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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: 2) by Hawkwind on Friday December 02 2016, @10:03PM
I'm getting ready to buy my Linux-only kid a laptop. I've been looking at Sytem76 (14.1" Lemur, i7 processor). Any good or bad experiences to share? if it helps, the laptop won't be used for gaming, although he occasionally messes around with some of the older gaming design engines.
(Score: 5, Informative) by ShadowSystems on Friday December 02 2016, @10:39PM
Unfortunately I can't in good conscience recommend System76.
Granted it's only my own experience that makes me say this, but it is what it is.
Back in June I contacted them to buy a desktop. I specificly requested it to be built, tested, & delivered NLT July 30th as I was going on vacation August 1st. The sales rep assured me they could do it. A week before the deadline the rep emails me back to say it's been backordered & they will try to get it before, but could I move the deadline? No, I'll be on a plane & can't get refunds for the tickets. They scramble to get me the machine, swear it'll be to me on time, & end up having to refund me the full purchase price when July 28th rolls up & they finally admit they can't deliver as promised.
I recently tried again, this time with no deadline looming. Same machine, same instructions for the build (I need Orca), & they give it a go. The first machine arrives with Loose Items Inside. I have to open it up, remove the PSU, & fish out the screws before I can dare to plug it in. Evidently the screws were important because it fails to turn on. RMA the first one & they send a second. The second one arrives DOA. No LOI this time, but it refuses to power on at all. RMA it back & they discover that UPS evidently dropped it hard enough to nearly *tear out* the PSU. I hadn't noticed any external damage to the case, but given I'm blind that's not THAT surprising. They ask if I want to try a 3rd unit or just get a refund, & I opt for the refund. It takes two weeks after they acknowledge the return of the 2nd unit before they even HINT at the refund, & it takes another 3 days before it arrives in my bank. Only it's $40 short of the full purchase price. I don't know why the difference, I don't care at this point.
System76 may be a good vendor for everyone else, but they've struck out as far as I'm concerned. The Tech Support rep I talked to was *AWESOME* and I told her boss she deserved a raise (and I *meant it* too), but everything ELSE went to shit. =-/
If you go with S76 then be sure to examine the boxes *very* carefully, make sure there's no LOI in your brand new "professionally built" computer, & that it turns on at all. Call them *immediately* if there's any issues at all. If?/*When* the shit hits the fan then you want to Cover Your Ass.
HTH!
(Score: 5, Informative) by Celestial on Friday December 02 2016, @10:39PM
I don't know if it's actually the case, but I've been told that System76 is basically your standard Sager/Clevo notebook reseller. Those you can get cheaper at a lot of places. With System76, you're paying for Ubuntu support. Now, that may be important and useful to you. It may not be. Just something to take into consideration.
(Score: 2) by opinionated_science on Saturday December 03 2016, @10:55AM
this is why I got a generic Dell - (K)ubuntu works pretty much. I'm a complete Penguinista, but we all know laptops are a special breed of corporate-anitconsumerism...
I like the idea of Linux branded laptops, but think it's a bit like Branded Music....
Not going to be great , just ok.
I must say, the cheap XPS11 I got (touchscreen, folds over to make tablet, works with kubuntu, got free android tablet and amazing battery life) has only one downside - weak GPU.
I was given this Apple MacBook Pro, nice construction - curiously weak GPU (intel), suggesting Apple makes a nice profit by designing software to the edge of performance.
Still Apple's presence in the market, has force the Windoze segment to up their game...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 03 2016, @06:18AM
I've had success with (slightly used) HP, Toshiba, Samsung and Dell laptops - Win7 era up to Win8/8.1. Take it home, pop a Linux distro disc in, 30 minutes, problems all solved. Caveats are that some HP dv6's have overheating problems and Dells sometimes have wierd wi-fi chippery.