ThinkPad T480 is my new main laptop which runs FreeBSD • Hacker News Board

Re: ThinkPad T480 is my new main laptop which runs FreeBSD

#111

Post by Aperocky » Fri, Feb 07, 2020, 10:31 PM UTC

fjp wrote: post #52

Aperocky wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a new macbook air, no complaints except that the keyboard is still butterfly. They DO jam. If I were in your shoe, I'd wait for a longer traveling version of the keyboard that's not butterfly.

I'm doing exactly this - excited about the speed and screens on the new ones, but waiting for the longer travel keyboard to come back. I can get along with my 2015 for now, but I really miss the Retina display and it is pretty slow for doing heavier stuff.

I have an older macbook air, The new ones even with the faulty keyboard is a lot better considering the increased trackpad size, the screen alone is probably worth it.

I thought I was fine with the old screen turns out I was just used to it, the new one is such an upgrade, the tradeoff being that the processor power is about the same. Which don't matter to me that much as it's mostly text editing for me.

Re: ThinkPad T480 is my new main laptop which runs FreeBSD

#112

Post by cosmodisk » Fri, Feb 07, 2020, 10:32 PM UTC

travbrack wrote: post #108

3fe9a03ccd14ca5 wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It lacks 802.11ac. Why in the world would it lack support for one of the most ubiquitous, not to mention fastest, wireless standards? I mean, it’s been out since 2013.

Because running freebsd on a laptop is an edge case. Most people run it on servers. It’s not trying to be everything to everyone like Linux is.

Was about to write the same. I suppose WiFi support to an average FreeBSD user is as useful as floppy disk reader drivers to Win 10 users.

Re: ThinkPad T480 is my new main laptop which runs FreeBSD

#113

Post by azinman2 » Fri, Feb 07, 2020, 10:34 PM UTC

TallGuyShort wrote: post #96

thaeli wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, a BSD-branded BSD isn't. (MacOS is technically a BSD.)

Some BSD userspace only, and with few of the things most BSD people like about BSD.

What’s it missing?

Re: ThinkPad T480 is my new main laptop which runs FreeBSD

#114

Post by Aperocky » Fri, Feb 07, 2020, 10:37 PM UTC

ajford wrote: post #106

revicon wrote: post #7

I also have a t480, mines running Ubuntu but unfortunately I’m giving it up for a new MacBook Air. The touchpads on the thinkpads are beyond horrible after using macs for many years, it’s finally too annoying for me to keep going :(

Huh... I have the exact opposite feeling. I've used a MBPr for work the last two years, and I absolutely hate it. I've pushed to get a good solid Lenovo, but that's been repeatedly rejected as they like the convenience of the whole office using OSX and Apple hardware. I've felt the touchpad wasn't sensitive enough and the click action was way too feeble. Combined with the mushy feeling of the keyboard and the atrocio…

I agree mostly on the hardware complaints ( I have the same and I use a mechanic keyboard and standalone trackpad), but not sure about atrocious user experience of the OS. One of the biggest plus of mac is that it's terminal is posix.

Re: ThinkPad T480 is my new main laptop which runs FreeBSD

#115

Post by sien » Fri, Feb 07, 2020, 10:47 PM UTC

zelly wrote: post #71

namirez wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FreeBSD developers and people who use FreeBSD on a daily basis need laptops too. There are not many options out there unless they opt for ancient hardware.

Most of them use Macs and work on FreeBSD in a VM (I'm not kidding)

It'd be really interesting to know the proportion of Linux users who are now running under a VM for their desktop Linux use.

I have Linux on the three machines I use. But on each it's via a VM. I run Windows and MacOS on the machines. Where I work this is common as well. It's surely pretty prevalent. The other way a lot of people work on Linux where I work is on a VM on AWS.

Re: ThinkPad T480 is my new main laptop which runs FreeBSD

#116

Post by drewbug » Fri, Feb 07, 2020, 10:50 PM UTC

nh2 wrote: post #34

bayindirh wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ...mainstream OSes? Look how far we've come. Linux was the alternative OS just ~15 years ago. Now it's one of the mainstream OSes . TBH, I'd like to see one of the BSDs to become one of the mainstream OSes too. :) edit: Except macOS ofc. :)

"Stardate 2020. There is a mainstream OS with great driver support and the best gaming performance, that everybody uses (Linux). There are two other OSs battling for survival: One run by open source fanatics that release open source editors, browsers and programming languages and which frantically tries to emulate the mainstream OS (WSL), and one where stuff constantly breaks on upgrades, fundamental hardware like ke…

open source browsers?

Re: ThinkPad T480 is my new main laptop which runs FreeBSD

#117

Post by bjornjajajaja » Fri, Feb 07, 2020, 10:51 PM UTC

loeg wrote: post #101

3fe9a03ccd14ca5 wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It lacks 802.11ac. Why in the world would it lack support for one of the most ubiquitous, not to mention fastest, wireless standards? I mean, it’s been out since 2013.

Time, resources, interest; lack of open datasheets and corporate sponsorship from the hardware vendors making the parts. These things don't just happen magically; people make them happen. Linux finally has enough market power that vendors willingly write drivers for it, but I remember a very similar situation with Linux in the 2000s when Microsoft was the only player around with that kind of market clout.

Also, who really NEEDS 802.11 ac?? If you’re that picky wtf not plug into Ethernet??

Re: ThinkPad T480 is my new main laptop which runs FreeBSD

#118

Post by outside1234 » Fri, Feb 07, 2020, 10:56 PM UTC

bjornjajajaja wrote: post #117

loeg wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Time, resources, interest; lack of open datasheets and corporate sponsorship from the hardware vendors making the parts. These things don't just happen magically; people make them happen. Linux finally has enough market power that vendors willingly write drivers for it, but I remember a very similar situation with Linux in the 2000s when Microsoft was the only player around with that kind of market clout.

Also, who really NEEDS 802.11 ac?? If you’re that picky wtf not plug into Ethernet??

Planes

Re: ThinkPad T480 is my new main laptop which runs FreeBSD

#119

Post by GordonS » Fri, Feb 07, 2020, 10:57 PM UTC

bjornjajajaja wrote: post #117

loeg wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Time, resources, interest; lack of open datasheets and corporate sponsorship from the hardware vendors making the parts. These things don't just happen magically; people make them happen. Linux finally has enough market power that vendors willingly write drivers for it, but I remember a very similar situation with Linux in the 2000s when Microsoft was the only player around with that kind of market clout.

Also, who really NEEDS 802.11 ac?? If you’re that picky wtf not plug into Ethernet??

Sarcasm, surely?

Re: ThinkPad T480 is my new main laptop which runs FreeBSD

#120

Post by FillardMillmore » Fri, Feb 07, 2020, 11:01 PM UTC

swalsh wrote: post #76

bayindirh wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ...mainstream OSes? Look how far we've come. Linux was the alternative OS just ~15 years ago. Now it's one of the mainstream OSes . TBH, I'd like to see one of the BSDs to become one of the mainstream OSes too. :) edit: Except macOS ofc. :)

I think Linux went mainstream when the default installation of one of the distributions came with an icon that opened up "Amazon.com"

Color me ignorant, but which distribution is that?