Lenovo launches Z13 Gen2 – first plant-based laptop | Hacker News Reader

Lenovo launches Z13 Gen2 – first plant-based laptop

forbes.com

10 pointsvoytec11 comments

The ThinkPad Z series is the flagship AMD line of the ThinkPad brand, combining a Ryzen CPU with a Radeon GPU and a premium build. Unfortunately, the Z series also removed the physical mouse buttons from between the keyboard and the trackpad, replacing them with a small area at the top of the trackpad marked by slightly raised lines and bumps. TrackPoint users are mostly unimpressed with the new setup, since resting your thumb on the trackpad area can accidentally trigger a click, while the physical mouse buttons required force to trigger a click.

Lenovo puts TrackPoint users in the position of choosing from energy-inefficient Intel ThinkPads, AMD ThinkPads with sub-premium specs, and the high-end Z series that is handicapped by its lack of physical mouse buttons. Lenovo can do better.

(No, gluing a sheet of flax to the top cover does not make up for taking away physical mouse buttons. I don't see the environmental angle either, because the flax arguably makes the aluminum cover less recyclable.)

I get it that ergonomics is a big deal to folks, but every laptop will have its downsides. I find that people place way too much importance on the lack of physical trackpad buttons. The alternative is the XPS 13 Plus, which has not only capacitive trackpad buttons, but also capacitive Fn row, so IMO much worse.

In my mind, the Gen 1 had other downsides, which I hope Gen 2 solved: no support for 2280 SSDs, no support for 5G modem (and the LTE was quickly sold out) etc.

For folks who want a powerful ultrabook and don't want OSX on the MBA w/ M2, this is the best option. Gen 1 had amazing OOBE support for Linux at launch, which is something the XPS 13 Plus couldn't claim. Dell users are still struggling with webcam support, AFAIK: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=277462&p=4

> I find that people place way too much importance on the lack of physical trackpad buttons.

Mouse buttons are necessary for the use of the TrackPoint, because you need them to click and/or scroll while keeping your hands near typing position. Apple and current-generation Dell laptops do not have pointing sticks, so they do not benefit from mouse buttons the way a TrackPoint-equipped laptop does.

(Admittedly, I would probably like someone a little bit more just for the fact that they owned this laptop.)

I laughed out loud when I read the headline. Not that there’s anything wrong with this, just the fact that the market exists is baffling/humorous to me. The materials that are plant-based have nothing (read very very little) to do with the function of a computer or the carbon footprint of its manufacture. It makes a nice talking piece to someone who asks about the case of your laptop, I guess, but what’s the motive behind this? Is it in solidarity with the planet… a marketing campaign piece to make the company look good? I can’t imagine that the carbon footprint of the device has been reduced even 1%.

Maybe I’m just old and close-minded to new ideas, but I don’t think that’s it. I think there’s legitimate humor here!

> just the fact that the market exists is baffling/humorous to me.

Plastic is shit and we should strive to remove as much as possible from every product that can work without

You’re not wrong. And the product communicates this idea, which is why I would enjoy someone purchasing it. I’m pointing out the humor in that this particular application of the idea is technically insignificant when compared to the rest of the computer’s manufacturing process. From the chips to the batteries to the screens, the impact on the environment (for lack of a less-overly-simplified expression) of manufacturing a computer has nothing to do with its case.

Personally I communicate to others that I’m for lowering our carbon footprint, waste, etc. in other ways because I don’t have the cash to fork out for this kind of premium.

It’s also worth pointing out that it’s been years since I bought a laptop with a plastic case. Metal is worse, all things considered! I still stand by the point that other components have a much larger impact. The chip manufactures, for example, measure water consumption in millions of gallons per day for a typical factory. You could recycle the entire machine for a fraction of the cost of treating the water.

It’s funny because nobody is going to buy this laptop, and they know nobody is going to buy this laptop. Did you look at the price?

I think it should be applauded, even if small, for doing what you can with what you have. Lenovo is an integrator, they don't make any of the chips, but they make the case. That's how we do better. Everyone in their own little vertical changes what they can and we hope it adds up. Any one thing is insignificant, but together maybe not.

Of course! It’s like BLM getting Aunt Jemima retired. It’s a good thing. There’s definitely some humor to it though.

Same boat regarding laughter :)

About their reasoning, I think it's just a proof of concept and it's pretty cool that it will be released publicly. They're open about what's up (75% aluminum) and don't pretend that it's a beta version of fully plant-based laptop which will be available "in a year".

I appreciate the exploration Lenovo is making by seeking out non-traditional materials for their products.

I do have a general question about the description, “plant-based.” Am I mistaken or does the English language use the conjoint “-based” to express “mostly comprised of,” or does it mean “is partially comprised of?”

I’d always considered it to mean the former but am open to being corrected.

To me it doesn’t mean either of those things. It means whatever it is serves as the basis of the thing. Evidence-based practice is based on evidence, it doesn’t comprise or consist of evidence.

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