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The Last PC Laptop

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Re: The Last PC Laptop

#41

Post by steevdave »

Roritharr wrote: post #22
Derbasti wrote: post #14

This very much reminds me of the Steve Jobs quote that in the future, laptops and desktops will be like trucks. They will always be around for those who need them, but most people don't need trucks. Personally, I don't quite see that yet with today's hardware and paradigms. The processing power is certainly getting there. My tablet today is significantly more powerful than my laptop in 2006 but still not quite fast e…

> My tablet today is significantly more powerful than my laptop in 2006 but still not quite fast enough for compiling stuff etc. What kind of laptop did you own? If you've got an iPad 3, any Tegra 3 or Exynos 4412 powered Android Tablet known to my knowledge you have in no way the processing power of a 2006 Laptop. To remind you, a reasonable Laptop in 2006 had a Core (2) Duo CPU, discreet graphics aside. I've used s…

What is the Razrl? Google search isn't being very helpful.

I haven't done much testing of ARM versus Intel, but the experience that I do have with ARM, compiling software wise, using an i.MX6Q (Freescale), it takes roughly 3 1/2 hours (softfloat) to build Firefox 15.

While the current market of ARM devices won't win any speed tests, there are more features to it than just power consumption. My mx51 netbook has no moving parts and doesn't burn my legs even when its been running a long compile (such as Firefox) versus the Core i7 I have that can build it much faster however it cuts the battery life almost in half. There is also the fan noise when those cores start churning, not to mention the heat.

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#42

Post by Derbasti »

Roritharr wrote: post #22
Derbasti wrote: post #14

This very much reminds me of the Steve Jobs quote that in the future, laptops and desktops will be like trucks. They will always be around for those who need them, but most people don't need trucks. Personally, I don't quite see that yet with today's hardware and paradigms. The processing power is certainly getting there. My tablet today is significantly more powerful than my laptop in 2006 but still not quite fast e…

> My tablet today is significantly more powerful than my laptop in 2006 but still not quite fast enough for compiling stuff etc. What kind of laptop did you own? If you've got an iPad 3, any Tegra 3 or Exynos 4412 powered Android Tablet known to my knowledge you have in no way the processing power of a 2006 Laptop. To remind you, a reasonable Laptop in 2006 had a Core (2) Duo CPU, discreet graphics aside. I've used s…

The laptop in question was a 1.6 Ghz Core Solo with 2 Gb of memory and integrated graphics. Even with x86 outperforming ARM at similar clockings etc., a current generation quad core 1.5 Ghz tablet will probably be in a similar performance range as that laptop.

But you are right in that I am comparing a mid range laptop from 2006 with a top of the line tablet in 2012, which is unfair. However, it does not alter the argument much: Tablet/phone processors are getting fast enough for desktop work.

As an aside, it does not really matter if future tablets will run ARM or x86. What matters is that we are talking about slim, light devices that can not afford laptop caliber batteries or active cooling.

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#43

Post by linker3000 »

Zak wrote: post #28
linker3000 wrote: post #23

"Want the smallest most portable device you can get away with? " "Want to be always connected to the Internet? Sure you do;" "Just try opening a laptop on a crowded subway train or bus." Someone needs to stop trying to arrange their life around their tech and try it the other way around. If you are so overloaded with work, or so keen at your work, or so behind in your work, that you need to open your laptop on the tr…

Train rides are kind of boring. Why wouldn't I get out my laptop on a train? I did, recently, to add depth-of-field compensation to a blurry image detector I'm writing for my own amusement. I don't think that would be nearly as fun on a stupidly-big phone.

Glad you enjoyed yourself. Can't fault that.

Point is, I don't feel the need to be laptopped-up and my work/life balance doesn't demand it. Sound's like this was an optional activity for you too.

On a very long train journey, I'd listen to the radio, read the news, watch a video (on the phone's 5.3" screen), talk to people, check my email - do anything I want too.

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#44

Post by progrock »

linker3000 wrote: post #23

"Want the smallest most portable device you can get away with? " "Want to be always connected to the Internet? Sure you do;" "Just try opening a laptop on a crowded subway train or bus." Someone needs to stop trying to arrange their life around their tech and try it the other way around. If you are so overloaded with work, or so keen at your work, or so behind in your work, that you need to open your laptop on the tr…

I personally would just like a lightweight portable laptop to throw in my bag, as I cycle to work.

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#45

Post by Roritharr »

steevdave wrote: post #41
Roritharr wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> My tablet today is significantly more powerful than my laptop in 2006 but still not quite fast enough for compiling stuff etc. What kind of laptop did you own? If you've got an iPad 3, any Tegra 3 or Exynos 4412 powered Android Tablet known to my knowledge you have in no way the processing power of a 2006 Laptop. To remind you, a reasonable Laptop in 2006 had a Core (2) Duo CPU, discreet graphics aside. I've used s…

What is the Razrl? Google search isn't being very helpful. I haven't done much testing of ARM versus Intel, but the experience that I do have with ARM, compiling software wise, using an i.MX6Q (Freescale), it takes roughly 3 1/2 hours (softfloat) to build Firefox 15. While the current market of ARM devices won't win any speed tests, there are more features to it than just power consumption. My mx51 netbook has no mov…

I'm talking about this Phone http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2409833,00.asp which as very recently been announced.

With your mx51 netbook you've traded power consumption, noise and heat production against performance. If you value the former more than the latter, there is no discussion.

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#46

Post by moconnor »

zalew wrote: post #4

> And even programmers, the audience who would most need all the power and flexibility of laptops, are switching to tablets. programmerS? the link is the only guy I heard of so far, and I even know die-hard ipad fans who laugh at the idea of a tablet being a serious workstation.

Several people have told me they do the same. It might not be thousands, but there are programmers out there working like this.

It works for programmers because the iPad isn't your workstation, it's just your connection to a remote workstation. I'm not sure this is applicable to e.g. graphic design.

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#47

Post by damncabbage »

brador wrote: post #3

Is this an ad or genuine? I'd trust it more if it didn't come with an amazom affiliate link.

He's been doing the Advertorial thing for a while now:

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2009/06/regular-expressions...

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2008/03/adventures-in-recha...

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2008/11/coding-its-just-wri...

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2007/09/lcd-monitor-arms.ht...

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2007/04/software-projects-a...

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#48

Post by moconnor »

jawngee wrote: post #30

Interestingly, I'm having the opposite thing happen. Due to this MacBook Pro Retina (I have the fully spec'd version), I firmly believe that my Mac Pro will be the last desktop computer I own. While the Mac Pro (about a year old) still smokes this laptop in a lot of areas, it's not enough smoke that I find myself turning it on half as much as I used to after I got this laptop. Occasionally, if I'm doing some heavy du…

That sounds like the same process (desktop -> laptop -> tablet) rather than the opposite to me.

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#49

Post by Kudos »

Zak wrote: post #28
linker3000 wrote: post #23

"Want the smallest most portable device you can get away with? " "Want to be always connected to the Internet? Sure you do;" "Just try opening a laptop on a crowded subway train or bus." Someone needs to stop trying to arrange their life around their tech and try it the other way around. If you are so overloaded with work, or so keen at your work, or so behind in your work, that you need to open your laptop on the tr…

Train rides are kind of boring. Why wouldn't I get out my laptop on a train? I did, recently, to add depth-of-field compensation to a blurry image detector I'm writing for my own amusement. I don't think that would be nearly as fun on a stupidly-big phone.

Trains are my favourite place to get work done. I'm not sure what exactly it is about it but I can get 3 solid hours of focused work done, usually the work I've been avoiding for the previous fortnight.

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#50

Post by abecedarius »

linker3000 wrote: post #23

"Want the smallest most portable device you can get away with? " "Want to be always connected to the Internet? Sure you do;" "Just try opening a laptop on a crowded subway train or bus." Someone needs to stop trying to arrange their life around their tech and try it the other way around. If you are so overloaded with work, or so keen at your work, or so behind in your work, that you need to open your laptop on the tr…

There are plenty of use cases for a portable computer. Moving to New York for 3 months for Hacker School comes to mind (it starts next week). I want the lightest one that works well. The End.
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