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The Last PC Laptop

codinghorror.com

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Re: The Last PC Laptop

#101

Post by calinet6 »

jader201 wrote: post #83
edanm wrote: post #79

I wanted to buy a new windows laptop that was light, strong, and looked good. I really, really did. Then, because of work reasons, I ended up getting a MacBook Air instead. Now, I've been dead-set against switching to a Mac for a long time, because I am incredibly invested with Windows, more so than almost anyone I know. I didn't want to have to relearn everything, plus rewrite all the scripts I have on my Windows ma…

I need to know your secret then. About three years ago, I purchased my first Mac. It was an early 2009 iMac. Before then, I had only owned a Windows machine, and like you, I was also incredibly invested in Windows. But when I got my Mac, I just found doing simple things a challenge, and the various interfaces not powerful enough. To this day, I still struggle using Finder, mostly because there's no (native) way of br…

It's Unix—use the command line too.

(Shhh, don't tell anyone else the secret)

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#102

Post by kayoone »

edanm wrote: post #79

I wanted to buy a new windows laptop that was light, strong, and looked good. I really, really did. Then, because of work reasons, I ended up getting a MacBook Air instead. Now, I've been dead-set against switching to a Mac for a long time, because I am incredibly invested with Windows, more so than almost anyone I know. I didn't want to have to relearn everything, plus rewrite all the scripts I have on my Windows ma…

i work with multiple monitors and always hated this on OSX. The Menubar is only on the main screen, no matter where program is located (there are tools to replicate it to the second monitor but still) and i hate the OSX dock. The windows taskbar with a multimonitor enhancement like UltraMon or DisplayFusion is just unbeatable when having many open windows imo, on OSX it always takes more time/clicks to find the windows i want which is annoying... As a Developer currently working mainly with C#, no Visual Studio on OSX is a big pita since MonoDevelop is nowhere as good... I still have a Macbook Air for toying around on the go, holding presentations etc. Its a very nice consumer device but i still prefer Windows as my main work enviroment.

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#103

Post by mark_l_watson »

It is possible that a better future tablet would have good enough programming tools - it will be fun to wait and see.

I got rid of all three of my desktop systems (1 Mac, 2 dual Linux/Windows boxes) a few years ago. I don't plan on buying any more Apple gear, but will use what I have until it needs to be replaced: MacBook Pro running Ubuntu, Air 13', a Toshiba laptop Linux/Windows, and a iPad 2. My wife and I live in a very small house in the mountains and not having as much computer clutter is great.

The biggest recent technological change in my work/life mix has been the purchase of a Samsung Galaxy III S super sized phone (1280x720 screen resolution). I am amazed by how much I use this device: for just about everything but coding and writing. I do most of my programming in Ruby and Clojure so I don't need much horsepower on my development systems so I can imagine a future where a more powerful phone with a docking station might cover most of my work, writing, and entertainment needs: skip the tablet!

All that said, I am likely to purchase a Surface when they are released and the early adopter bugs are ironed out. I used to have fun bashing Microsoft but there are a few things that have softened my view: Bill and Melinda Gate's good works for making the world better, the fact that the surface would fit my needs, and I still have pleasant memories of writing a Windows 1.03 app (the SAIC ANSim neural network tools that had a nice UI for managing training, etc.)

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#104

Post by linker3000 »

Derbasti wrote: post #91
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…

> Someone needs to stop trying to arrange their life around their tech and try it the other way around. I work on my laptop on my commute on the train. This saves me two hours every day and allows me to live in a beautiful place. Someone does indeed needs to stop trying to arrange their life around their tech and try it the other way around, Mr. IT Manager For a High Tech Company with a ridiculously giant phone, a ne…

Not sure I read you right?

So your day in the office is shortened by two hours as you can count your commute-work as part of your work day - like, instead of , say, 9-5, you arrive at 10 and leave at 4? Sounds like a fair trade off if you're happy with it.

I don't think you get my tech angle - although I have multiple devices at my disposal, the phone is all I need for 90% of the time as I have no obligation to work on a train - unlike you, apparently.

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#105

Post by calinet6 »

edanm wrote: post #79

I wanted to buy a new windows laptop that was light, strong, and looked good. I really, really did. Then, because of work reasons, I ended up getting a MacBook Air instead. Now, I've been dead-set against switching to a Mac for a long time, because I am incredibly invested with Windows, more so than almost anyone I know. I didn't want to have to relearn everything, plus rewrite all the scripts I have on my Windows ma…

Ironically, in the 'other recommended articles' section of Atwood's post, there's a 2006 article entitled "Apple Laptops: Good, Cheap, Fast—Pick Three"

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2006/05/apple-laptops-good-...

He couldn't have been more right, but somehow he never caught on even after 6 years of constant improvements, and the introduction of the Air. His quote "Sure, you can find a few edge cases where Apple loses, such as the ultraportable category" would elicit laughter these days.

In my (and many others') opinion, apple makes some of the best laptop hardware around. It's hard to argue otherwise. Just look at Atwood's complaints about the Asus' trackpad—a defect almost inexcusable in this day and age, especially given that the Mac trackpads are so damn good. Put OSX, Windows, or Linux on it, whatever you want, it's still extremely well made hardware and will be durable, usable, and hold resale value better. Indeed, other manufacturers are simply trying to play catch-up, and cloning the style and being forced to emulate the build quality (albeit unsuccessfully) of Apple laptops. This is not opinion, this is not zealotry, I have no horse in this race—it's simply appears to be true at this point. It's even hard to argue on the economic standpoint with the price of the base 13" MacBook Air being $1199.

Like I say, I have no horse in this race; I don't care what Jeff Atwood prefers in his computers. It simply seems that there's an interesting faith-based exclusion being made, and I would warn others against making the same conclusion without using facts and experience of their own.

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#106

Post by prezjordan »

SLuijk wrote: post #94
edanm wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I plan to try working only from vim if I possibly can. Don't (yet) know how possible it will be.

There is gvim for OSX. But personally I prefer vim inside terminator or terminal. That was before I switched to Arch Linux after 12 years of using mac.

MacVim is the standard OSX.

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#107

Post by rbanffy »

RexRollman wrote: post #81

He does bring out a point about something I have never understood: why does the PC industry love putting stickers on laptops? It is a really annoying and ugly practice.

I'd assume the small "Intel inside" and "Designed for Windows" ones (as well as the "X recommends Windows Y" notices on product pages) are in some extent considered paid advertising, as they ate part of pricing agreements.

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#108

Post by xtracto »

kayoone wrote: post #102
edanm wrote: post #79

I wanted to buy a new windows laptop that was light, strong, and looked good. I really, really did. Then, because of work reasons, I ended up getting a MacBook Air instead. Now, I've been dead-set against switching to a Mac for a long time, because I am incredibly invested with Windows, more so than almost anyone I know. I didn't want to have to relearn everything, plus rewrite all the scripts I have on my Windows ma…

i work with multiple monitors and always hated this on OSX. The Menubar is only on the main screen, no matter where program is located (there are tools to replicate it to the second monitor but still) and i hate the OSX dock. The windows taskbar with a multimonitor enhancement like UltraMon or DisplayFusion is just unbeatable when having many open windows imo, on OSX it always takes more time/clicks to find the windo…

I am a virtual desktops fan (I think they are called Spaces).

Unfortunately, the way Alt+Tab works in Mac, which shows the list of all open programs, instead of the ones with windows in the current virtual desktop, is a loser for me.

Also, the fact that when you make a window "full screen" (with the arrows int he top-right corner button) you lose one monitor when using two monitors setup.

And also, regarding shortcuts, why isn't there a Cut file shortcut (say, pretzel+X) like the copy button?.

I have to use Mac/OSX for my job, but man I hate all the quirks of this operating system

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#109

Post by kabdib »

edanm wrote: post #79

I wanted to buy a new windows laptop that was light, strong, and looked good. I really, really did. Then, because of work reasons, I ended up getting a MacBook Air instead. Now, I've been dead-set against switching to a Mac for a long time, because I am incredibly invested with Windows, more so than almost anyone I know. I didn't want to have to relearn everything, plus rewrite all the scripts I have on my Windows ma…

There's a Microsoft store three storefronts down from an Apple store in our local mall (Bellevue Square, near Seattle).

I looked at the Asus UX31, wrote down its specs and went to the the Apple store. Nearly exactly the same specs for an Air, but the UX31 was about $400 cheaper.

(The UX31 didn't come with any crapware, either).

I'm somewhat disappointed with the keyboard, but other than that it's a great little machine.

Re: The Last PC Laptop

#110

Post by gbog »

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 see more and more galaxy notes here in China, even in the hands of tiny girls. They hold it under the armpit, like a bag. Own one myself and rarely power on my pc when back home.
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