Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers • Hacker News Board

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#91

Post by jakeonthemove » Mon, May 07, 2012, 10:23 PM UTC

I don't know, I think matching hardware to software is a stupid idea. Just focus on building the hardware as a platform, don't lock it down with custom BS solutions and let the software developers handle the software.

What kind of developer doesn't have their own workflow and customize their own workstation to their needs? You just can't mass produce a one-model-fits-all laptop for developers...

Of all Dell laptops, the Precision line is the only one I'd buy - the M6600 looks especially good now that HP abandoned the near-perfect design of the Elitebook 8740/8540w (just for the sake of a new design it seems)...

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#92

Post by jebblue » Mon, May 07, 2012, 10:25 PM UTC

With Linux slowly growing in popularity among developers this is good news to me. Now if IT shops at large companies will start supporting Linux for developers more that would be cooler.

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#93

Post by akmiller » Mon, May 07, 2012, 10:25 PM UTC

I'd like the ability to have 16GB of RAM in a machine that's the size of an Air or Ultrabook. It seems at the moment, that is impossible to find.

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#94

Post by mbrubeck » Mon, May 07, 2012, 10:26 PM UTC

rdtsc wrote: post #82

ntkachov wrote: post #6

How about a laptop with a better key board, slim figure, larger special character keys and more feedback for keys? Then shove a great processor, a mouse pad that's not accidentally click able while typing, and a high resolution screen. That's a developer laptop. Ill install my own software, Thank you very much.

Thinkpad (T60) has a great keyboard, good feedback. I don't use the mousepad, I like the little red pointer thingy it has and has 1400x1050 resolution display. It also a mate display (not the glare type). It is bulkier than other laptops and by now its processor is behind the latest i7 and i5's. Also as soon as I got I installed Ubuntu on it. Ubuntu lets me re-map caps lock to a control for my emacs usage. And most o…

What I really miss from the T60-era laptops is the 4:3 (non-widescreen) display. Widescreen is fine for watching movies, but a taller display can be really nice for reading, writing, and coding.

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#95

Post by jakeonthemove » Mon, May 07, 2012, 10:29 PM UTC

seanp2k2 wrote: post #45

eterps wrote: post #11

If its vertical resolution is lower than 900 pixels I can't take it seriously as a laptop designed for developers.

Amen; I'm also a member of "Team 16:10" Not getting rid of my Latitude D830 (14.1" 1920x1200) until I can get something with /more/ pixel density and vrez

Well, then you're s@@t out of luck :-)... though the 1920x1080 17.3 inch laptops aren't that bad - the resolution is good enough (well, it's the best vertical resolution you can get) and unlike Full HD 15.6 inchers, the text is big enough not to make your eyes hurt like you're welding without a mask...

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#96

Post by jakeonthemove » Mon, May 07, 2012, 10:32 PM UTC

alasdair_young wrote: post #44

The worst part for me is that the XPS13 only allows a MAXIMUM of 4GB of RAM. This is ridiculous for a dev box, especially when I want to run a VM or two.

They all say that - I'm 99% sure you can install at least 6 GB, if not more...

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#97

Post by bookwormAT » Mon, May 07, 2012, 10:32 PM UTC

the negative and aggressive attitude in this thread is depressing.

:-(

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#98

Post by mbell » Mon, May 07, 2012, 10:32 PM UTC

ntkachov wrote: post #6

How about a laptop with a better key board, slim figure, larger special character keys and more feedback for keys? Then shove a great processor, a mouse pad that's not accidentally click able while typing, and a high resolution screen. That's a developer laptop. Ill install my own software, Thank you very much.

> Then shove a great processor, a mouse pad that's not accidentally click able while typing, and a high resolution screen.

Agreed, although I don't consider the processor all that important. I run out of ram way before I can exhaust the CPU capabilities in the current generation of "ultrabooks". I want a 13" macbook air or something of similar build quality with a higher res screen and 8-16GB of ram.

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#99

Post by zerostar07 » Mon, May 07, 2012, 10:42 PM UTC

xando wrote: post #86

This is kind of interesting for me. I'm trying to find for myself a proper Linux machine. Right now on Dell e6410, a bit regret that I bought it. In my opinion nearest to the ideal developer machine on Linux is Lenovo X1 or X220. Screen 13": is enough, even 12" is enough. If you are kind of developer who moves his behind from meeting to meeting or spends some time on plains or conferences. 13" (max) is your choice. Y…

X220 is really nice, as long as you use an external screen. Apart from being small, the screen (although bright) has a big aftereffect problem .

Re: Dell Announces A Linux Laptop Designed For Developers

#100

Post by rch » Mon, May 07, 2012, 10:42 PM UTC

The XPS13 doesn't really seem equipped to appeal to professional developers, but Dell might be specifically targeting the entry-level and enthusiast markets. I would have enjoyed having something along these lines in high school, for instance.