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Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition review

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Re: Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition review

#51

Post by vadman »

rayiner wrote: post #49
Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #36

A laptop targeted to developers should have a TrackPoint to move the cursor without taking the hands off the keyboard, a non-shortscreen monitor to see more lines of code, a matte screen to read the code better, and a numpad to, well, type numbers. OK, I guess I'm asking too much for today's standards, even if all these things were common ten years ago (sigh...), but when I saw "developer edition" I thought I would s…

I quite disagree. A touchpad doesn't require appreciably more movement off the keyboard than a trackpoint (I used a trackpoint Dell machine for years). Matte screens are bad for reading code, because they create a layer of gritiness that reduces the sharpness of text. Glossy screens with good room lighting are far superior. Finally, a wide-screen 13" display is just about the right size to fit two 80-character Emacs…

The difference between 16:10 and 16:9 (HDTV proportions) screens is appreciable though, the former is better for dev work.

Although I cannot imagine doing any work on a laptop without external monitor and ergo KB/mouse, so I'm too fussy I guess.

Re: Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition review

#52

Post by crazygringo »

Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #36

A laptop targeted to developers should have a TrackPoint to move the cursor without taking the hands off the keyboard, a non-shortscreen monitor to see more lines of code, a matte screen to read the code better, and a numpad to, well, type numbers. OK, I guess I'm asking too much for today's standards, even if all these things were common ten years ago (sigh...), but when I saw "developer edition" I thought I would s…

Serious question: aside from data-entry people and accountants, who uses numeric keypads anymore?

As a developer, I don't exactly type a lot of numbers. And they're too far away from the home position of the hands to make the numpad efficient to use for numbers in mixed alphanumeric text.

It really seems like they are rightly turning into a very niche input product, like Wacom tablets, instead of a general-purpose one.

Re: Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition review

#53

Post by adrusi »

Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #36

A laptop targeted to developers should have a TrackPoint to move the cursor without taking the hands off the keyboard, a non-shortscreen monitor to see more lines of code, a matte screen to read the code better, and a numpad to, well, type numbers. OK, I guess I'm asking too much for today's standards, even if all these things were common ten years ago (sigh...), but when I saw "developer edition" I thought I would s…

The problem with numpads on laptops is that it shifts the keyboard to the left, resulting in a non-ergonomic typing position. That's much worse than not being able to type in numbers marginally faster. Also using numpads takes your fingers far from the home row, which is in contrast to your trackpoint argument.

Re: Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition review

#54

Post by batmansbelt »

crazygringo wrote: post #52
Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #36

A laptop targeted to developers should have a TrackPoint to move the cursor without taking the hands off the keyboard, a non-shortscreen monitor to see more lines of code, a matte screen to read the code better, and a numpad to, well, type numbers. OK, I guess I'm asking too much for today's standards, even if all these things were common ten years ago (sigh...), but when I saw "developer edition" I thought I would s…

Serious question: aside from data-entry people and accountants, who uses numeric keypads anymore? As a developer, I don't exactly type a lot of numbers. And they're too far away from the home position of the hands to make the numpad efficient to use for numbers in mixed alphanumeric text. It really seems like they are rightly turning into a very niche input product, like Wacom tablets, instead of a general-purpose on…

True programmers do everything with alt-codes.

Re: Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition review

#55

Post by Al-Khwarizmi »

crazygringo wrote: post #52
Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #36

A laptop targeted to developers should have a TrackPoint to move the cursor without taking the hands off the keyboard, a non-shortscreen monitor to see more lines of code, a matte screen to read the code better, and a numpad to, well, type numbers. OK, I guess I'm asking too much for today's standards, even if all these things were common ten years ago (sigh...), but when I saw "developer edition" I thought I would s…

Serious question: aside from data-entry people and accountants, who uses numeric keypads anymore? As a developer, I don't exactly type a lot of numbers. And they're too far away from the home position of the hands to make the numpad efficient to use for numbers in mixed alphanumeric text. It really seems like they are rightly turning into a very niche input product, like Wacom tablets, instead of a general-purpose on…

I must say I'm probably quite biased regarding the numpad, because much of my programming is about experiments that give numeric results, which then have to be processed and/or reported... so typing lots of numbers always ends up being a part of the equation in my particular case, but not on the code itself.

Numpads are nice for roguelikes as well :)

Re: Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition review

#56

Post by igravious »

davidw wrote: post #2

I have one of these and think it's pretty good. I am really happy to have been able to give my money to someone selling me something with Linux on it.

Hi David,

I have one of these too! But which one, that is the rub. As far as I can tell there are now three versions of project Sputnik. I too am so happy to throw my € in Dell's direction. I have the second because I bought mine just before the recent Haswell refresh, gah :(

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Original version ... November 2012 1: http://bartongeorge.net/2012/11/29/sputnik-has-landed-introd...

Brings 1080p (after much clamour and feedback) ... February 2013 2: http://bartongeorge.net/2013/02/18/spuntik-2-is-here-xps-13-...

Brings Haswell ... November 2013 http://bartongeorge.net/2013/11/15/introducing-sputnik-3-and...

Not sure which version the original poster is reviewing, I always meant to review mine and haven't done so yet. I upgraded from Ubuntu 12.04LTS to 13.10 and had to futz about a bit with backlight keys. Wifi drivers kept glitching out until recently. I had to add TRIM support myself (I had thought it was there, it wasn't!)

Might be an idea to set up a Sputnik User's site unless one exists :) as opposed to a Dell forum or employee's blog.

tip o' the hat ...

Re: Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition review

#57

Post by derekp7 »

bluedino wrote: post #30
davexunit wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thinkpads make rock solid GNU/Linux machines. I highly recommend the X220. It has some issues such as not being Coreboot compatible and needing nonfree firmware to drive the wireless chip. The former has no fix, but the latter can be fixed with a little hack and an Atheros chip.

As an X220 it's a very nice machine but it's no in the same realm as the XPS or the Air/rMBP. It has a great keyboard and underlying hardware. But it's also stuck with a low-resolution screen with terrible viewing angles, and is also as thick as a brick. The touchpad also leaves a lot to be desired but it does have the TrackPoint which is great. The X240 will supposedly have a 1080p IPS screen but I'm not sure what t…

Does the x240 have the same screen dimensions as the x230? If so I wonder if you can use it to upgrade the 230 panel.

Re: Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition review

#58

Post by kbenson »

Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #36

A laptop targeted to developers should have a TrackPoint to move the cursor without taking the hands off the keyboard, a non-shortscreen monitor to see more lines of code, a matte screen to read the code better, and a numpad to, well, type numbers. OK, I guess I'm asking too much for today's standards, even if all these things were common ten years ago (sigh...), but when I saw "developer edition" I thought I would s…

When I specced out my Dell laptop a couple of years ago, I specifically went for a smaller model so I could get a keyboard without a numeric keypad. When on my lap, why would I want the keyboard shifted to the left?

If it's on a desk and not your lap, buy a keyboard.

Re: Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition review

#59

Post by angersock »

thirdsight wrote: post #46
Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #36

A laptop targeted to developers should have a TrackPoint to move the cursor without taking the hands off the keyboard, a non-shortscreen monitor to see more lines of code, a matte screen to read the code better, and a numpad to, well, type numbers. OK, I guess I'm asking too much for today's standards, even if all these things were common ten years ago (sigh...), but when I saw "developer edition" I thought I would s…

Someone who gets it! I'm doomed to stay with a 2010 vintage Lenovo T-series by the looks.

...using tools from the late 70s/early 80s no doubt (vim, emacs, etc.)

Re: Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition review

#60

Post by derekp7 »

bluedino wrote: post #30
davexunit wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thinkpads make rock solid GNU/Linux machines. I highly recommend the X220. It has some issues such as not being Coreboot compatible and needing nonfree firmware to drive the wireless chip. The former has no fix, but the latter can be fixed with a little hack and an Atheros chip.

As an X220 it's a very nice machine but it's no in the same realm as the XPS or the Air/rMBP. It has a great keyboard and underlying hardware. But it's also stuck with a low-resolution screen with terrible viewing angles, and is also as thick as a brick. The touchpad also leaves a lot to be desired but it does have the TrackPoint which is great. The X240 will supposedly have a 1080p IPS screen but I'm not sure what t…

Does the x240 have the same screen dimensions as the x230? If so I wonder if you can use it to upgrade the 230 panel.
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