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Bigger is better!
May 10, 2012
7 Votes
Status: Acknowledged
Promote
You chose the wrong base model. Out with XPS13, in with Vostro 1720 (just do something about the sharp edges; they are really hard on hands):
- 17-inch form factor
- 1920x1200 display resolution (better if possible)
- Full-size keyboard and numeric keypad
- Traditional (i.e., with physical buttons) touchpad; make sure the user can disable tapping (this has been a bit of an issue for me in my Ubuntu exploits)
- Forget fingerprint authentication and the camera; if you can't, make them optional
- Ethernet port, if possible (there are still situations that preclude the use of wireless Ethernet)
- 8 GB RAM expandable to 16 GB (16 expandable to 32 would be even better)
- 128 GB SSD appears adequate, but some people might want the option of having a 256 GB SSD
- Make sure the hardware works with plain-vanilla Ubuntu (hey, if you pull that feat, it might work with Fedora, too!)
- No pre-installed tools or applications please! If you insist on having develolper profile, create an "basic" profile with no tools at all.
- An option to have Windows pre-installed to be run virtually would be nice
- Don't worry about support; if I can't figure it out, you probably can't, either :)
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May 22, 2012 Comment Link
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Posted By: AlfromRoke
nchuvakhin,Good point, I wasn't thinking about long term working at clients and you are absolutely right that in that case it might be quite practical, although it still seems quite a hassle to carry a 17" laptop along o.O
May 16, 2012 Comment Link
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Posted By: nchuvakhin
TuxRaiderPen,No thanks, even as an option.
An admirable sentiment, but an impractical one, I fear... Some of us have to work with applications whose developers are blissfully unaware of superior OSes. Personally, I use QuickBooks and Bloomberg and have been known to play with eViews every now and then... Plus, one still can't watch Netflix on Linux... :)
May 16, 2012 Comment Link
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Posted By: nchuvakhin
AlfromRoke,I can think of three, (1) it fits into a backpack, (2) it has dual-voltage power supply, so it works both in North America and in Europe, and (3) it fits on a desk already holding two full desktops, one of which is actually a mid-tower server...
It all depends on what you go to clients for... :) I actually work at the clients' offices. Weeks, sometimes months, at a time. And their offices are not always on the same continent as mine... So to me, a 17" notebook provides a reasonable balance between portability and comfortable working conditions.
May 15, 2012 Comment Link
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Posted By: AlfromRoke
"And if your developing something like the Linux kernel then you want to be able to recompile it this century." - and if you're developing something like the Linux kernel, then an ultrabook might not be the laptop for you :D. But I am suprised, we had one 17" laptop at home at one point (it wasn't mine although I did use it once in awhile) and the only moment it left the desk/table was when somebody was going to watch a movie on it (when it was placed on the far end of the bed or similar locations). Still I agree with you (jaj, wasn't expecting that to happen :P) 15" is about right in general, although 14" would be perfect for me personally (I am used to a 13.3" for a few years now and 1" more wouldn't be bad)."Just because its a laptop doesn't mean I want any less power than whats on my desk." - In that case your laptop either is greatly overpowered or your desktop underpowered :P A laptop and a desktop are two fairly different products, although they do have similarities. It's not without reason that some big companies decide to do all the compiling on dedicated servers, it simply requires too much power which isn't reasonable to expect from laptops (and even some desktops have trouble handling some bigger applications). And don't forget that for examply my laptop drew about 25 watt when charging, whilst for example my friends gaming desktop system uses about 30x times as much energy.
May 12, 2012 Comment Link
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Posted By: TuxRaiderPen
My nice Inspiron 9400 17" laptop would beg to differ. It goes with me couch, clients, in the cruiser, wherever.
Don't seem to have an issue with it one bit.
Not too big to carry around, or to use lie on the couch or bed or what ever.
Works great. KMint Linux running on with out issue.
13" too of a small screen, 15" just about there. 17" screen readable for presentations without a projector or external monitor available.
Just because its a laptop doesn't mean I want any less power than whats on my desk. And if your developing something like the Linux kernel then you want to be able to recompile it this century.
May 11, 2012 Comment Link
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Posted By: AlfromRoke
nchuvakhin - Just a sincere question, what advantages does a 17" notebook like you are describing have over a full desktop (except being a lot less powerfull and more expensive)? I mean, you can't lie down on a couch or something with a 17" notebook and it's also too big to carry around to clients etc. as far as I know.May 10, 2012 Comment Link
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Posted By: TuxRaiderPen
I agree with 90% of this, but one thing I totaly disagree with:"An option to have [inferior os] pre-installed to be run virtually would be nice"
No thanks, even as an option.
SSD, not interested, 1-2TB HD please. SSD as an option over an HD fine, but not as the only unit.
I prefer to have a nice base install of applications. I want to get the unit and be able to start using it right away with out having to customize a bunch of stuff.
Other than those points, EXCELLENT IDEAS.