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Quick Nexus 7 Comments By Linus Torvalds

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Re: Quick Nexus 7 Comments By Linus Torvalds

#131

Post by vetinari »

sanderjd wrote: post #95
generalk wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Apple targets people who want their computer to look pretty. > Lenovo targets the people who want to get stuff done. I'm no Apple fanboy, but this statement's ridiculous. > Want to quickly scroll through a document? page up/page down/home/end buttons? Lenovo's got it. Two-finger inertial scrolling on the amazing glass trackpad. Or, Command-arrow keys. Same effect. Not one-button, but it's not like the functionality…

Though I'm not familiar with the Lenovo trackpads in particular beyond playing with them on display models, the trackpad on MacBooks is a huge differentiator over any of the ones I've had on PC laptops. It works so well you forget how well it's working until you start using a different computer with a trackpad that now feels completely broken.

As a Thinkpad user/owner, I don't use a trackpad and do not see a point using a trackpad, when I have trackpoint.

I have the trackpad permamently disabled, because that little red thinkgy among g, h and b keys beats it so badly, it is not even funny.

Re: Quick Nexus 7 Comments By Linus Torvalds

#132

Post by vetinari »

notallama wrote: post #94
w1ntermute wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Need more battery life? Buy a second battery and swap them when the first runs out. Need more ram? Just open it up and put it in. Same thing if you want a new HD/etc. This is one of the biggest factors for me in getting a PC laptop over a MacBook. When I buy a ThinkPad, I intend to keep it for 5 years. My friends with MacBooks all replace them every 2-3 years. > Combine this with great linux support [1] and Lenovo…

the linux thing is not universally true. i have installed a few different distros on my w500 over the years, and it runs hot every time. the ati drivers suck, the os can't seem to control the fans properly, and switchable graphics don't work. tried with opensuse years ago, and ubuntu a few times more recently. i imagine it's better with a nvidia card, and no switchable graphics.

T400 here with same results - with Ubuntu (12.04) it is hotter than with W7, switchable graphics does not work (works in Intel X4500 mode).

Re: Quick Nexus 7 Comments By Linus Torvalds

#133

Post by yummyfajitas »

primatology wrote: post #129
yummyfajitas wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, I'm an edge case. I seek out a quality laptop that I can get work done on. That's what we are discussing, no? As for "saving space", huh? A thinkpad is the same size as a macbook - both are as wide as their screen plus a little extra. The thinkpad is just covered with ugly buttons instead of pretty metallic empty space.

Yes, but you're far more proficient. Those who plug away happily at 30WPM will not share your definition of quality. I'll take a beautiful product that sacrifices minor functionality (in my case) for aesthetics. My point is not that a MacBook is right for you, but that Apple seems to have rightly assumed that most people don't care about the function keys, and spared the ugly buttons. In any case, you're probably sav…

Yep, as I said upthread: "Apple targets people who want their computer to look pretty. Lenovo targets the people who want to get stuff done."

Re: Quick Nexus 7 Comments By Linus Torvalds

#134

Post by progrock »

donatzsky wrote: post #126
progrock wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find that the nipple requires a little too much pressure (T500), which is a little tiresome. You can be really light to the touch with some touchpads (including simulated clicks.) I'd prefer a nipple more like a touchpad - something like you get on the Blackberries (not the old trackballs.)

You can change the sensitivity in the settings (and of course, there's the usual mouse-speed setting as well). That said, I have found that some of the newer models have much more sensitive trackpoints than my T60. Edit: Changing the cap can be useful as well. The concave tip in particular.

I've tried playing around with the trackpoint speed under Xfce, and it doesn't help that much. The pressure needed although not much, is enough to put stress on my upper body.

Re: Quick Nexus 7 Comments By Linus Torvalds

#135

Post by giulianob »

progrock wrote: post #102
w1ntermute wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I prefer the Lenovo "nipple" over a touchpad but most people hate it The problem is that no one gives the TrackPoint a chance. I've seen people who've used ThinkPads for years and have never even touched the TrackPoint. But if you spend about 30 minutes working with it, you'll find that it's superior to both mice and trackpads for 99% of tasks (gaming being the one exception, for which I keep a mouse on hand).

I find that the nipple requires a little too much pressure (T500), which is a little tiresome. You can be really light to the touch with some touchpads (including simulated clicks.) I'd prefer a nipple more like a touchpad - something like you get on the Blackberries (not the old trackballs.)

You can tweak the pressure and speed

Re: Quick Nexus 7 Comments By Linus Torvalds

#136

Post by jonny_eh »

klawed wrote: post #40
jonny_eh wrote: post #2

That's actually a really well done short review. It was well paced, and he did a good job of not just sharing his opinions, but explaining them so that I could tell if they would apply to me or not.

This is a actually a great, succinct review of Linus' short review. Short, compact and does a nice job explaining the components that will make the review helpful to readers.

For some reason, my lame throwaway comment got more karma than any of my other brilliant and insightful comments on HN. Maybe I just said something that lots of people were thinking?

Re: Quick Nexus 7 Comments By Linus Torvalds

#137

Post by pm90 »

w1ntermute wrote: post #79
giulianob wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thinkpads have great quality but I have to say I have not seen any touch pads that come anywhere close to the quality of the ones on a Mac. Luckily I prefer the Lenovo "nipple" over a touchpad but most people hate it and bringing a high quality touchpad to a PC would be a big deal IMO.

> I prefer the Lenovo "nipple" over a touchpad but most people hate it The problem is that no one gives the TrackPoint a chance. I've seen people who've used ThinkPads for years and have never even touched the TrackPoint. But if you spend about 30 minutes working with it, you'll find that it's superior to both mice and trackpads for 99% of tasks (gaming being the one exception, for which I keep a mouse on hand).

Hah, when I was a kid, I played an fps game using the nipple. It seems impossible, but after a while you do get used to it.

But my fingers did hurt a lot after playing for a few days, so I wouldn't recommend it :)

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