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Dell XPS 13 Review from a lifelong Mac user

jeffgeerling.com

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Re: Dell XPS 13 Review from a lifelong Mac user

#161

Post by zdragnar »

cannam wrote: post #137

I recently sold an XPS 13, an i7 9543 model from 2015, which was the first laptop in a long time that I regretted buying. I got it as a Windows machine and never ran anything else on it. Technically it was broadly fine. The specs were OK, it was reasonably repairable, I had a hi-dpi screen, the case was solid. But the keyboard felt really dead, the wrist rest was smeary, the screen had a grainy impression, the machin…

I got a Dell XPS 13 from work and it's got nothing on my surface book. Even Linux support is better, though the difference largely comes down to multi monitor over DP vs USB-C.

Re: Dell XPS 13 Review from a lifelong Mac user

#162

Post by cannam »

fleebjuice wrote: post #158
foreigner wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm in exactly the same position, it didn't even occur to me that the layout might be different. What's the difference between the US and UK layouts?

On the US keyboard, the enter key is only one key height and longer, and the left shift key is longer. This moves a couple of keys around (`\). The most notable (especially from a programming point of view) is that the " and @ keys are switched. I use strings way more than I do anything else, so the US way is preferable here as its on the home row. The pound sign disappears, but I don't think I've ever actually neede…

> the " and @ keys are switched. I use strings way more than I do anything else, so the US way is preferable here

Eh? They're both shifted, so why does it matter which one is on which key?

Re: Dell XPS 13 Review from a lifelong Mac user

#163

Post by [deleted] »

morley wrote: post #86
eknkc wrote: post #36

What I'm mostly curious about these posts is, how the heck do you guys switch operating systems that easily? I guess it would work if you are already using Linux or Windows on a Mac hardware but that's gotta be rare. I mean, hardware is nothing compared to the OS.. I can switch to any other Mac and it would take me a couple hours to be comfortable. That would be it. If I'm switching to a Dell XPS, I don't really care…

I'm surprised no one has mentioned keyboard portability. I find it incredibly hard to switch from ctrl on Windows to cmd on Mac. In college I had to switch frequently between Windows and Mac, and it was a nightmare. Since then, I've committed to only use MacOS on a Macbook and Windows on a real keyboard. That seems to preserve my muscle memory the best. But things can be rough when I use a Windows laptop or a standal…

[deleted]

Re: Dell XPS 13 Review from a lifelong Mac user

#164

Post by KSS42 »

perfectstorm wrote: post #154

I never understood the logic of putting a webcam at the bottom of the screen. why are these laptop manufacturers doing it ? is it just to shave off couple of inches from the top bezel ?

Yes, to shave a couple of mm off the bezel.

It may also help to reduce the screen thickness because there wont be cable going from the bottom to the top for the camera.

Re: Dell XPS 13 Review from a lifelong Mac user

#165

Post by pxeboot »

pmontra wrote: post #155

> Windows 10 spends about 5 minutes (literally!) identifying a bunch of new devices and adding them to the system, with a notification popping up for each thing Really, does anybody knows why Windows needs all this time to identify USB devices? The same PC does it instantaneously when running Linux.

Here is a partial explanation that was posted on HN in the past: https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20041110-00/?p=...

Re: Dell XPS 13 Review from a lifelong Mac user

#166

Post by H1Supreme »

Not an XPS 13, but in a very similar vein, I recently picked up a 13" Dell Inspiron 7000. It's my first non-Apple laptop in over 10 years.

It's very Mac like in feel. Aluminum enclosure, black keyboard, and for lack of a better term, feels sturdy. The keyboard feels miles better than the current keyboards on the MBP, imo.

I installed Ubuntu (Mate) on it, and everything worked out of the box. Trackpad feels great, screen looks crisp, and I don't find myself missing my mac at all.

Compared to the cheap, plastic Dell's that I've experienced in years past, this is a massive step up in every way.

Re: Dell XPS 13 Review from a lifelong Mac user

#168

Post by deltron3030 »

geerlingguy wrote: post #115
curioussavage wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not picky about the screen, but I am super picky about trackpads from using macs. My dell chrombook feels every bit as good as the Mac. Fortunately for me the Gallium os distro for Chromebooks reuses the chrome os touchpad driver. I dell Precision model at work and that touch pad sucks!

I'm amazed nobody else has matched Apple's glass touch input devices. Luckily the external Magic Trackpad works pretty well with the XPS 13.

Razer comes close in feel.

Re: Dell XPS 13 Review from a lifelong Mac user

#169

Post by jjuel »

nkrisc wrote: post #119
jordache wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How hard is it for device makers to prefect the touchpad? It should be a no brainer like mouse devices by now huh?

Someone has. It's in MacBooks.

The 'Force Touch' trackpads I am not a fan of at all. I do not like them nearly as much as my 2012 MBP that actually clicks. They had them perfected and then messed with them IMHO.
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