That said, I hear you. I wanted a 32gb model with crazy good battery life also, but to be honest, Windows laptops are kind of all shit right now. I'm in the exact same boat as you. I hate the new MBPs and need a new laptop soon, BUT I'm still landing on the old style MBP as the way forward every time I look through the available options.
Probably not much help, but that's my 2 cents.
e: that said I am going to keep refreshing this thread and hope someone mentions something I haven't looked at yet.
If you want to spend a similar amount of money, get the Asus UX390UA (Zenbook 3). 1) It's lighter 2) It's got better components in every single aspect -> CPU, GPU, SSD size, Screen, keyboard, etc., etc.... 3) It's actually cheaper STILL
If you want to spend less, but now around the same performance of a MBP, maybe get the Asus UX330. It's basically a toned-down UX390, but still awesome.
If you want a cheaper STILL, consider a Clevo reseller like PCSpecialist (UK), Scan (Everywhere?), Sager (US), XMG (Europe). They are the ultimate in performance per cost, it's just that they tend to not be the most asthetically pleasing.
But it does learn from its mistake, the new Surface line-up is epic. http://mashable.com/2016/10/27/microsoft-better-apple
I have been using a Windows laptop for over 5 years (Yeah a Lenovo!) and have went thru the whole upgrade from Windows 7 --> Windows 10.1 Anniversary update (for free), and to much shame of mine, my b!@#ch of a laptop still doesn't cry considering a boot up time of 6 seconds!
Yet I needed a dedicated Unix environment and although Bash is available natively now on Windows, it's not going to be stable soon enough for me (6 months from now maybe, Creators Update is coming in Jan' 2017). So, a week ago I did buy the MBP retina 13" Early 2015, and trust me I am not disappointed, after last night's #AppleEvent.
I might be biased but coming down to your query: > Are Lenovos worth considering post-superfish-gate?
HELL YES!
"based on my personal experience".
Also, the display is too reflective. It was a mistake to go with 3200 resolution.
I'm also using Dell Thunderbold Dock TB15 and it drops video output and USB connections after 3h (because of heat) [1].
Of course I've got everything updated.
I had an excellent experience with XPS 12 years ago but this 9350 is constantly driving me crazy. I would certainly not recommend it.
[0]: http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/p/...
[1]: http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/p/...
Dell XPS 13 is also a very good alternative, I've heard.
And they have an entire article devoted to the topic of laptops. [2]
[2] http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/what-laptop-should-i-buy-th...
Run Linux beautifully, if you care about that.
For work, you need that easy-to-carry-in-a-shoulder-bag thing
The 15 inches MBP weights 30% MORE than my E7470.
Are you sure about the weight?
I couldn't be more happy with the little beast. Even though I was happy with my previous X1 Carbon (4k touchscreen, 8GB); this one feels way snappier under Win 10.
I plan to get another MBair or maybe the new MBpro without the touch bar. I might go for the touch bar but right now it just doesn't interest me but I'll go in and try one out, read reviews and see how it's integrated with software I use.
I would still stick with a macbook.
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2984889/windows-pcs/len...
The arguement that they would never be stupid enough to do that to big corporate customers doesn't help me because I am not a big corporate customer.
- Thinkpad x250 (x260 has PWM issues)
- 4th Gen Thinkpad x1 Carbon (FHD model to avoid screen lottery)
- Thinkpad x1 Carbon Yoga (OLED)
- Refurbished 2015 Macbook Pro
Picked up one of these a couple months ago. Nice little machine for sure, especially if you are addicted to Trackpoints.
How are you finding it in linux? does everything work well?
[edit] my perception of the x360 was based on the older models, after reading this[1] on the stylus issues on the newer ones I am starting to wonder now
[1]http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Video-Display-and-Touc...
- Hi-DPI still deserves some love, especially if you're using different DPI on different screens (e.g an external 4k display), although ubuntu gnome seems to handle it better than plain ubuntu and definitely better than xubuntu.
- Tablet mode is funny: orientation sensors don't work well, keyboard & touchpad are not autodisabled in tablet mode, but then again it's not my use-case, so I just disabled all those features.
- (ok this one is a flaw of this particular laptop): When the display lid is closed, the touchpad is not auto-disabled, which results in weird mouse movement and clicks, since the lid presses on it. I had to hook an X-event with a script to disable the touchpad input device when the lid is closed.
Other than that - everything works flawlessly.
I installed Arch Linux for dual-booting, which was definitely hassle-free as you said. The convertible/tablet mode works great in Windows, but I haven't gotten it to work well on Linux (need to disable the keyboard & trackpad). But I can develop in Linux, then reboot and browse the web or watch a movie.
I have heavily relied on Microsoft Remote desktop in past and my experience has been smoother for task like running and computing in MatLab or Mathematica.
I have also been thinking of getting Razor blade pro laptop if this setup does not work out. They have 2 TB PCie SSD with RAID 0. That's insane in less than one inch thick laptop.
1) Powerhouse specs (core i7, 16gb ram, 512gb SSD, nvidia GeForce) for running pretty much anything
2) Convertable to tablet for casual browsing, watching videos and drawing
3) Super accurate pen and touch support, pen acts like a mouse so can be used for OS level interactions not just specific apps, even hover works
4) Pen mounts to screen magnetically
5) Can be used like a traditional laptop on your lap
6) Beautiful 3000x2000 pixel display, higher DPI than retina with a 3:2 aspect ratio
7) Windows 10 with all the patches is actually a decent OS and supports all form factors, touch etc.
It's really nice to be able to do creative work, everyday work and gaming all on the same system. Currently playing Overwatch with no issues!
A fully upgraded MacBook Air is still the best. (i7, 500GB HD, 16GB RAM) I got several of them.
Lenovo is too heavy to carry around. Even a MBP is too heavy and bulky for me. The Elitebook has no 500GB HD available and also only 16GB RAM.
Macbook Air (13-inch, Early 2014)
Processor 1.7 HGz Intel Core i7
Memory 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 5000 1536 MB
Storage APPLE SSD SM0512F 500.28 GBon a serious note, look at Aorus X5, I like the RGB keyboard. you can get it to colour the keys based on context. could be a nice alternative to the overpriced touchscreen of the new macbooks.
These threads have surprised me, because I figured most developers (or at least the web-focused ones that seem to be common on HN) would only need a browser and a shell. Instead, there is talk of needing 32GB of RAM. Wow.
But there are a lot of developers whose work could be done on a remote machine, and I wonder if those people still prefer to work locally, and if so... why?
It's entirely possible that the complaints/calls for beast-machines don't come from any of those people at all.
- Asus ZenBook Pro UX501VW (15.6")
- MacBook Pro 2016 (15.6")
- Dell XPS (13" or 15")
- Lenovo X1 Carbon
If you don't like the MacBook Pro (or think it's too expensive), then I'd go with the ZenBook Pro.
http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-systems/razer-blade
They also have a 17" and a 12.5" laptop, but you're probably looking for something in between 13 and 15.
I'm in the same market. I have a late 2013 Macbook Pro and there is ZERO chance I'm buying a modern 15" MBP. The Touch Bar is offensive to the point that I'll put up with Windows instead.
That said, I have no idea if this laptop is any good, I just wanted to mention my feelings toward the company as a whole because I know a lot of people like me who think of all their stuff as over priced normal stuff with "cool color schemes".
http://i.dell.com/sites/imagecontent/merchandizing/Publishin...
Comes pre-installed with either Windows or Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. Also comes with Thunderbolt over USB type-c so you can charge and hook up your peripherals over 1 cable.
I started down the path of Lenovo since I've had decent success in the past. I literally ordered a P50 the day you could order them. Ended up getting rid of it (long story in itself) because I found the Linux support of it was just downright bad. The laptop is a dream on paper (I had an i7 with 64GB of RAM) but running Linux on it in a workspace that includes multiple monitors was just a ridiculous challenge day after day. For one - multi-monitor support is very broken in the firmware when running on the Intel GPU. This may have been addressed by now, but it was a royal PitA trying to get to a working setup that was frictionless in my work cycle. The TL;DR of it was I wanted the NVidia there for a few things I'd use a few times a month - but 99% of my workflow would be done with Intel GPU. Also I've found that the newer Lenovo units have quality control issues. While the P50 was decent, it felt cheap (in my personal opinion) for a workstation class laptop. The plastic (even though Mil grade) is long in the tooth, especially when compared to a lot of the premium chassis experience you get with a lot of other laptops.
If you look here: http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/555/campaigns/xps-linux-lapt...
You'll find all of the Dell laptops that have a good indication of Linux support.
I really liked the 5510 on paper, but couldn't find any solid experience reviews with regard to Linux. So I took a risk and bought a refurb unit off eBay that had a full warranty to save a few bucks in case it wasn't what I expected.
The laptop I got was certified refurb from Dell and I will say I didn't start off on the right foot for the first two months. The 5510 would shut off if you picked it up. Yep, that's right. So I opened a ticket with Dell and they offered on-site or remote repair. The way it was presented it sounded like remote repair would be faster so I sent it in. Got it back in a few days and same thing. Literally Dell stated they replaced the mainboard and "tested". Clearly the person fixing it didn't read or actually do anything (hindsight I should have documented the original mainboard prior to sending).
Then the email and phone tag back and forth with Dell. They originally stated that they would replace the entire system if they repaired it and the same issue persisted, so I held them to that asking for a total system replacement (thinking it would speed up my road to a usable system).
First blunder: they send me an "upgraded" 5510 with the 4k screen. I don't want the 4k screen I tell Dell. They state that it's an upgrade. I argue it's not and oh by the way after actually booting it the screen has a nice blue blemish right in the middle of it about the size of a quarter - so it's broken anyway (this was not a refurb unit but brand new).
I tell Dell to send me a 1080p version of the 5510. They state they don't make them anymore. I argue you can buy them online still - really? Really Dell?
Miraculously after 2 months from start to finish another refurb 1080p version of 5510 shows up (no warning from Dell). It's refurb and it works. I'm happy.
Now that I have it - it's great. The Linux support is awesome, the screen is awesome (XPS "borderlesss" type screen). But the part I really wanted was the RAM support beyond 16GB. There's just no reason to not support 32 or 64 with the advent of 16GB sticks these days. The 5510 supports 32, so I have a nice Linux laptop with 32GB of RAM, a generally new proc (Skylake), 1 x USB type-C, 2 x USB 3, SD card slot, and full HDMI. I did buy a type-C breakout (Ethernet & HDMI) and it does work, but I've found it to be flaky at times. Although since the latest distribution kernel (Ubuntu MATE 16.04) it's been fine.
I do hate the trackpad and wish Dell would put some pointers on laptops. The feel of the trackpad is good and with some tweaks it's generally usable. Disabling soft left and right keys should be the default, stupid annoying and you have to just run a script at boot since there's nowhere to disable it permanently in the OS. It's also too high against the bottom of the keyboard and mouse focus becomes an issue if you're not the type of person who is 100% diligent about having wrists off keyboard. Now maybe this is a good thing because it's really forced me to type in a more appropriate manner. But very awkward when you're not used to it.
Build quality (sans the first units) is great. The chassis is rock solid, the hinge is a bit too tight for single hand opening though. But no flex in either the screen or the keyboard. Not too heavy or large (compared to the P50). All around far better physical construction in my opinion having owned both. I also like the keyboard on the Dell better. The P50 is off center and just odd. I'm sure you get used to it though.
So... TL;DR of the whole experience? * Tried a Lenovo P50, did not work with my workflow due to firmware / BIOS issues with multi-display support under Linux and Intel GPU * Tried a Dell 5510, horribly QA. After third 5510 finally have a unit that works appropriately. Dell support is frustrating. Trackpad is the main nuisance, but not a deal breaker. Nice hardware and physical build quality. Battery life is easily 9+ hours during normal usage for me. Currently typing this from and at 93% charge it states 10 hours remaining. Probably not quite that since any video playback does impact that - but it will definitely get you through a half day easily and a full day if you're not leveraging heavy CPU.
edit: wrong word
Not quite as thin and light as a Macbook Pro, but not far off: 17.5mm and 4 lbs.
The build quality definitely isn't as good as Apples. I had to return my first T460s due to severe light-bleed issues. The new one is fine, though the TrackPoint isn't as good as it was in previous generations. The TrackPad also is not as good as Apples, though I try to keep a keyboard-only workflow so it's not that much of an issue (till it is)
(I got a lemur)
https://wiki.installgentoo.com/index.php/File:KTGee_Used_Thi...
http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/lenovo-thinkpad-p50
I recently bought a mid-range (according to autocorrect: mild-mannered) ms Surface pro 4, and I am reasonably happy with it.
I don't think I'll ever own a regular laptop again - high resolution touch screen with real pen is the only sane graphical environment - something I suspected before I got my Surface (I mean this is not a new idea, it's basically a "dynabook" logically expanded for touch/pen) - and I now feel I've confirmed that it is.
Maybe the 360/tent design will win out - I tried a yoga 3, and found the keyboard to be surprisingly bad. Much worse than on my old thinkpad t420s. More importantly it's actually rather nice to be able to have the device (sp4) become a reasonably light tablet for reading (comics or books) and drawing/taking notes with the pen.
I love the old IBM thinkpad keyboard so much that I bought one for my desktop. Still works great, but the lack of windows keys is a bit painful in win10. And even in Linux - having a dedicated window manager hot-key other than ctrl/alt (meta) is convenient.
Having also played with a Dell xps 13, I think I would've gotten a Dell xps 15 if I were to get a regular laptop today. The 13 is nice, but it being so small I think the 15 would be great. The xeon thinkpad looks a bit heavy (and expensive).
The lenovo yoga 900 got good reviews - also for the keyboard - but so did the yoga 3. And I couldn't use the 3 for daily programming etc. The surface 4 keyboard is surprisingly good - currently I've been using it in mostly short burts - but I've also written a few lines of code on it - and for me it's good enough. I'm not aware of any other new device with a better keyboard.
I would actually like a water/rainproof device - I guess maybe the surface 5 will be that (hey we need some perks for a needlessly locked down cabinet). And I wish they'd put in a battery three times as big. There are also minor glitches - typical Pc/windows stuff - it feels a bit like a last iteration proto-type. And that's OK - that was my expectation.
In sum, I think the sp4 (probably with a docking station) might be one of the best devices to get right now. Possibly the recent lenovo x1 yoga oled tablet too - but I haven't played with one, and I actually suspect Microsoft makes the best keyboards right now.
I don't think anyone should rush into tablets yet - there are no good, productive touch environments yet, outside of graphics packages (I suspect Smalltalk and the acme editor are two of the best things we have). But I know we're going to see good touch/tablet experiences built around Linux/bsd (because people will want it, and build it) - and windows will keep improving. We will go from cute to Useful - but I'm guessing real touch/pen uis are a few years out. Needless to say if you want to be part of building the (near) future you should probably get one of these.
https://www.engadget.com/2016/08/27/thinkpad-x1-yoga-oled-re...
The actual build quality isn't great, but it's functional with no frills which is exactly what I wanted.
Do you really need to be coding on the bus/train/plane or in hotels? When you go to a meeting, do you really need to bring your entire development setup with you?
When I go into a client's office for a meeting I usually only need to take notes and do presentations. So I get a cheap $500 laptop for that. If I need anything at all from my home workstation, I just remote into it. Actually, I did this even before I was working for myself - I'd just remote back into my workstation at my desk.
Is it just that you don't want to deal with 2 machines? Are you just doing it because that's what everybody else is doing?
I think I'll get a 15,4" laptop with i7, 16GB RAM and nVidia next and then simply get rid of everything on my local setup besides the boxes and the 2 displays (27" 16:10, they don't build them like this anymore, at least not below 700€, haha).
- I need to write code. This means having a machine that has all the software you expect available in some way.
- I need to collaborate with my classmates on projects. This means working on campus around a table to figure stuff out.
- I have to go to classes, labs, and workshops. Oftentimes classes will say "make sure you bring your laptop" because they're going to give you work time in class, or expect you to finish something in class.
- I like working with my laptop on my lap. I have a really comfy chair at home. There are a lot of great lounge areas on campus. It's nice to be able to pick up and plop down anywhere you feel like.