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Re:Ask HN: What laptop to choose now? by dredmorbius on Monday October 31, 2016 @02:21AM (#12834648)
Laptops are tools. What you want depends on what you do.

I'm also unhappy with modern offerings, though I come from the Linux side. Whilst I use Macs, I've never been a fan of either the hardware (keyboard and touchpad aren't my thing). I've been exceptionally disappointed by Lenovo's products and behaviour of the past few years.

My druthers would be a lightweight, portalble, Linux-friendly system with a trackpoint-type pointer control.

I've been using an Android 9" tablet which is mostly good hardware, and an absolute obscenity in terms of the OS, vendor (Samsung) lockdown, and apps.

This with a folio-type self-supporting laptopable keyboard case is close to the perfect form-factor system, most especially for reading printed material (many many many ebooks and articles, most in PDF form).

But nothing about this system is built for privacy, creation, complex interaction, or organising and managing large quantities of content. As a Linux box it might work.

Laptops fail to offer the flexibility of keyboardless operation (and bending keyboards back ... tends to break them), and stink for reading online content generally.

I've also noticed that large-format tablets (9" - 10") don't seem to be offered by anyone.

A decent userland, rootable / ROMable system (Samsung's BDSM lockdown basically means I'm fucked in terms of Rowhammer), and sane hardware (the Logitech keyboard's also been sheer failure mostly due to the company's failure to honour its warranty in any meaningful fashion, and the tightly-coupled HW binding of tablet and keyboard).

I've about had it with hardware, period.

Re:Ask HN: What laptop to choose now? by dubhrosa on Monday October 31, 2016 @02:37AM (#12834692)
A trackpoint is an absolutely non-negotiable requirement for me, so I bought several lenovo bluetooth keyboards, set them up for all the desktops I use, and kept a few spare in case they are discontinued.
Re:Ask HN: What laptop to choose now? by sytelus on Monday October 31, 2016 @06:38AM (#12835621)
What do you use trackpoint for? I' always had trackpoint but never found any need for it when you already have nice touchpad.
Re:Ask HN: What laptop to choose now? by dredmorbius on Monday October 31, 2016 @04:17PM (#12840550)
Not leaving home row is hugely useful.

Trackpads on laptops have always for me attracted stray an unwanted interactions. Trackpoints not.

I find using a mouse far less distracting. The fact that it can be placed well away from the keyboard helps.

Re:Ask HN: What laptop to choose now? by unhammer on Monday October 31, 2016 @07:19AM (#12835784)
For me: Moving the mouse without your fingers leaving home row.