Ask HN: Macbook Air alternative?
My needs as a developer are: * Mobility: Lightweight, 3/4 hours of battery, and 3g (depend on two battery, the phone and the laptop is a pain). Prefer 11" for the weight but 13" is ok. Of course the need to be able to connect external monitor/keyboard. * Conformable to work with: I don't want a plastic case with two airbus A330 turbines to dissipate heat. I almost don't use the trackpad, but when I do, i want a surface bigger enough, two be able to scroll with two fingers, without going up and down several times. * Compatible. The only real alternative for mac osx, while all the software I develop is executed in linux/freebsd servers, is Linux/FreeBSD/... * Fast. I don't need it to be extremely fast. But I wan't to be able to browse internet, and if there is a tab that load a flash applet, that is not going to freeze my computer.
A plumber, electrician, carpenter have a much higher costs (Lets say tools + van), so expend money on a laptop (the only tool I need), is not a waste, is an investment, so is not that I want that for just 800$.
For the last two years I wasn't able to find nothing on any laptop manufacturer site. I need a business laptop at home, for fun, and needing performance some times, and mobility. But most of them make me to choose between a laptop for work, for home, for fun, for mobility or for performance. ( Sony/Hp/Dell... that really works? )
So two questions: I am the only one on this situation? Is so hard the thing I am looking for?