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Bikeshedding, or why I want to build a laptop

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Re: Bikeshedding, or why I want to build a laptop

#131

Post by Lio »

I could agree that Apple’s software is a big trade off but the hardware seems fine.

I don’t think much has changed since the 16” and 14” MacBook Pros came out and both had better hardware than was previously on offer.

IMHO they got the formula right with the 14” and I’m glad they’ve stuck with it.

All I could ask for is maybe faster GPU or TPU and more memory. Possibly the ability to use an eGPU again.

Otherwise it’s fine. I worry much more about macOS and what they’ve done with the UI.

Re: Bikeshedding, or why I want to build a laptop

#132

Post by Lio »

spankibalt wrote: post #70
MarsIronPI wrote: post #20

All I want is a thinner Thinkpad X220 but with upped specs and newer ports. Framework-style upgradable motherboard would be nice but optional. The X220 already has a perfect keyboard, a mousing system that doesn't suck (sorry, I've never been happy with a trackpad: they feel too imprecise), a beautiful form factor for a laptop (if I want a laptop, I want it to be 12-14in for easiest portability), it's practically ind…

> "I've never been happy with a trackpad: they feel too imprecise" Same for me, Apple included; trackpads are just a huge waste of space to me. Have to say that my hand-eye coordination is way above that of the average computer user, and my workflows involving complementary HIDs always focused on trackballs, digtizer pens, as well as gamepads/game controllers for other, non-game related stuff. I also don't get why pe…

I don’t know what you mean by “market realities”. If the market wanted convertible laptops it would be willing to pay more for them.

For me it’s because my workflow is keyboard driven and I fined touchscreens annoying.

On the laptops I’ve had I generally disable touchscreen because I have no use for it and it gets in the way.

I want a good screen, a decent keyboard and a good trackpad. That’s it.

Re: Bikeshedding, or why I want to build a laptop

#133

Post by systemtest »

forty wrote: post #90

I think the kind of laptop this person wishes should simply be made illegal to make. We cannot sustain having all electric devices being thrown after a year or two, these things need to last, to be repairable and make it easy to grab pieces and materials when they die anyway

Seeing the latest Valve Steam Machine made me disappointed. No replaceable GPU, soldered memory, no socketed CPU. I really hope Valve isn't going to lead the way for unrepairable gaming PCs.

Re: Bikeshedding, or why I want to build a laptop

#134

Post by ACCount37 »

Nextgrid wrote: post #118
ACCount37 wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The reason is simple: corporate control. It's not a good reason. If only you could take a big old stick and beat the "control freak" tendencies out of all the major corporations out there.

Sorry I wasn't clear, my point is: that reason is completely separate from a laptop's form factor or method of construction. You can have a somewhat repairable laptop even if it's slim and tightly integrated, and you can also have a completely unrepairable one even if all components are modular and accessible but then use strong cryptography to authenticate to each other. Form factor is not the primary reason current…

It's a major reason. Back when TVs were made of tubes, you could expect any tech-savvy guy to be able to learn how to go in there and swap the tubes out.

Nowadays? A techpriest that can take apart Apple's iPhone stacked PCB assemblies, replace large BGA components in there, and then put them back together and have it work is a rare specimen. And "rare" means "expensive".

A hour of labor of someone who does neurosurgery on electronics isn't going to be cheap.

Not that Apple has any good reasons to make it even harder on the madmen who attempt and learn such repairs.

Re: Bikeshedding, or why I want to build a laptop

#135

Post by systemtest »

morshu9001 wrote: post #79
mikestorrent wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We could have had Xbox 720, 1080... but no. xbox 1 x one one x triple X amsterdam edition.

And there are two Xbox Ones

Xbox One Kinect, Xbox One non-Kinect, Xbox One S with disc drive, Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, Xbox One X

And then you have the various drive options, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, game bundles, day one edition. We are talking about dozens of variants.

Re: Bikeshedding, or why I want to build a laptop

#136

Post by viraptor »

daemonologist wrote: post #31

I'm holding out a little bit of hope that Valve puts out a laptop - the Steam Deck has notably good power management for a linux device of its class (and I've even heard of people using them as laptop replacements), though the idle power is still higher than a Macbook. They're going to have made a desktop, gaming handheld, and VR device; why not one more?

What would be the reason for their laptop to exist? People on the move get the steamdeck. Others get the GabeCube. Based on the steam hardware stats / graphics cards, there's very little laptop usage. I'm not sure there's enough market to get them interested.

Re: Bikeshedding, or why I want to build a laptop

#137

Post by svrtknst »

wjnc wrote: post #99
Yokolos wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don’t care one bit about upgradability or customizability. After a year or two, I’m happy to throw it out and buy a new one. It’s not like upgradability is a bad thing, but it usually comes with tradeoffs to weight and power draw, and I’d rather it all be in one solid package glued together. And I don’t like customizability because I like when all the testing and polish work is put into one configuration. Jesus c…

To defend OP somewhat: his throw out should be someone else’s pre-owned and then we are square. Not in defense: This is a customer who sees itself as an ultra pro user that only wants the best on all dimensions regardless of economics. Nice that there are about a few hundred of these customers in the world. This is a market that doesn’t exist and frankly, give this customer their wish and they only have other or more…

not only does OP imagine a powerful customer base, theyre all aligned enough that one configuration fits all. im doubtful

Re: Bikeshedding, or why I want to build a laptop

#138

Post by rienbdj »

ACCount37 wrote: post #134
Nextgrid wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry I wasn't clear, my point is: that reason is completely separate from a laptop's form factor or method of construction. You can have a somewhat repairable laptop even if it's slim and tightly integrated, and you can also have a completely unrepairable one even if all components are modular and accessible but then use strong cryptography to authenticate to each other. Form factor is not the primary reason current…

It's a major reason. Back when TVs were made of tubes, you could expect any tech-savvy guy to be able to learn how to go in there and swap the tubes out. Nowadays? A techpriest that can take apart Apple's iPhone stacked PCB assemblies, replace large BGA components in there, and then put them back together and have it work is a rare specimen. And "rare" means "expensive". A hour of labor of someone who does neurosurge…

why are Apple (Foxconn) assembly workers paid so little?

Re: Bikeshedding, or why I want to build a laptop

#139

Post by rienbdj »

systemtest wrote: post #133
forty wrote: post #90

I think the kind of laptop this person wishes should simply be made illegal to make. We cannot sustain having all electric devices being thrown after a year or two, these things need to last, to be repairable and make it easy to grab pieces and materials when they die anyway

Seeing the latest Valve Steam Machine made me disappointed. No replaceable GPU, soldered memory, no socketed CPU. I really hope Valve isn't going to lead the way for unrepairable gaming PCs.

I think valve want other companies to make the hardware in the long term. They are just trying to prove / jump start demand

Re: Bikeshedding, or why I want to build a laptop

#140

Post by spankibalt »

Lio wrote: post #132
spankibalt wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "I've never been happy with a trackpad: they feel too imprecise" Same for me, Apple included; trackpads are just a huge waste of space to me. Have to say that my hand-eye coordination is way above that of the average computer user, and my workflows involving complementary HIDs always focused on trackballs, digtizer pens, as well as gamepads/game controllers for other, non-game related stuff. I also don't get why pe…

I don’t know what you mean by “market realities”. If the market wanted convertible laptops it would be willing to pay more for them. For me it’s because my workflow is keyboard driven and I fined touchscreens annoying. On the laptops I’ve had I generally disable touchscreen because I have no use for it and it gets in the way. I want a good screen, a decent keyboard and a good trackpad. That’s it.

> "I don’t know what you mean by 'market realities'."

The reality that a certain crowd, I count myself among them, has to/or might have to choose laptops because machines in their preferred form factor either a) implement too many inacceptable but technically entirely avoidable compromises, or b) don't exist at all. That market reality. Like, when you have to settle for a laptop.

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