I wish there were more laptops with a similar form factor. I was looking forward to the MacBook Neo before it was officially announced; I thought it was going to be more like an upgraded MacBook 12", but it ended up being more like a downgraded MacBook Air 13". Nobody likes small things anymore :(
Chuwi Minibook X
71–80 of 318 posts
Re: Chuwi Minibook X
#72> Keyboard is terrible – it only registers keystrokes when you hit the exact center of each key. I'm a big believer in cheap, small, low-power laptops. For simple tasks, you don't need that much compute.† But you can't skimp on the keyboard! Especially because, one of the big advantages of a low-power laptop should be for writing ! ------ † Okay, Electron exists... you shouldn't need all that compute.
I have a Chuwi Minibook X and the keyboard is amazing. Its the best smallest keyboard available anywhere, I can type on it just as easily as my other larger laptops. I think there must have been something wrong with the reviewer's hardware, mine works great.
Re: Chuwi Minibook X
#73Earlier quoted context omitted.
I got Vaio P many years after the fact and it was so neat. Alas, the PowerVR gpu Intel included on many of the chips there is quite quite problematic for anything but basic use. Although it just saw more work recently! https://www.phoronix.com/news/Intel-GMA500-Driver-In-2026 I think it was a year or two latter I got a Chuwi Lapbook 12.3, which was a great machine. Lovely 3:2 screen off the Surface Pro, again a prett…
I somehow managed to get it working in 2016 with a lot of hackery, I'd still have it as a usable device if the weird little pouch cells it had didn't die, repacking those batteries seemed like enough of a fire hazard I just didn't bother.
Stuff like this that I’ve really enjoyed has gotten permanent AC or portable power.
Re: Chuwi Minibook X
#74I have this laptop, and it is amongst the best laptops I have ever owned, despite being awful in many ways. It has almost completely replaced my use of my M4 Macbook Pro, simply because I always have it with me. That, and it can run Linux. I don't share the complaints of the OP about the keyboard or the screen, though. The keyboard is fine, I can hit about 110WPM on it, slower than my regular pace, but enough that th…
I agree. The keyboard is fantastic, it is the best smallest keyboard I've ever used. Debian 13 works out of the box and there are no screen rotation issues.
Re: Chuwi Minibook X
#75Earlier quoted context omitted.
Chromebooks aren't netbooks. They're Android tablets with non-removable keyboards. The idea of a netbook was very small, cheap, portable, full-featured computer that you could use like a normal computer . All the ports, your desktop OS, and so on. Chromebooks ain't it, even if they compete in the market segment that made netbooks a success.
That sounds like an opinion baked in 2013 and never revisited. A modern chromebook with Crostini can run basically any Linux desktop stack you want. Like, what exactly are the tasks you need from a " computer that you could use like a normal computer " that you aren't getting today? As a data point: I'm 100% converted personally. A Chromebook is what goes into my backpack and the device I use for all my general day-t…
Crostini is a mixed bag; e.g. IIRC something in their stack breaks ptrace. I prefer to wipe and install a normal Linux distro. But, when it works it works, and I do use one Chromebook with Crostini.
Re: Chuwi Minibook X
#76I have an original Chuwi Minibook and would not recommend buying from them unless you're willing to treat the hardware as disposable. Their support is REALLY bad, warranty is useless (cheaper to buy replacement parts yourself on AliExpress) and the hardware has some baffling cost cutting decisions- I replaced the included jet turbine with a much quieter fan for a couple bucks, but most people won't want to solder their own harness to replicate this mod.
Re: Chuwi Minibook X
#77Used laptops are such a good deal that you could something high quality in excellent condition for so little that I almost can't justify buying something like this. Like used Dell XPS laptops are ridiculously cheap and they're amazing for the used price. Or really buy any laptop rated highly by Dave2D or other reviewers that's 4 to 5 years old.
What decent secondhand thing can you find at $350. It is being thrown away in the first place for a reason.
HP EliteBook 840 G10
13th Gen Intel, 14” screen, 16GB/512GB at about $350.
Lenovo and Dell both make similar business laptop models at around the same age and price point.
Businesses sell off perfectly functional laptops in bulk because they are on regular refresh cycles for employees, not because there’s anything wrong with them.
On the Mac side, MacBook Air M1.
Re: Chuwi Minibook X
#78I have this laptop, and it is amongst the best laptops I have ever owned, despite being awful in many ways. It has almost completely replaced my use of my M4 Macbook Pro, simply because I always have it with me. That, and it can run Linux. I don't share the complaints of the OP about the keyboard or the screen, though. The keyboard is fine, I can hit about 110WPM on it, slower than my regular pace, but enough that th…
Did you also have the screen rotation issue? Curious to know what's causing that.
Somewhat common with Chuwi and GPD's netbook type devices. IIRC it's because they repurpose tablet screens
Re: Chuwi Minibook X
#79Used laptops are such a good deal that you could something high quality in excellent condition for so little that I almost can't justify buying something like this. Like used Dell XPS laptops are ridiculously cheap and they're amazing for the used price. Or really buy any laptop rated highly by Dave2D or other reviewers that's 4 to 5 years old.
This laptop has a 10” screen, weighs 900 grams and runs an efficient N100 cpu.
Different category to a 15” 2kg cheap 5 year old dell.
Re: Chuwi Minibook X
#80Why must he say Hackers is a classic film. It was a pivotal part of my life. I'm not even that old