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Comment by podiki | Hacker News Reader

I don't really understand the point of this article as "redesigning the laptop." Nearly all of the things they mention is either software (e.g. better processing of mic input) or called a desktop (screens, noise, etc.). If people are working from home that negates a big reason for the laptop: portability. Sure it is nice to move to the couch or kitchen or whatever, but maybe that could be having a keyboard and using a tablet. Or if you are working from home nearly all the time, a desktop will be a better and more economical choice.

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Yes, at home I have choice of computers and usually I take a desktop. Just add a good webcam and headset (or microphone) and it's the perfect work-from-home system. Much faster than any laptop, better ergonomics and cheaper too. And you can even disconnect mic and webcam physically (a.k.a. unplug from USB) as a security feature!

You beat me to it. I came here to say… this is a solved problem. It's called a "desktop machine". ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

What if, and hear me out on this, the person needs to take their workstation with them to multiple locations? Or, as can be the case with smaller quarters, simply wants to?

Yes, desktops have this featureset. Why don't laptops, is the point of the article. (Answer: either laziness, arrogant design aesthetic, or NSA conspiracy)

Laptops, by necessity, have smaller fans, since they're smaller. Same amount of cooling with a smaller fan means the fans spin faster, and faster fans are louder. Laptops simply can't have acceptable performance with adequate cooling unless you're willing to compromise on either noise, or running x86.

My macbook does just fine as a zoom terminal, VSCode runner and web browser. Battery can go almost the entire day if I'm not on calls. All code is developed locally and run through pipelines in the cloud.

Many people don't need a workhorse machine, simply a portal for communication and reading.

If you stuck the processor behind the screen, you could get a lot more airflow.

Let the bottom be essentially be a battery, keyboard, mouse, and a docking station. And the lid be processor, memory, a m.2 for storage and an m.2 for wireless. Put a big, but thin fan on top of the processor and lots of venting on the side. Probably won't be very thin though.

This is how the surfacebook has been built. It's a problem because (1) you don't actually have more room on the top than the bottom, since these are the same size (2) the side vents are actually less surface area than simply having the bottom be fans. It doesn't work out well, there's just no way to have the airflow.

What matter is cubic metres of air per minute, everything else mattering very little.

Actual fan inside surfacebook is very tiny. Last surfacebook brings a second fan, but it still throttles.

You still can put more, and bigger fans in the lid to solve the issue at 45-55W TDP levels. I actually did some thermal simulations.

In addition to freeone3000's problems, having the CPU in the screen also means you need a sturdier way to keep it vertical, instead of using the tiny hinges that normal "bottom heavy" laptops use.

> If you stuck the processor behind the screen, you could get a lot more airflow.

This is essentially was the trick I thought of for my project of "genuinely mobile desktop replacement." Ironically, it was COVID which put a pause on it, and prior to it frequent foreign assignments.

Were I to proceed with it before COVID, I might have hit the jackpot by now.

Liquid crystals are, well, liquid. They typically list [ 0°C .. +50°C ] interval.

Even laptop CPUs are generally warmer than +50°C when loaded, the limit for various CPUs is often about +85°C .. +105°C. When you place CPU right behind LCD, it’s hard to do good thermal insulation. This means the display gonna fail soon, unless the manufacturer does aggressive thermal throttling of the CPU, like it happens in tablets.

Does that work for everyone?

I have a desktop, but I often need to use my laptop in different rooms throughout the day.

Just thinking about my parents as well, it doesn't work for their use cases. So, I urge you to think beyond just a handful of cases.

You don't need a desktop - you just need a monitor arm, two monitors, and a good keyboard and mouse.

yea that's a good option, that way you won't damage your body and for short amount of time you can still use your laptop but you should limit it.

I’d be surprised if even most people agree with you that the best computer is a static one tethered to a desk, even if they never leave their home. Gamers aside.

I built a desktop computer and never use it. Having to sit in the same desk just to use it is a nearly insurmountable drawback. It’s more of a niche appliance than we admit.

I’d suspect most people with the option would need more than a better deal on components to make it worthwhile to be stuck in the same chair in the same room in the same position every day. I just look around at everyone I know and everyone prefers a laptop, even the homebodies.

The ergonomics of using a laptop 8 hours a day are pretty horrendous. It may be hard to notice in your 20s but it will wreck your body. Using a proper desk and desk chair, or sit/stand desk, will save a lot of wear and tear.

yes, i don't understand how people don't notice this... forcing a keyboard to be right up against a screen is not a good idea. Most people don't even need a laptop or use it on a desk mostly anyways, at that point just get a monitor and keyboard/mouse and use it as a desktop and then when you really need to do some remote work you still can.

there is going to be a lot of people with back and neck problems. "niche appliance" ?? to me i can't stand the keyboard being right up against a screen what do we do? bend our head down? or lift our arms high? that's going to be very very bad to our bodies. Laptops should only be used in moderation and when they are the only option, but to use it daily that's very bad. Sounds like you work with hipsters who care about superficial stuff more then their health.

> Or if you are working from home nearly all the time, a desktop will be a better and more economical choice.

If I'm not doing something that requires huge wattage, the only thing a desktop computer does is to force me to sit at a desk 100% of the time I'm using it. Hard pass. Tablets are nearly all toys, and the ones that aren't weigh more and cost more than a good laptop (but with a cumbersome UI). If you want to sit at a desk to work, a laptop still has you covered.

Desktops are a very impractical, niche product these days, they're a Ford F-350 when most people just want a decent hatchback.

"desktop computer does is to force me to sit at a desk 100% of the time I'm using it" you act like that's a bad thing... when its really the best way to use a computer for large amount of time. Laptops should never be used for long periods unless you want to damage your back and neck.

That's a valid point, and fortunately you can use a laptop at a desk, too. However, the laptop can also be picked up and taken with you if that's what you need to do, while the desktop is stuck at that desk forever.

> if you are working from home nearly all the time

No doubt the pandemic has had a permanent effect on how people work. But how big of an effect? When the pandemic no longer forces 100% WFH, will people still do 100%, or will they do (say) 90%?

If you go in to an office for an occasional day or half day, you'll want your computer while you're there. Though I guess this could also be solved by borrowing a loaner laptop at the office to use to remote desktop into your main computer at home. (Maybe we can call this reverse telecommuting?)

As for the desktop point: my work issues us our computers. They want at least one of the machines they issue us to be a laptop, so we can travel with it, and they're not going to issue more than one machine per person, so laptop it is.

My setup is pretty good, with an external monitor, webcam, keyboard and mouse. The only thing crappy is the processor and thermal performance. Not much I can do about that.

I am going with, I use mine in a docking station at home or at work and honestly all it is to me a small little tablet that I never use the built in screen or keyboard.

Considering that use case I would love a system no larger than my phone with some apps to give me use of mail and such while not docked. Then while docked it is my Windows/OS X desktop

For me, the macbook's keyboard & trackpad combo is the sweet spot. I also have magic mouse, for the occasional direct manipulation stuff (eg drag & drop).

Ages ago, with Teleport, I used by MBP to drive my iMac. If Apple sold just the lower half of a macbook, bring your own monitor, I'd be in heaven.

Just the keys and trackpad would be great too. I've held onto my dead 2015 MBP, with hopes of salvaging just the input devices.

Aha! Teleport has been resurrected, now works with Big Sur. https://github.com/johndbritton/teleport

I have the bluetooth keyboard and bluetooth touchpad. Not quite the same ergonomics as the one in the laptop, but I still prefer it (bluetooth touchpad) to the magic mouse.

The apple keyboard I have is very close to the scissor switches that preexisted the much maligned butteryfly switches. Not sure the current bluetooth keyboards use the same switches or the newer version of the scissor switches,.

a work desktop at home requires that i have a lockable office, so i can protect the desktop from small kids. a laptop i can close and put away in a safe place when i am not using it.

sometimes i need to work in another room so i can watch the kids. sometimes i need to go to the office too.

for all these a portable device is needed. i still can use a laptop with an external monitor and keyboard. but i can't carry a desktop around.

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