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Would you use a Linux based computer, better or equal to a mac in quality?

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Re: Would you use a Linux based computer, better or equal to a mac in quality?

#81

Post by sbuk »

DanBC wrote: post #62
sbuk wrote: post #26

It's got nothing to do with cost, which is IMHO a complete canard. Spec for spec, MacBooks are actually quite competitive in the market in which they compete[0]. I'd love to see a linux based laptop that is as well integrated and as well made as a Mac. It'd be great if it wasn't fugly too. If it's cheaper, that's a bonus, but in all honesty, I've yet to find a brand new laptop that costs less that £700 that isn't a p…

I go to a consumer website. I select laptops priced between £500 and £750 (this includes VAT at 20% which is reclaimable if you're a VAT registered business user. £750 is $1160, but UK/US proce comparisons are tricky). What's wrong with, for example (at £596): http://m.dabs.com/products/toshiba-satellite-pro-c70-b-10e-i... I can see some sub-optimallity (max ram is "only" 16 GB) but I wouldn't describe it as a piece…

http://laptopsdirect.co.uk used to be good for refurbished laptops.

The piece of junk comment was admittedly flippant, but I genuinely believe that value != cheap. I've had my share of laptops in the price range you mention; all have lasted approximately 2 years, give or take...

Re: Would you use a Linux based computer, better or equal to a mac in quality?

#83

Post by vinceguidry »

zanny wrote: post #61
vinceguidry wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I replaced my work laptop (MBP 15") with a System76 GalagoPro. I wanted the Galago for my personal machine, but stuff like the trackpad just didn't work half as well. I bought a Macbook Air for my personal machine, and will end up getting a Linux desktop for my home office.

I got the Galago model from another retailer because they were cheaper and I was hearing horror stories at the time about system76 support. Apparently they got their act together and made a big positive PR campaign in the months following that won back mindshare though. Yea, the trackpad is shit. But all trackpads are shit, including the MBP trackpad, having used at least the 2010 and 2013 models my friends have for…

The GalagoPro is better when you don't actually have to use it as a laptop, then you don't have to deal with the limitations of the hardware.

The 13" Macbook Air is the best laptop on the market, IMO. Those 13" Retina's look great, but the killer feature on a laptop is battery life. I can take or leave graphics, memory, and power, but if the battery life sucks, then it's basically tethered to a power brick.

Funny thing is battery life isn't that big of a deal on a smartphone. I have a Nexus 5 and I don't mind that I have to charge it every day. I have a wireless charger that I put it down on, no big deal. But I don't want to have to do that with a laptop. Strange why I feel that way.

Skip the low-end Chromebook. I tried it, the fact that the battery still drains when it's in sleep mode makes it a non-starter. I don't want to be plugging it up every time I use it. Linux just hasn't been tuned well-enough to make it a decent laptop OS.

Re: Would you use a Linux based computer, better or equal to a mac in quality?

#84

Post by kybernetikos »

zzzeek wrote: post #30
eveningcoffee wrote: post #8

I am already using the Linux on laptop better than Mac. It is called Thinkpad (an older model). Now the problem is that Lenovo is trying to be more like Apple and this does not go well with them. You can ask how much people are pleased with the new single button touchpads or how they like 16:9 screens instead of 16:10 screens or how they like the lack of Delete button. So yes, I would buy a laptop (I would not buy a…

> Now the problem is that Lenovo is trying to be more like Apple and this does not go well with them. You can ask how much people are pleased with the new single button touchpads or how they like 16:9 screens instead of 16:10 screens or how they like the lack of Delete button. I have one of those newer lenovos, and if the trackpad is their attempt to "be more like" Apple, they really have a very long way to go in ter…

T440p here. I can right click at the top or the bottom of the touchpad, so I'm not sure what you mean.

Re: Would you use a Linux based computer, better or equal to a mac in quality?

#85

Post by sbuk »

zanny wrote: post #58
sbuk wrote: post #26

It's got nothing to do with cost, which is IMHO a complete canard. Spec for spec, MacBooks are actually quite competitive in the market in which they compete[0]. I'd love to see a linux based laptop that is as well integrated and as well made as a Mac. It'd be great if it wasn't fugly too. If it's cheaper, that's a bonus, but in all honesty, I've yet to find a brand new laptop that costs less that £700 that isn't a p…

I keep seeing nice Chromebooks with IPS displays and usually unibody plastic build construction. Sub the plastic for aluminum and it shouldn't add more than $100 to the ticket price. Make the keyboard good for another $50. That is only like $500 now, so we want some actual storage in this device, so throw in a 512GB SSD and call it a day at $700 with a Haswell dual core.

>> Sub the plastic for aluminum and it shouldn't add more than $100 to the ticket price.

You'll be surprised! I'd suggest closer to $200.

>> Make the keyboard good for another $50

Agreed.

>> ...throw in a 512GB SSD and call it a day at $700 with a Haswell dual core.

Can't argue with the storage, but the CPU is still not an i5/7 and the graphics card isn't Intel Iris/nVidia class. Add those in and we're beginning to hit Macbook price territory. Throw in a decent trackpad and a hi-res screen, and were there. Actually, it'd give us one of these; https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=chromebook_... which cost £200 more than a MacBook Air and £50 more than the base model MacBook Pro Retina. Alright, the Pixel has a better screen with touch, but the Air has better graphics and more storage and the Pro blows the both out of the water in performance terms, so on balance I'd argue that the MacBook Pro is better value than both the Air and the Pixel.

Re: Would you use a Linux based computer, better or equal to a mac in quality?

#86

Post by DanBC »

zzzeek wrote: post #30
eveningcoffee wrote: post #8

I am already using the Linux on laptop better than Mac. It is called Thinkpad (an older model). Now the problem is that Lenovo is trying to be more like Apple and this does not go well with them. You can ask how much people are pleased with the new single button touchpads or how they like 16:9 screens instead of 16:10 screens or how they like the lack of Delete button. So yes, I would buy a laptop (I would not buy a…

> Now the problem is that Lenovo is trying to be more like Apple and this does not go well with them. You can ask how much people are pleased with the new single button touchpads or how they like 16:9 screens instead of 16:10 screens or how they like the lack of Delete button. I have one of those newer lenovos, and if the trackpad is their attempt to "be more like" Apple, they really have a very long way to go in ter…

Buttons at the top of the trackpad were normally used with the trackpoint. They're underneath that.

It's kind of weird to see developers not loving the trackpoint and those three buttons because it's exactly where you want them and really freaking useful when yu get used to it.

The only other pointing device that I like was the Microsoft IntelliMouse (which they don't appear to make anymore).

Re: Would you use a Linux based computer, better or equal to a mac in quality?

#87

Post by sbuk »

vinceguidry wrote: post #83
zanny wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I got the Galago model from another retailer because they were cheaper and I was hearing horror stories at the time about system76 support. Apparently they got their act together and made a big positive PR campaign in the months following that won back mindshare though. Yea, the trackpad is shit. But all trackpads are shit, including the MBP trackpad, having used at least the 2010 and 2013 models my friends have for…

The GalagoPro is better when you don't actually have to use it as a laptop, then you don't have to deal with the limitations of the hardware. The 13" Macbook Air is the best laptop on the market, IMO. Those 13" Retina's look great, but the killer feature on a laptop is battery life. I can take or leave graphics, memory, and power, but if the battery life sucks, then it's basically tethered to a power brick. Funny thi…

>> Linux just hasn't been tuned well-enough to make it a decent laptop OS.

Exactly this! Take the time to tune and integrate the OS to the specific hardware, which would probably mean making a custom Linux, but isn't that the joy of OSS? I know that it's frowned upon to mention aesthetics, but they do matter. Marry that with build quality and you'd have the right ingredients for success. Price point is what it is.

Re: Would you use a Linux based computer, better or equal to a mac in quality?

#88

Post by walterbell »

DanBC wrote: post #68
walterbell wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Touch-typists don't need to look at the screen while typing. More clock time is spent reading than typing. E-ink is much less stressful on eyes.

Touch typists don't need to look at the keys while typimg. While it's possible for people to type without looking at the screen most people find it really difficult to do so. I'd love an e-ink screen. But I remember how horrible it was to use the Kindle browser.

Those who prioritize an e-ink screen will design ways to improve typist feedback, just as those who prioritized touchscreens developed ways to improve the typing experience.

The closed, limited function, version one, $1000 Sony DPT-S1 is selling briskly even with EU importer markups, with one of the top feature requests being an external keyboard.

Re: Would you use a Linux based computer, better or equal to a mac in quality?

#90

Post by tarminian »

Htsthbjig wrote: post #57

Of course but DO NOT BELIEVE that you can make something of better quality than a hundred billion dollar company can do. Apple has lots of legacy code, you know, when you see instant vector graphics in apple maps, Apple is using decades of software done by dozens of genius programmers over time when efficiency mattered(for example for drawing fonts on the screen). This code, then, became accelerated. Apple bought a h…

"Apple sells millions of devices and this means they have access to a supply chain and prices you can't get. period."

How does that explain the higher cost of Apple products?

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