop. I’ve tried…

> can’t put my finger on why this is so much better than everyone else Because it doesn't move. When you press down on an Apple touchpad, it doesn't displace at all, it vibrates . This gives you an identical touch response across the entire trackpad, plus nifty things like Force Touch and customizable response intensity. Nobody else has done it, and it makes every other touchpad feel awful.

I actually thought the trackpad was better with an actual physical click. To me the versions immediately prior to making it a stationary piece of glass was basically the best trackpad I've ever used in my life. It's disappointing how no other laptop manufacturer comes even close. I approach every single new laptop like "okay, is this finally the one that even compares?" and EVERY TIME I am like "wow, yup, it's been this many years and still not even close"...

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#133

Post by blauditore »

>excellent build quality

I keep hearing this, also for phones, and people usually associate it with certain materials.

Why? I'd rather have a light plastic laptop/phone that works well, is light, and survives a few hits than an overpriced piece of fashion. Bonus points for phones with cracked backs because glass "feels more valuable".

Of course I understand the value of e.g. good hinges, keyboards etc., but pretty sure that's not what people are generally referring to.

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#134

Post by amatecha »

Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #123
pico303 wrote: post #84

> another Apple can’t put my finger on why this is so much better than everyone else things Once you’ve used a Mac touchpad, it’s impossible to go back to a Windows/Linux laptop. I’ve tried…

> Once you’ve used a Mac touchpad, it’s impossible to go back to a Windows/Linux laptop. I’ve tried… I have the same problem, but with TrackPoints. It's impossible for me to use any trackpad after trying that, and that has had me tied to ThinkPads for the last 18 years.

Yeah, it does drive me crazy using laptops without a TrackPoint. It is REALLY convenient and quick to use. Daily-driving an X230 and it's just so low-friction to work with.

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#135

Post by goosedragons »

post-it wrote: post #101
pico303 wrote: post #84

> another Apple can’t put my finger on why this is so much better than everyone else things Once you’ve used a Mac touchpad, it’s impossible to go back to a Windows/Linux laptop. I’ve tried…

> can’t put my finger on why this is so much better than everyone else Because it doesn't move. When you press down on an Apple touchpad, it doesn't displace at all, it vibrates . This gives you an identical touch response across the entire trackpad, plus nifty things like Force Touch and customizable response intensity. Nobody else has done it, and it makes every other touchpad feel awful.

Steam Deck has TWO!

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#136

Post by CraigJPerry »

nwienert wrote: post #86
CraigJPerry wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Heavy though. Coming from an m1 air to a 16” pro is cartoon-eyes-out-on-stalks surprising when you first pick it up. I can’t help wonder if the m2 air 15” is the best on the market currently.

The 15 air is actually quite a bit heavier, it goes from 'easily hold it up with one hand with lid open' to, well, barely possible. I'm so surprised more people don't want brighter screens. At night my screen looks gorgeous, though I could even go a touch brighter when doing detailed design stuff. Daytime? I'd go for literally 2-3x brighter if I could. Let alone working outside! Screen brightness is the biggest QoL i…

Yeah a brighter screen would be awesome. i misunderstood that the m1pro would be a huge step up in brightness from the m1air but it’s just as borderline in direct sunlight

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#137

Post by herval »

RajT88 wrote: post #125
post-it wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> can’t put my finger on why this is so much better than everyone else Because it doesn't move. When you press down on an Apple touchpad, it doesn't displace at all, it vibrates . This gives you an identical touch response across the entire trackpad, plus nifty things like Force Touch and customizable response intensity. Nobody else has done it, and it makes every other touchpad feel awful.

I'm just surprised that people feel so passionately about touchpads/trackpads. Apple can have the best one, sure, I believe it. But they still are bad pointing devices as a type of pointing device. People have gotten used to them, because what else can you really fit into a laptop?

It's not a bad pointing device, that's the thing. I can use a Mac with a trackpad for pretty much anything, including image editing. It's precise, doesn't do ghost clicks/taps, and it's BIG

I never found a non-Mac with a trackpad I could use _at all_. I always need a mouse to use my windows laptop...

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#138

Post by bamfly »

hot_gril wrote: post #55

MacBook Pro is near perfect. Just needs one USB-A port.

You're not wrong. They pulled the A ports way too early. I upgrade more aggressively than a normal user (though less than a real cutting-edge enthusiast) and have only recently passed the 50/50 mark for devices in semi-regular use that use A vs C. A-terminated cords are still at least as popular on devices on store shelves, as C. This, years after Apple made a hard transition.

If they'd at least brought the rest of their line-up over at the same time, that'd help sell me on that having been a good idea. But no, have to carry at least two types of charging cable when traveling, still, even with an all-Apple set of equipment.

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#139

Post by herval »

goosedragons wrote: post #135
post-it wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> can’t put my finger on why this is so much better than everyone else Because it doesn't move. When you press down on an Apple touchpad, it doesn't displace at all, it vibrates . This gives you an identical touch response across the entire trackpad, plus nifty things like Force Touch and customizable response intensity. Nobody else has done it, and it makes every other touchpad feel awful.

Steam Deck has TWO!

Steam Deck's little trackpads are pretty amazing, can confirm!

Re: The Perfect Laptop

#140

Post by wishfish »

For me, the smaller the better. I'm fortunate enough to do most of my real work at a desktop setting, so I'd like the laptop to be as portable as possible.

With that in mind, in terms of pure form factor, the Asus Flip Chromebook (2015) was about as close to perfect as possible. Sure, its processor was anemic even at release. I'd want a higher quality screen. But the keyboard was very good by my standards. The 10 inch screen was the perfect size and was 16:10. Weighed around 1.8 pounds (0.82 kg). If I could have that form factor with modern tech, I'd be in heaven.

Second favorite is the current iteration of the iPad Mini. If I could get that with an M1 or M2, full MacOS, then I'd be happier than (insert metaphor here).

Third favorite was the 2015 Macbook. I'd wish for a better keyboard and more ports, but overall the form factor & weight was extremely good. Would be stellar with a modern Mac kb and Apple Silicon.

Fourth fave was a tiny Sony Vaio from 2000. Forget the model name / number. Also under 2 pounds with a 10 inch screen. Honorable mention to the Asus Eee of 2008. Screen was too small but otherwise it was a perfect size & weight.

I guess I'll have to try a GPD laptop one of these days. They seem to be among the only ones providing tiny & small laptops.

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