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Comment by geophile | Hacker News Reader

I've owned MBPs for over ten years. But my mid-2015 15" MBP ("peak MBP") is giving out, and I need a replacement. It won't be another MBP, because of the keyboard regressions -- the butterfly keyboard, and the touchbar. Thinking about a System 76 Galago.

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I felt the same, but I went with a Surface Book 2 instead, I love this thing. Pretty sweet keyboard and I can get as Unix friendly as I need to with MobaXterm (use it for X forwarding) and WSL. I have an ASUS Laptop with Linux on it for my pure Linux itch and I still got a Macbook Air. I was ticket off that the Macbook came back and the Air looks more like a Macbook than the Macbook, they should swap names (I've said this too many times) between the products.

Anyway, I love my SB2, and my only regret is not being able to somehow know they were going to release it in Black a few months later. I await the SB3 and will buy it in Black if they offer it.

Another option for you might be Dell. The Dell XPS is a sweet looking laptop, I haven't had the pleasure yet though.

So... I've also been looking for the exits from the Mac, and have been trying the WSL route (I've got a 13" XPS that I'm experimenting with) and while the mac hasn't been a super smooth experience building from source for a while, WSL just seems all kinds of wonky. For example, previous to a recent update, Postgresql wouldn't build from source at all, and then after the update it would build successfully but quickly crash out on IO errors that I don't recognize.

I don't understand how people are having experiences with WSL that'd lead them to believe it's comparable with Macs. What's the secret sauce? Is one of the "distributions" better than another?

I've been looking at one of these and the only thing that worries me is the hinge - it looks like the laptop is "fat" at the hinge part instead of closing together snugly.

Is that a problem when carrying it around in comparison to a mac? Is it an annoyance?

I've been carrying around my SB2 15" in my backpack's laptop pocket for about half a year. Here's the summary.

- Zero problem with the fatness on my end. Looks kinda sexy tbh.

- The keyboard is really good about from the fn key which acts as a toggle (if you don't combo it with another key). Can never get quite used to that.

- The body paint can get scratched and worn down if you're reckless.

- The hinge itself works fine ~~~97% of the time. Occasionally gets stuck (can't detach) for unknown reason requiring a reboot or two, or some dirt gets in the way of the connectors and it thinks it got detached when you move it around.

- Battery life feels somewhat disappointing, but I haven't done rigorous tests. If you're planning to use the gpu, you better bring that charger.

- The gpu gets thermally throttled pretty easily.

- Performance at the 4k-ish resolution can be disappointing depending on the app (even the browser). This gets worse if you add an external monitor or if you don't run it above the "recommended" performance level. Unfortunately most devs (including MS) seem to optimize for 1920x1080.

- My SB seems to have problems with WMR even with the official adapter (display goes black occasionally).

- There's a driver (?) bug with the screen brightness sometimes being too low. I've filed a report on the feedback thing, but I'm not seeing or expecting any response. Love the screen (and the width\height ratio) otherwise.

Overall, it's a decent and interesting machine, but the edges can be rough.

I have had the Surface Book 1 since launch and the hinge still work like the day I bought it. Come to think of it I haven't heard any complaints about the hinge at all.

I’ve heard bad things about dell quality.

I was in the exact same situation late last year, and I went with a X1 Carbon 6th Generation. It has been fantastic. Everything just works, and it has probably the best keyboard I have ever used on a laptop

Just 2 days ago, I spent 2 hours researching alternatives for my mid-2012 MBPr 15 and had settled on an X1 Carbon as well.

How's the trackpad?

How's sleep mode if you use it with Linux?

I'm still on the fence, but I ordered an iFixit battery replacement kit for the MBP. After almost 7 years (!), it still has everything I need except for the fact that it randomly shuts down when the battery is at 60%...

My trackpad works well, as does the trackpad of everyone else at my company that I have ordered them for, however I have been told they had different suppliers for some of the X1's and a few people have complained that the trackpad and nubbin won't work at the same time.

Sleep mode works great, there is a bios setting for Linux which by default is set to Windows 10, once you set it to linux deep sleep works just by closing the lid, and it resumes as expected.

I do use it with Linux, I have Ubuntu 18.04 running on it and it works great. usb-c charging it amazing, and it works great with my usb-c monitor ( lets me have a single cable to connect everything to the laptop and to charge the laptop ) Battery life is fantastic, the only thing I have to get used to is the CPU in it can burn a lot of battery if you are running it at full load for an extended period of time. When I am running lots of containers on kubernetes it can burn down the battery in a few hours.

I've had an X1 Carbon for a few months, coming from a 2015 MBP. Track pad is pretty bad compared to a MacBook. Everything else is very good. I got the high res screen too and it is comparable to a retina display IMHO.

I've installed Ubuntu 18 with 0 problems. Sleep works fine, haven't had any issues with wake up. You do need to install some custom software and change a BIOS setting for it to use 'Linux' sleep mode (or something like that). Battery life is 'pretty good', not exceptional like MBPs, but definitely in the 6hr range.

Overall I'd recommend a X1 Carbon, especially since you will spend nearly $1k less on the comparable specs.

If you update the firmware on your X1 you won't need the custom software any more. That was on an old version of the BIOS, the new one has a single setting for linux that makes everything work on a stock distro.

Can vouch for ThinkPad X1 carbon. I was in the same situation, MBP 2017 nTB and downgraded to a 2015 ThinkPad X1 with qwhd display.

Cost me 330 euros from eBay. Pretty good computer for development, but it only has 8gb of RAM.

Nevertheless the 2015 Carbon X1 runs Manjaro Linux with KDE very well, everything works out of the box.

More developers really should consider moving away from MacOS and "fashion" technology, and start recycling older systems. A web developer does not need the fastest most expensive device on the market. Especially not a $5000 MacBook with a bullshit touchbar.

> It won't be another MBP, because of the keyboard regressions

Have you tried the third generation butterfly on the 2018 MBP and MBA?

I hate with a passion the first two attempts at the butterfly keyboard, but the third gen I actually enjoy using.

I had my first MBP butterfly keyboard failing with a spec of dust or something. At my new job, new MBP, no such problem -- but I'm mixed on replacing my (personal) 2011 MBA with a 2018 MBA because of the keyboard and USB port and SD card reader regression.

Tried a 2018 MBA at the apple store -- I didn't realized they changed the keyboard, but it's definitely better.

I don't hate the keyboard on my 2018 MBP but its.. not great. I just rarely use it; I typically have my computer plugged into external keyboard/monitor.

Although it is nicer, even the 3rd gen keyboards have reports of keys sticking and breaking. I've never had to worry about my laptop keyboard breaking before I got a butterfly keyboard macbook from work.

That’s true - my first gen MacBook a couple of years ago was replaced three times.

My MBA is only a few weeks old, and I’ve noticed the space bar feels different already on the right hand side. Not sure if it’s real or imagined yet, but based on past experience, I’m concerned it may very well be dodgy.

I really do want to think they’ve ironed these issues out, but I admit I wouldn’t be surprised to find myself at the Genius Bar a few times with this new one getting it replaced as well.

I have had each model year revision since 2015 Retina Macbook, and it's not so much the keys themselves but the fact that the keys are basically flush with the case which bothers me the most.

I can't stand the keyboard, but do like the Touch Bar. Out of FUD, I have keyboard cover on my 2017 MacBook Pro.

Similarly thinking, I have been trolling the Thinkpad Subreddit and constantly check the Lenovo Corporate Perks prices with a fully loaded P52 sitting in my cart. Can't pull the trigger. I'm too entrenched and spoiled by the Apple conveniences and ecosystem.

I’m curious as to what you mean by trolling the thinkpad subreddit. Trolling usually means causing grief, perhaps you meant lurking or browsing?

To troll originally meant to "carefully and systematically search an area for something." Perhaps a bit of an archaic definition nowadays, but older or more literary people would probably understand it's intent in this context.

The word you are thinking of is trawl.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trawl

And the “search thoroughly” meaning for that is current, not archaic.

I wasn't thinking of trawl, in my mind trawling is a method of fishing, such as "Trawling for shrimp". Interestingly, the second definition on that page references "Troll". Following that link, it says down the page "SEARCH, LOOK; trolling for sponsors" and "to search in or at; trolls flea markets for bargains". Perhaps both would work in the above context, however I would prefer trolling over trawling.

Lurk would be what I actually mean. I cause no harm and never post, only envy in entertaining myself of maybe someday buying one.

I'm in the same boat and will need to switch once my 2015 dies, but I really don't want to have to switch from MacOS. 90% of my work depends on the keyboard and I can't stand the response of the butterfly switches, it's like typing on a piece of glass.

Do I have to hackintosh may way back in?

Yes. Join us on the dark side.

https://github.com/bavariancake/XPS9570-macOS

I still have my 2012 MBPr, but I’m really liking the keyboard on the XPS 15.

Is it futz intensive? How far away from "it just works" are you?

Initially there was a lot of futzing, because the hardware just came out (UHD 630 Intel graphics). Some things like Nvidia graphics and SD card reader won’t work because of missing drivers, and are unlikely to work in the future.

That said, I use this setup every day and mostly forget it’s not a Mac. I was quite frustrated by the new Touch Bar Macs issued by my work (unpleasant keyboard, no real F keys, USB C only, flimsy back case that has dents in it from regular commuting use somehow), so I didn’t see that as a viable upgrade path for me since I like to keep my computers for 5+ years.

That’s probably not very convincing, but for me it was the right choice. For what’s its worth, I intend to support the XPS 9570 as a Hackintosh platform until at least 2023.

I felt the same way and ended up with a Surface Laptop 2. I am soo happy the overall feel especially the nice 3:2 screen and keyboard. The only thing I'd have changed was to also add a USBC port (it has a USB-A, MiniDP, headphone that works with Apple mics/headsets and a magnetic charging/dock connector). I never thought I'd go back to Windows but the new Macbooks drove me to try it and now Windows 10, especially with the WSL Ubuntu layer, sucks much less. They even put OpenSSH into windows proper now so no more putty even outside of the Linux layer.

I wouldn’t recommend system 76 all they are doing is putting Linux on a Clevo. You would be much better off with a dell laptop.

What’s wrong with clevo? I’ve heard bad things about dell quality. And wasn’t impressed with the dells I’ve owned, although that was years ago.

> I’ve heard bad things about dell quality.

The thing I'd say about Dell is that they're like Ikea in that they produce a wide variety of products at a wide variety of price points. High end Dells (XPS, Precision) IME have good to excellent quality. Lower end dells (inspiron) have mediocre quality as pretty good prices. If you're paying very little for a dell, don't expect it to last. If you're paying a lot for your Dell, it _will_ last. I'm still using a 10yo precision tower and everything about it is great.

13" dell xps w/ Ubuntu would be on the list of Dells that I would trust to be of high quality.

Sorry , should have said you might as well buy direct I bet you can get it cheaper. I dealt with a friends clevo that stopped working after two years .

I was just looking at some of the 2015 refurbs on amazon. Not bad. I have a 2018 at work, and I hate the keyboard. I'm either gonna grab the highest spec 2015 when mine dies, or just use my work laptop until the next generation.

I'm not interested in shelling out for a new personal laptop with these keyboards. :(

I just bought two 2015 refurbs on Amazon. They actually came in very good shape and are working well. In addition to the better keyboard and ports, the 2015 MacBook Pro also has a straightforward way to update the storage. I just increased my wife's from 256 GB to 480GB for $160.

I went with an x1 carbon. Dual boot linux (ubuntu with plasma desktop) and couldn't be happier.

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