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Ars Technica has an editorial on what they'd want in a laptop in 2017. Inspired by this, I figured to make my own list and ask SN for input. I'm not looking for a laptop, but it's fun to think about specs, right?
Anyway, I do think use case is important. My use case: working and travelling daily with laptop, sometimes to various institutes to give presentations. This already leads to some important requirements:
- Lightweight (I frequently take the laptop somewhere)
- Not needing a plethora of dongles. (I've forgotten the power supply more than once already, I'm sure forgetting a dongle or two will happen more frequently).
Thinking about it more, most of the things the Ars Editor loves are things I honestly don't use, or actively do not want (touch screen).
With that in mind, I'd arrive at:
- No touchscreen - it adds weight while I don't use its features
- 13 inch screen seems to balance portability and screen size well.
- 1920x1080 resolution - higher will drain the battery faster, and is not needed on 13 inch
- VGA port - almost all presentation places I come across need converters (dongles) for anything else.
- USB 2 and 3 ports - again, for compatibility
- 512 GB SDD
- 10GB or more memory
- Dual boot compatible with Ubuntu (I use Ubuntu, but for the occasional gadget that can get updates via your computer, you'll still need Windows or MacOS)
- Preferably with regular ethernet port - there are still hotels where wired is free, but wifi is paid.
Other than that I'd go for modern iterations of specs for things like ethernet, wifi, CPU, etc. So Kaby Lake processor, things like that. GPU is not a big issue, so probably the integrated Intel thing on a modern Intel CPU will be sufficient.
Anything I missed? Anything you'd do radically different? If so: why?
(Score: 5, Insightful) by DannyB on Friday December 02 2016, @09:20PM
How about a No-Windows version. And no craptacular trialware applications bloating the hard drive.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 03 2016, @12:37AM
Depending on where you buy it you can get it pretty much any way you like. With or without crap. If you want 0 crap. Go for a business line sort of computer.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by anubi on Saturday December 03 2016, @05:52AM
Maybe one day they make the trialware completely delete itself if its not purchased.
If using the software without paying for it is considered theft, then how about unwanted software squatting in precious memory real estate without paying rent?
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 03 2016, @07:48PM
It's not squating. The software paid to be there. They subsidised
the cost of your laptop. In theory, the manufacturer passes on the
savings to you. For people who don't know how to wipe the hard
drive and install from scratch there should at least be the option
to buy with and without bloatware (at different price points
ofcourse).
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday December 05 2016, @03:23PM
Microsoft is actively working to ensure that you cannot boot another OS. Or that if you can, it is a second class citizen.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.