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Dreaming of a Linux Ultrabook? Meet the New ZaReason UltraLap 430

pcworld.com

19 pointsTsiolkovsky23 comments

With a 14.1-inch HD (1366-by-768) glossy LED backlit display.

My understanding is that laptop manufacturers tend to think of consumers as rather simple types who won't get all the fuss about screen resolutions, hence chucking out 1366x768 as the display standard.

However, if you're going to pitch a laptop at developers, why on earth wouldn't you add a few extra dollars to the price and go with something like 1600x900? Dell seem to be making the same mistake with their "developer" laptop (although I believe Dell are somewhat cheekily marketing the laptop at people who might buy in the belief that's what developers would like to use, not the developers themselves).

Very frustrating. And a very poor show from PC World claiming that this is the laptop of one's dreams.

Obligatory plug: don't care about playing games? The laptop I have right now, a lowly HP ProBook 6450b, is the best developer purchase I've ever made. I only use Linux under a VM, but the support's meant to be there as well: http://www.linlap.com/wiki/hp+probook+6450b

I used a Dell E5420 for a while as main dev machine. That range of laptops had a $50 upgrade to 1600x900 (as opposed to the consumer models where it costs $150 or more...)

I used a Dell E5420 for a while as main dev machine. That range of laptops had a $50 upgrade to 1600x900 (as opposed to the consumer models where it costs $150 or more...

I've never bought a Dell business laptop, purely out of interest what's their after-sales support like? Do they continue issuing driver updates etc?

Not using it anymore, but a year afterwards they're still issuing firmware/BIOS updates. Drivers are also updated. Never called their support line.

I am getting increasingly worried that I will not be able to find a replacement for my 15", 1920x1200 display when the time comes:-( It packs a ton of stuff on the screen, which is how I like it. And no, I don't want an Apple. Linux is where it's at for me.

I am getting increasingly worried that I will not be able to find a replacement for my 15", 1920x1200 display when the time comes:-(

I'm not sure about HP's ProBook line, but I'm 99% sure their 15-inch EliteBook range supports 1920x1200. I thought that there was an upgrade option for their 15-inch ProBook range, but am likely wrong on that count.

I'd be surprised if a Thinkpad wasn't an option for full HD as well. More expensive than HP - and often Apple for that matter - but you can't beat the quality.

15.6" EliteBooks have 16:9 screens, the max configuration being 1920x1080.

Similarly, 15.6" Thinkpads use 16:9 screens and max out at 1920x1080.

Also, Thinkpads are generally less expensive than EliteBooks. And if you want to beat the quality, get a Panasonic laptop.

I was considering buying this one last week (it was between this one and a Dell XPS 14). The only pro it has over the Dell, besides price, is the keyboard. I use the pgup/pgdn/home/end keys at the side of the keyboard all the time and can't imagine living without them. I don't understand why Dell decided to follow Apple's lead and get rid of them in favor of the chiclet keyboard with the horrible arrow keys... It's especially strange since they're marketing the XPS 13 as the "Ubuntu for developers" laptop. Am I the only one who feels this way?

I eventually decided to get neither, because this one is quite ugly and rather expensive for what you get, and the Dell has a crap keyboard, has problems with Ubuntu 12.04, and is also quite expensive (though worth the price for the parts). Instead I'm buying a 512 SSD to hopefully make my old laptop feel like new!

That's a horrible laptop.

It does look terrible. Why do people upvote submissions like this?

it's a horrible article; besides some PR fluff, the description of the laptop is "it's a completely standard Ivy Bridge ultrabook except with Linux preinstalled." no examination of the bizarre claims about designing for Linux versus Windows or anything like that, just "hey, here's a thing! look at how neat it is!"

The touchpad is in completely the wrong place! They centered it in the laptop body, instead of putting it where it belongs for a touch typist, centered under the B key.

ugly, and a resolution befitting of the 90s?

Sadly that resolution is all too common in this decade.

Up to 6 hours of battery life does not seem fitting for a new Ultrabook.

To me, 6 hours is pretty good for a laptop running Linux.

Sure, but other windows ultrabooks will do 8 to 11 hours of battery life. Unless I really want Linux, or don't need battery life, there is no reason to buy this. Even the MBP has slightly better battery life.

No developer will use a screen with only 756 pixels in height.

The point that it's glossy is a far bigger problem for me.

My ThinkPad X220 has the same resolution (1366*768 - not sure where you got 756 from), and so did my ThinkPad L512 before it. I honestly don't mind it at all. Maybe I'm weird or something.

the x220 is smaller...

The L512 is 15 inches and has the same resolution.

I'm loving my ThinkPad X60s which would be about the same size and runs Linux perfectly (even if it does ship with a "built for Windows" sticker).

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