Hardware Minimums - Part 2

May 10, 2012

Posted By:  TuxRaiderPen

3 Votes

Status: Acknowledged

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Some things that from reading other comments that are needed:

Hardware:

1) DVD-DL/RAM/RW with Lightscribe....

This is a DEVELOPER UNIT, not a "hipster" skinny machine... if you want thin and light then your in a different category.

2) SD Card AND MicroSD SLOTS - 2 slots, not 1. I am tired of having to try to find those stupid adapaters. I would prefer CF and SD,and uSD slots.

3) Integrated Camera.... 1080p HD capable!  with still ability 8-10MP (NON ENHANCED!)


Please use a different base platform something along the Inspiron 9400 laptop, nice big 17" screen! SD slot, and go from there... the thin base is not a good starting point... it may be the cliche item today...I don't care about thin and light, I care about features and performance.

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  • May 15, 2012     Comment Link

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    Posted By: AlfromRoke

    Haha, @external cd/dvd drive, it seemed to be quite a sensible solution even.

    Either way, just a tip, but bluetooth support on linux has improved incredibly in recent times and it's not the horror anymore it once was to get running correctly. And if you have a new phone and laptop the speeds are quite acceptable as well. 

    Any laptop I purchase is going to fill multiple roles, not a development laptop, and only that task.

    You should have mentioned that earlier, that explains half the comments we got into arguments about. Personally I was thinking purely from the perspective of a developer ignoring some of my other interests (e.g. casual gaming). I was trying to imagine what the ideal notebook would be if I would buy notebooks for all of 'my' employees rather than the desktops we currently have. Either way, I gave up on that awhile ago as it became a far too expensive power machine ages ago, but I still tried to think from a developer perspective and ignore those other interests. My disagreement about the laptop camera also stems from this, as I defintely too like a good front-facing camera on a laptop for personal use.

    And btw, as far as a dvd drive is concerned for distribution testing goes, check     UNetbootin out, you can simply select an iso file and it will place it on your usb stick and make the necessary changes to make the usb-stick bootable.
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  • May 12, 2012     Comment Link

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    Posted By: IdeaStorm Moderator Cy_J

    I thought that might be your answer but had to ask to be sure.  :)
    Thank you for clarifying.  
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  • May 12, 2012     Comment Link

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    Posted By: TuxRaiderPen

    No! On external.

    If its an OPTION ala the old DriveBay system in REAL Thinnkpads thats fine. You can stick an optical drive in , or a battery, or what ever.
     

    Exteranl NO, I am not lugging that around to loose or break.
     
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  • May 11, 2012     Comment Link

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    Posted By: IdeaStorm Moderator Cy_J

    This is one of my favorite things about IdeaStorm, healthy debates.  Not every person has the same requirements in a system or opinion on a subject.  Being able to have a lively yet respectable debate usually leaves each party a little wiser and results in better ideas.  It looks like the biggest sticking point here is the DVD drive.  How would you two feel about an optional external drive?
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  • May 11, 2012     Comment Link

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    Posted By: TuxRaiderPen

    Any laptop I purchase is going to fill multiple roles, not a development laptop, and only that task. I will use it for all my needs. And that doesn't include lamer gamer crap.

    SD, uSD, CF, are all used for more than just cameras. And again, my laptop has to fill multiple roles, not just development. I want to pull out the uSD card from my Android phone and pull the photos or files off it or upload to it, and go. I don't want to hunt down lame SD/uSD adaptors or hunt down the proper USB cable, and or hope that bluetooth will connect. Pull the uSD card out and grab what I need, and move on.

    Maybe you only use USB sticks. But I want to burn an ISO of my distro, and put it into a machine and test it out.  And again my laptop fits multiple roles, not just development.  I am not lugging mulitple laptops around.

    Cameras are need as again, your view is just too narrow. I may want to use cheese or something to make a video, or take stills. Again one laptop, multiple roles.

    thin is a niche for those who want it. If thats what you want thin hipster nonsense, great. Its niche in that its a small market v. those who want a real laptop to get things done, and possibly it may be their only device.

    I may have a server farm at home, doesn't mean I am going to lug it around. One laptop, multiple roles develpoment work, other work, entertainment, etc..
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  • May 11, 2012     Comment Link

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    Posted By: AlfromRoke

    1) Only gamers/movie watchers/downloaders use dvd's/cd's nowadays. Developers tend to use only usb sticks (due to speed and size).
    2) The only use SD cards have is to communicate with camera's; in other words, not relevant for developers. (and microsd cards can sometimes be used to communicate with mobile phones, but cables or bluetooth are the more generally preferred way)
    3) Why in the world would a developer need an integrated camera... he is developing stuff, not playing around in online chatboxes or something. And in case you need to use video conferencing with clients you probably have to set up a seperate room for that either way, as a developer behind a laptop is far too unproffesional for that. Oh and in case you need to communicate with fellow developers a microphone + screensharing tends to be the relevant thing.

    (@your last comment, you sound just like intel back in the days when they believed that mobile phones were just a niche item and wouldn't last.)