Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

hackaday.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

141–150 of 232 posts

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#141

Post by kelvie »

ant6n wrote: post #90
antirez wrote: post #23

There are many good hardware choices at this point in order to replace a Macbook. What is entirely not clear is what software to use to replace a Macbook.

What I'm concerned about is the three-finger swipe left and right to access various desktops (I've seen that set up on linux, but it doesn't transition, it just pops to the next screen, which doesn't make sense for a scrolling action).

I'm with you here, for me (and probably you) at least, this is by far the best feature of OS X. I mostly use Linux, and bind Windows-key+left/right for switching desktops, in KDE, but whenever I use OS X for even a little bit, I miss it.

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#143

Post by takno »

vetinari wrote: post #114
jerf wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm currently running Ubuntu 16.04 on it, and everything I've tried works. But it has taken some fiddling. (I have swapped the wireless for [1] on the advice of a coworker that didn't even like the way the stock one worked on Windows.) I can't vouch for the USB3, Thunderbolt, or Bluetooth because I haven't tried it. Also stock Ubuntu can't control the backlight brightness but xbacklight can, so it seems to be an Ubun…

Is it really necessary to disable Secure Boot? I've got one T430s that dual boots between Windows and Fedora, and Fedora is fine with the Secure Boot on (if you use your custom kernel modules, you will have to sign them, though). Windows, on the other hand, can be annoying when the Secure Boot is off.

Ubuntu nags you to do it so it can run 3rd party drivers. It's never really explained what the drivers were and I haven't noticed any difference with it disabled or not

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#144

Post by vetinari »

platz wrote: post #135
vetinari wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Due to Intel Management Engine - basically a binary blob, that you don't know what it is doing. T400 is Core 2 Duo machine and works without IME. T420 is i5/i7 machine and IME is a requirement and you cannot make a BIOS replacement without it.

I didn't know people felt that stongly about arbitrary binary blobs. I know this is hackaday and open hardware and all, but if im going to be worried about binary blobs im going to be worried about a ton of netsec related stuff in other boxes too. Just wonderin' who this is really biting, assuming the intended individual was also already a closed-source, secretive apple fan.

It's not an arbitrary binary blob. It's blob that's running at SMM level. A perfect place for rootkits.

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#145

Post by DominikR »

Lenovo has some nice hardware, I used it for years, but the problem is that their own software is unusable and the OS options are lagging, at least for me.

Yes you can install Linux, but I'm not going to pay a premium price to then spend my time hunting down the correct drivers and in the end still have some hardware not supported.

Either all of the hardware that I paid for is fully supported by some Linux distribution and on top of that I don't have to lift a finger to keep it updated or I'm not buying at that price.

I pay and you solve my problems, not I pay and you deliver me a bunch of new problems that I'll have to tinker with.

That's really why I switched to Mac's. I'm also not terribly convinced by the new touchpad, but maybe it'll grow on me.

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#147

Post by nodesocket »

I'm growing so tired and weary of complaining and the continuous cycle of outraged on the internet. The latest example is Apple and the new MacBooks.

Tim, this is why leadership of companies at the top by "committee" doesn't work. You need a strong leader (type A) that is a dictator to silence the masses and guide the company forward. Otherwise, you get a million different voices speaking up thinking they are somehow instantly experts in a field.

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#148

Post by drinchev »

I said this in another thread. Will say it again.

Whenever your boss comes and asks you "What would you like to be your primary machine?". I bet you will reply "Latest MacBook Pro". Yeah sure it will be kinda hard for you with 16 gigs of RAM, but nonetheless much easier than having a Hackintosh.

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#149

Post by gogopuppygogo »

slantyyz wrote: post #71
ch4ch4 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except that you still don't know which generation of processor the MBP has- I still see tons of deceptive Craigslist ads for MBPs that have a "2.0Ghz" processor, with no indication that it's a model from 2011, which is not at all comparable with a "2.0Ghz" processor from 2015.

This is probably offtopic, but I hate, hate, hate Intel's CPU naming strategy for the Core i line. An i7 (U,M) in an ultrabook is vastly different from the i7 (MQ, HQ) in a gaming laptop. A lot of people don't realize that, they just assume that i7 means "fastest intel processor". It also doesn't help when computer manufacturers say "#th generation Intel processor". Unless you're keeping up with that stuff, how does…

I agree. The intel naming convention has sucked since they switched to the Core iX names a few years back. Why are they still selling Core i5 computers in 2016 when they were available in 2012? It's like they don't want consumers to know there is a new processor out.

No wonder PC sales are so bad these days.

Re: Apple Sucks Now, Here’s a ThinkPad Buyer’s Guide

#150

Post by jerf »

vetinari wrote: post #114
jerf wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm currently running Ubuntu 16.04 on it, and everything I've tried works. But it has taken some fiddling. (I have swapped the wireless for [1] on the advice of a coworker that didn't even like the way the stock one worked on Windows.) I can't vouch for the USB3, Thunderbolt, or Bluetooth because I haven't tried it. Also stock Ubuntu can't control the backlight brightness but xbacklight can, so it seems to be an Ubun…

Is it really necessary to disable Secure Boot? I've got one T430s that dual boots between Windows and Fedora, and Fedora is fine with the Secure Boot on (if you use your custom kernel modules, you will have to sign them, though). Windows, on the other hand, can be annoying when the Secure Boot is off.

I don't know. I didn't try not to. I generally expect that the things that Secure Boot protect against are things unlikely to affect me.
Post reply on HN