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Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

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Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#121

Post by pmr_ »

ntkachov wrote: post #6

How about a laptop with a better key board, slim figure, larger special character keys and more feedback for keys? Then shove a great processor, a mouse pad that's not accidentally click able while typing, and a high resolution screen. That's a developer laptop. Ill install my own software, Thank you very much.

I own a XPS15z but I was never able to put what is wrong with it so succinctly.

I absolutely don't get what's with the pre-installed software thing, I can do that myself. What I need is full-driver support and some basic information of what is known to work. I don't expect them to maintain a full Linux compatibility list, but just a simple list that says: With this specific kernel and this mainstream distro, those things don't work out of the box. You need one intern for about two days to do that. Throw in exact specs and I can figure out a lot of things for myself.

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#123

Post by Zak »

rdtsc wrote: post #82
ntkachov wrote: post #6

How about a laptop with a better key board, slim figure, larger special character keys and more feedback for keys? Then shove a great processor, a mouse pad that's not accidentally click able while typing, and a high resolution screen. That's a developer laptop. Ill install my own software, Thank you very much.

Thinkpad (T60) has a great keyboard, good feedback. I don't use the mousepad, I like the little red pointer thingy it has and has 1400x1050 resolution display. It also a mate display (not the glare type). It is bulkier than other laptops and by now its processor is behind the latest i7 and i5's. Also as soon as I got I installed Ubuntu on it. Ubuntu lets me re-map caps lock to a control for my emacs usage. And most o…

The UXGA IPS panels on some of the T60s are one of the nicest screens to spend all day looking at. New screens are often brighter, but the color and viewing angle found on those is far superior to what's available today. Oh, and they're 1200px tall - the 17" MBP is, I think the only major-brand laptop that tall today.

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#124

Post by jamesbritt »

xaa wrote: post #34

People can develop on 13" screens?

My dream machine was a 12" Toshiba Portege with an extra battery, 1920x1200 rez and a trackpoint.

Great form-factor, especially on planes.

It eventually started falling apart, and I never found quite the same thing again.

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#125

Post by replax »

xando wrote: post #86

This is kind of interesting for me. I'm trying to find for myself a proper Linux machine. Right now on Dell e6410, a bit regret that I bought it. In my opinion nearest to the ideal developer machine on Linux is Lenovo X1 or X220. Screen 13": is enough, even 12" is enough. If you are kind of developer who moves his behind from meeting to meeting or spends some time on plains or conferences. 13" (max) is your choice. Y…

I am actually surprised that the battery only lasts 3-4h on a mbp on linux. on the x220 i get around 6h with the 6cell battery, obviously depending on use.

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#126

Post by neurotech1 »

rdtsc wrote: post #82
ntkachov wrote: post #6

How about a laptop with a better key board, slim figure, larger special character keys and more feedback for keys? Then shove a great processor, a mouse pad that's not accidentally click able while typing, and a high resolution screen. That's a developer laptop. Ill install my own software, Thank you very much.

Thinkpad (T60) has a great keyboard, good feedback. I don't use the mousepad, I like the little red pointer thingy it has and has 1400x1050 resolution display. It also a mate display (not the glare type). It is bulkier than other laptops and by now its processor is behind the latest i7 and i5's. Also as soon as I got I installed Ubuntu on it. Ubuntu lets me re-map caps lock to a control for my emacs usage. And most o…

I have a T60 that I use as my primary laptop. They don't make laptops like this anymore.

I keep a spare T60 just in case this one breaks. They are pretty cheap on eBay, especially if supplies without HDD off-lease.

-sent from my T60

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#127

Post by pinchyfingers »

kleiba wrote: post #116
bfrs wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't you get too much strain on your left pinky if you remap CapsLock to Ctrl? I shifted to: CapsLock -> Enter Keys next to spacebar -> Ctrl This feels a whole lot better. As Xah Lee [1] points out, the original symbolics keyboard that Stallman developed emacs on, had Ctrl keys next to the space bar. [1] http://xahlee.org/emacs/emacs_kb_shortcuts_pain.html

I read Xah Lee's article a good while ago. Emacs is the program I spend >90% of my time in, I first encountered it on a SUN Sparc Classic. If my memory serves me right, the SUN keyboard had META close to space and CTRL under the TAB key (where PC keyboard have CAPS LOCK). So, naturally, I grew up with the control key in that position. When using Emacs on a PC, for the longest time I didn't remap CTRL and with the def…

I swap both CTRL and ALT keys and it makes life great. To type ALT I usually shift my whole hand, but that's okay, since I use CTRL 10x more often, at least.

I don't know about this whole CAPS LOCK thing... then you are stuck with only one key to hit, and I find it much better to press the modifier opposite the character key with my other hand, rather than scrunch up one hand.

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#128

Post by Zak »

tseabrooks wrote: post #114
ntkachov wrote: post #6

How about a laptop with a better key board, slim figure, larger special character keys and more feedback for keys? Then shove a great processor, a mouse pad that's not accidentally click able while typing, and a high resolution screen. That's a developer laptop. Ill install my own software, Thank you very much.

Hands down the most important part of this comment is the touch pad. It's a real struggle to find a decent touch pad aside from you know who.

I still like the Thinkpad's trackpoint, and have the pad set to scroll-only.I can comfortably mouse and scroll without moving my hands from my typing position.

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#129

Post by Zak »

seanp2k2 wrote: post #45
eterps wrote: post #11

If its vertical resolution is lower than 900 pixels I can't take it seriously as a laptop designed for developers.

Amen; I'm also a member of "Team 16:10" Not getting rid of my Latitude D830 (14.1" 1920x1200) until I can get something with /more/ pixel density and vrez

16:10? Let's bring back 16:12. There's something deeply wrong when the iPad is the portable computer with the highest resolution. I stare at a screen all day most days and would happily pay extra to stare at a nice one.

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#130

Post by protomyth »

redthrowaway wrote: post #88
protomyth wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least they centered the touchpad and set the keyboard so I can touch type from a center position (no numeric keypad).

Lack of numpad is a matter of personal preference. I love it and use it almost exclusively, so lack of one is a big deal for me.

My problem with a numpad on a laptop is where I center myself. If you center on on the keyboard so you aren't typing "side-ways" then the numpad means you're head is tilted to center of screen or you're looking directly at the left of the screen.
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