[ale] Buying advice for Laptop ?

DJ-Pfulio djpfulio at jdpfu.com
Wed Jun 24 10:53:21 EDT 2015


If you code in java - 16G isn't enough and you'll want the i7.

Be certain
* you like the keyboard
* it has the ports you want - don't miss a GigE ethernet port, if you want it.
* USB2 is dead, dead, dead. Get as many USB3 and that new thingy as you can.
* eSATA is **really** nice to have and doesn't have queuing issues like
USB-whatever. eSATA can be used to run OSes at 100% native speed.
* VGA &&&&&&  HDMI out is good for presentations
* I don't trust SSDs. Call it a personal issue.
* If you care about battery life - add that to your list-when-shopping
* Get the good N-wifi, not the cheapo. Not all N-wifi cards are the same.
* 1080p is min resolution - but I still miss my cheaper 1440p from 2006.
* touch screens suck extra power - beware
* spinning disks suck extra power too, but it is easy to add storage through
external storage for media and development tools.
* Do you want support for smart cards?
* Might be smart to get an extra power cable now too.

As a linux person - seems you'd want to control your data.
https://github.com/sovereign/sovereign for a home server, so you don't need to
trust google, dropbox, et al with your data.

Always format with GPT going forward. I look forward to the day when I can say
"logical partition", what's that?

Or if you just need a remote access device and a chromebook isn't enough - Dell
has made some great $300 netbook-like/laptops the last few years. These aren't
15inch, however.  I stopped traveling with my 15inch dell and only use a
chromebook now (running Ubuntu Server with fvwm-crystal). Why? battery, size,
convenience, weight, and I'm happy to remote back home if real power is needed.



YMMV.



On 06/24/2015 09:42 AM, Preston wrote:
> For our office I don't drop under an i5. I can't see needing anything
> more than 8GB for most anything that a laptop will do daily (and that's
> generous IMHO). I'm not a brand junkie so whichever I feel works /looks
> best to me is my pick, as long as it has decent Linux support. I'm a fan
> of using SSD, but I also backup things or have Dropbox/Google
> Drive/OwnCloud for my documents and things I need. If the SSD were to
> fail or if I decide to do a factory reset all my stuff is still just a
> few steps away.
> 
> Personally I've been eying the Lenovo Yoga 3 for a future purchase. Like
> what I've heard about it (especially the BIOS and loading Linux)
> although it might be a little more than what you are looking to spend.
> 
> Side note, I'd use the Office 365 instead of buying the MS Office
> (unless you get it bundled with laptop). It's always up to date and you
> can use it with Linux should LibreOffice not fill the needs adequately.
> 
> Good Luck on your hunt.
> 
> Preston
> 
> On 6/24/2015 8:19 AM, Narahari 'n' Savitha wrote:
>> Friends:
>>
>> I am in the market for a laptop.  I am trying to decide between 
>> celeron(may be ?)
>>
>> i3
>> i5
>> i7
>>
>> Brands (Lenovo, ASUS, Toshiba Acer, HP) ?
>> RAM 8GB good enough or 16GB ?
>> SSD a must or not really ?
>> if HDD 5400rpm vs 7200 rpm makes diff ?
>> Screen 15.6 inch screen.
>>
>> Has to run Windows (8.1 is what I get I guess )
>>
>> Uses:  VPN to Mrs. office.  Daughters projects with MS office.
>>


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