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Re:Ask HN: What's the best laptop for a programmer that isn'... by 1mike12 on Monday December 19, 2016 @07:10PM (#13216207)
I use the xps 15, you can buy the cheapest version then pop it open (unlike the xps13) and switch out the internal ram and ssd for something better.

I like the thunderbolt 3 port which allows me to connect to up to 3 external displays and my usb peripherals, something that I cannot find with any of this generations laptops since docks stopped being a thing

Re:Ask HN: What's the best laptop for a programmer that isn'... by anotheryou on Tuesday December 20, 2016 @06:44AM (#13219014)
Have this one too.

Superb appart from a few minor downsides:

- build in speakers are glitchy (crackle when you adjust screen brightness or on other random occasions)

- bluetooth is not good enough for a mouse, seems to collide with wifi usage (this one bugs me. A dongle is quite a price to pay when you have only 2 usb ports)

- not the best battery life (trade-off with the graphics card I guess)

- screen flicker on lowest brightness

- keys rattle in the wind (not really an issue, but strange to hear really silently tic tic tic like a harddrive, when you just have an SSD inside.

- screws on the back are flimsy. I found it hard to tell when they are really tight and to get them in straight. Was a bit scary but seems to have worked out :)

The rest is still awesome and I'd buy it again :). Good build, small, matte display and within my budget. (I put more ram, threw the HD in to an external enclosure and put in a good SSD)

Re:Ask HN: What's the best laptop for a programmer that isn'... by 1mike12 on Wednesday December 21, 2016 @11:48PM (#13234913)
yeah I've heard all the problems you mentioned but mine somehow came through without any of that stuff.

I used to get this thing where the screen would turn off because apparently the thunderbolt 3 circuits are interfering/being interefered by the wifi. But even this has stopped, maybe through a bios update?

Despite the sort of scary quality stories, when you get a good one, it's really great. The touch screen I was surprised actually comes into play, especially for demoing apps, or in tight quarters like a coach plane seat, where you can't even get to the touchpad.

Re:Ask HN: What's the best laptop for a programmer that isn'... by lanbanger on Wednesday December 21, 2016 @09:25AM (#13229286)
You can fix the screen flicker by downgrading your BIOS to version 1.2.0