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Comment by qpiox | Hacker News Reader

Nearly all comments are completely missing the most important point in the OP question: "The small form factor is important so I can keep it with me like you would keep a physical paper notebook with you".

When one says a physical paper notebook, it means something that is small and portable and you can put it in your pocket or a small bag, not a 13" laptop that weighs 2 kilos that you need a special and when you open it takes up huge space so you need to clear the table. Even a 10-11" laptop is not really something you would keep with you all day long.

I recommend a mini laptop that is at most 8" in size. I don't have spare cash for a second laptop at this moment and I use a 14" Latitude for all coding, but I would love to have something with the following form size: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L7DVDL3

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As someone who has bought a OneMix 2s specifically for coding, I'd recommend against it - there are difficulties using it for typing, much less programming. I use it in an emergency for SSH'ing onto a server to fix something, or debug a live issue, as it fits in an inside coat pocket and I can set up an encrypted linux partition on it (with some difficulty, but it is doable) but unless you have excellent eyes and tiny tiny fingers, you'll never be as productive as you would be with an 11 inch laptop.

(also, the Q key is where I would want the tab key to be. It's a little thing, but one I use a lot.)

That said, it does have uses. 10 years ago, when I used to travel on the train a lot, it would have been ideal. The model I have is also impressively performant.

I do not recommend extensive work (full-time job) on such a small device. In fact I do not recommend doing a full-time job on anything smaller than 14". One can really ruin the finger joints, risk RSI even more on smaller keyboards, ruin the neck, ruin the spine and really ruin the eyes even at 11". In fact you need a proper chair and proper desk and proper keyboard and proper monitor at eye level, to do a full-time job and not ruin your health.

But, I understood the OP question as not about being productive but being capable of doing some small work if needed when on the move, a the device is small enough to be with you everywhere you go and not consider it a brick load in your bag after 10 hours of carrying it with you, but still performant enough to be able to make a patches and shorter coding session on the move.

I can't imagine being productive on such a small machine. I feel like I need three screens to keep things moving smoothly.

Not sure if Sony makes them still, but they used to have small VAIO portables with keyboards.

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-VAIO-VGN-P530H-Lifestyle-PC/dp/B...

https://www.google.com/search?q=sony+vaio+small+laptop&rlz=1...

It's a standalone company now, last I checked they only sell in Japan; but I loved my Z Series so much I had to poach another one when the old one gave up the ghost.

I can't forgive them for the interior design, and how the lynchpin of the entire laptop is a PFC with two of the most awkwardly placed sockets I've ever attempted to repair; but I'll be damned if it isn't one of the most pleasantly ergonomic laptops to use.

Just try to avoid having to open up the case at all costs.

I had these same issues.

The problem I've found with small laptops (<13") is that the keyboard quickly becomes less useful to me for rapid typing.

So there's a tradeoff between portability and usuability for coding.

If you want to go really small you can get something like https://www.www3.planetcom.co.uk/cosmo-communicator but I'm not sure I'd like to try programming on it.

At that size/portability, there's really only one serious contender on the market today. The FxTec Pro 1 is the first proper android phone with a slide-out keyboard since the Motorola Photon Q in 2012, and it's also probably the best sliding keyboard I've ever used, I could quite comfortably use it for quickly writing small programs as OP describes.
https://www.fxtec.com/product/fxtec-pro1/

Discounting Blackberries, with their locked down bootloaders and weird android emulation layers.

I wonder what the best compact wearable display + chording keyboard combination for coding is.

I can say that I've found a configuration which works for me, but it's good enough just for occasional quick patching, not for writing long form programs.

See my another comment in this thread for a link to the description of my wearable computer.

The MacBook air is only 1.3kg. And it really doesn't take up a lot of space. No more than an A4 notebook. If you're keeping it in a bag, then I think it ought to be small enough.

A notebook is typically 100 grams, and fits into your pocket.

Edit: I exagerated. Should have been more clear. A notebook that you would carry 12 hours or more with you is not a A4 notebook that weighs 1.3kg. It is something like this: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-NH130210120V-R-Classic-N... - 8" and 350g

Ah, I was imagining more like:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pukka-Metallic-Jotta-Wirebound-Note...

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