[Discuss] Discuss Digest, Vol 60, Issue 1

[m.m.rajwadkar at ieee.org (Mayuresh Rajwadkar)]

hi

I got this last week...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301861781866

pretty much bare minimal...
whatever money I saved on the refurb, I will invest in buying a +3 year
warranty from Dell.

The Skylake is not supported in kernels < 4.3 so I guess Ubuntu/Xenial wont
work out of the box.

I will wait for a couple of months before I install linux on it.

Mayuresh


On Mon, May 2, 2016 at 12:00 PM, <discuss-request at blu.org> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Notebook Recommendations? (Kent Borg)
>    2. Re: Notebook Recommendations? (Robert Krawitz)
>    3. Re: Notebook Recommendations? (Rich Pieri)
>    4. Re: Notebook Recommendations? (Kent Borg)
>    5. Re: Notebook Recommendations? (Kent Borg)
>    6. Re: Notebook Recommendations? (Robert Krawitz)
>    7. Re: Notebook Recommendations? (Rich Pieri)
>    8. Re: Notebook Recommendations? (Kent Borg)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 01 May 2016 17:46:34 -0400
> From: Kent Borg <kentborg at borg.org>
> To: discuss at blu.org
> Subject: [Discuss] Notebook Recommendations?
> Message-ID: <C32BFA98-6202-43A5-A9F9-3A85662218C0 at borg.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> I was attacked by a Murphy bed this last weekend. (Some strong springs
> involved?) It did not manage to kill me, the left side of my head, my left
> hand, and my left thigh shared the blow, so I will be fine. However, my old
> Lenovo notebook that I was reaching for didn't do so well, seems to still
> work, but the case is getting pretty fragmented. Time for a new computer.
>
> Suggestions?
>
> I think I swallow hard and get a new thin one, which means SSD, but one
> with mSATA, so I can choose my own SSD, replace it later, start with the
> one in my mortally wounded Lenovo, etc.
>
> So I think my wish-list is:
>
> - works with Linux
> - mSATA
> - Intel graphics (they work better with Linux, right?)
> - nice machine, doesn't have to be crazy fast
> - portable, no 17" display
> - inexpensive
>
> I think the mSATA bit is the hard part.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -kb, the Kent who is going back to researching on his tablet, rationing
> how much he handles his dying machine.
> --
> Sent from my Turing Machine.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sun, 1 May 2016 18:06:15 -0400
> From: Robert Krawitz <rlk at alum.mit.edu>
> To: Kent Borg <kentborg at borg.org>
> Cc: discuss at blu.org
> Subject: Re: [Discuss] Notebook Recommendations?
> Message-ID:
>         <201605012206.u41M6F7e025053 at dsl092-065-009.bos1.dsl.speakeasy.net
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> On Sun, 01 May 2016 17:46:34 -0400, Kent Borg wrote:
> > I was attacked by a Murphy bed this last weekend. (Some strong springs
> involved?) It did not manage to kill me, the left side of my head, my left
> hand, and my left thigh shared the blow, so I will be fine. However, my old
> Lenovo notebook that I was reaching for didn't do so well, seems to still
> work, but the case is getting pretty fragmented. Time for a new computer.
> >
> > Suggestions?
> >
> > I think I swallow hard and get a new thin one, which means SSD, but one
> with mSATA, so I can choose my own SSD, replace it later, start with the
> one in my mortally wounded Lenovo, etc.
> >
> > So I think my wish-list is:
> >
> > - works with Linux
> > - mSATA
> > - Intel graphics (they work better with Linux, right?)
> > - nice machine, doesn't have to be crazy fast
> > - portable, no 17" display
> > - inexpensive
> >
> > I think the mSATA bit is the hard part.
>
> Are you willing to consider used?
> --
> Robert Krawitz                                     <rlk at alum.mit.edu>
>
> ***  MIT Engineers   A Proud Tradition   http://mitathletics.com  ***
> Member of the League for Programming Freedom  --  http://ProgFree.org
> Project lead for Gutenprint   --    http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net
>
> "Linux doesn't dictate how I work, I dictate how Linux works."
> --Eric Crampton
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sun, 1 May 2016 18:10:31 -0400
> From: Rich Pieri <richard.pieri at gmail.com>
> To: discuss at blu.org
> Subject: Re: [Discuss] Notebook Recommendations?
> Message-ID: <582551a3-2025-0eb0-a146-d65301d98169 at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
>
> On 5/1/2016 5:46 PM, Kent Borg wrote:
> > I was attacked by a Murphy bed this last weekend. (Some strong
> > springs involved?) It did not manage to kill me, the left side of my
> > head, my left hand, and my left thigh shared the blow, so I will be
> > fine. However, my old Lenovo notebook that I was reaching for didn't
> > do so well, seems to still work, but the case is getting pretty
> > fragmented. Time for a new computer.
>
> Ouch. Sorry for your loss.
>
> > So I think my wish-list is:
> >
> > - works with Linux
>
> Which is pretty easy these days, actually.
>
> > - mSATA
>
> mSATA is dead. M2/NGFF (PCIe) drives are where the compact form factors
> are.
>
> > - Intel graphics (they work better with Linux, right?)
>
> Yes if you're not playing games. If you are then I strongly suggest
> waiting until summer. AMD's mobile Polaris GPUs are supposed to start
> shipping in June.
>
> > - nice machine, doesn't have to be crazy fast
> > - portable, no 17" display
> > - inexpensive
>
> What is your actual budget? Because to me, "inexpensive" in a notebook
> is anything less than about $2K.
>
> For ultraportable I suggest looking at the Dell XPS 13 Developer
> Edition: 8GB, 256G PCIe drive, 1080p display, Intel HD Graphics, ships
> with Ubuntu, for about $1K.
>
> --
> Rich P.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 01 May 2016 21:03:18 -0400
> From: Kent Borg <kentborg at borg.org>
> To: Robert Krawitz <rlk at alum.mit.edu>
> Cc: discuss at blu.org
> Subject: Re: [Discuss] Notebook Recommendations?
> Message-ID: <B1105359-2B77-4BB6-B7DE-A753A21680FB at borg.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
>
>
> On May 1, 2016 6:06:15 PM EDT, Robert Krawitz <rlk at alum.mit.edu> wrote:
> >Are you willing to consider used?
>
> Maybe. Notebooks are a bit like sports cars, best bought new: who knows
> what they have been through? But not always.
>
> Have something on offer? Old and reassembling my Lenovo x230, but not
> mortally wounded? And cheaper than new (albeit, at the starting gate
> lower-end new)?
>
> -kb
>
> --
> Sent from my Turing Machine.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Sun, 01 May 2016 21:13:41 -0400
> From: Kent Borg <kentborg at borg.org>
> To: Rich Pieri <richard.pieri at gmail.com>,discuss at blu.org
> Subject: Re: [Discuss] Notebook Recommendations?
> Message-ID: <3EBF1DEB-ECB2-4F0C-B113-A4D6D9328C1B at borg.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
>
>
> On May 1, 2016 6:10:31 PM EDT, Rich Pieri <richard.pieri at gmail.com> wrote:
> >mSATA is dead. M2/NGFF (PCIe) drives are where the compact form factors
>
> Maybe so. Replaceable flash is more important than a specific interface.
>
> >What is your actual budget? Because to me, "inexpensive" in a notebook
> >is anything less than about $2K.
>
> I see so many well under $1k, and I don't need CPU horse power of the
> latest calibre, so all those lower models tempt me. A sluggish modern model
> is so much faster then my previous old computer, that I look at physical
> properties such as what jacks and slots it has, size, weight, battery life?
>
> Except I am afraid of SSDs and so would like replaceability and
> expandability.
>
> >For ultraportable I suggest looking at the Dell XPS 13 Developer
> >Edition: 8GB, 256G PCIe drive, 1080p display, Intel HD Graphics, ships
> >with Ubuntu, for about $1K.
>
> I've moved on to Debian, but Ubuntu is a Linux endorsement. I'll check it
> out.
>
> I can't go back to 265G, but maybe I can work something out in the details.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -kb
>
> --
> Sent from my Turing Machine.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Sun, 1 May 2016 21:14:25 -0400
> From: Robert Krawitz <rlk at alum.mit.edu>
> To: Kent Borg <kentborg at borg.org>
> Cc: discuss at blu.org
> Subject: Re: [Discuss] Notebook Recommendations?
> Message-ID:
>         <201605020114.u421EP6d025797 at dsl092-065-009.bos1.dsl.speakeasy.net
> >
>
> On Sun, 01 May 2016 21:03:18 -0400, Kent Borg wrote:
> > On May 1, 2016 6:06:15 PM EDT, Robert Krawitz <rlk at alum.mit.edu> wrote:
> >>Are you willing to consider used?
> >
> > Maybe. Notebooks are a bit like sports cars, best bought new: who
> > knows what they have been through? But not always.
> >
> > Have something on offer? Old and reassembling my Lenovo x230, but
> > not mortally wounded? And cheaper than new (albeit, at the starting
> > gate lower-end new)?
>
> My spare laptop (that I haven't personally used in many years,
> although we did use it at work last fall when someone traveling needed
> one temporarily) is a 17" Dell 9400, which isn't what you want.  I'm a
> lot more interested in capability than portability, and I've always
> bought used high-end laptops which I've upgraded to suit.  Even with
> buying extra memory and disks and replacing the keyboard every now and
> then (which would only be delayed with a new one) I come out well
> ahead.
> --
> Robert Krawitz                                     <rlk at alum.mit.edu>
>
> ***  MIT Engineers   A Proud Tradition   http://mitathletics.com  ***
> Member of the League for Programming Freedom  --  http://ProgFree.org
> Project lead for Gutenprint   --    http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net
>
> "Linux doesn't dictate how I work, I dictate how Linux works."
> --Eric Crampton
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Mon, 2 May 2016 10:27:06 -0400
> From: Rich Pieri <richard.pieri at gmail.com>
> To: discuss at blu.org
> Subject: Re: [Discuss] Notebook Recommendations?
> Message-ID: <3a54350a-7e44-65c6-b5c2-8c74e700a666 at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
>
> On 5/1/2016 9:13 PM, Kent Borg wrote:
> > Maybe so. Replaceable flash is more important than a specific
> > interface.
>
> All the more reason to stick to current industry standards.
>
>
> > Except I am afraid of SSDs and so would like replaceability and
> > expandability.
>
> Don't be. Flash-based consumer SSDs are no less reliable or replaceable
> than mechanical drives within their normal usage lifetimes. They're
> arguably more reliable since they're immune to physical shocks and they
> don't suffer from spin-up wear. Yes, flash drives fail. So do mechanical
> drives. You just hear more about flash drive failures these days because
> they fail in different ways than the mechanical failures we're
> accustomed to.
>
> An option worth considering is a NUC and a USB-powered portable monitor.
>
> --
> Rich P.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Mon, 02 May 2016 11:31:45 -0400
> From: Kent Borg <kentborg at borg.org>
> To: Rich Pieri <richard.pieri at gmail.com>,discuss at blu.org
> Subject: Re: [Discuss] Notebook Recommendations?
> Message-ID: <31F9BF46-EECA-4348-B316-46B6BCA4DAB7 at borg.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
>
>
> On May 2, 2016 10:27:06 AM EDT, Rich Pieri <richard.pieri at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >Don't be. Flash-based consumer SSDs are no less reliable or replaceable
> >than mechanical drives within their normal usage lifetimes.
>
> As reliable? Maybe, but the flash product the industry has most commonly
> put in consumer hands, SD cards, die left and right. (A quite new Samsung
> SD card instantly died on me just a few months ago.) Mechanical drives,
> being mechanical, frequently give warnings before completely dying. Flash?
> <poof!> And it's gone. Finally, I have personally watched the underlying
> technology go from an admitted life span of 100,000s of writes (was it
> more, 15+ years ago?) down to I forget how few we are at now. Yes, I know
> about wear-leveling. Finally, the higher levels of the software stack were
> built with disks in mind, flash doesn't necessarily swap in seamlessly.
> (See wear leveling.) I'm going flash, but warily.
>
> Many are soldered. Removable is important to me when dealing with
> consumables. My Lenovo X230 had a few years left in it, until this
> unfortunate event. A bit of modularity helps in that.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -kb, the Kent whose side of his head and left leg periodically remind him
> they are still tender, but whose left hand merely looks a bit mangled.
>
> --
> Sent from my Turing Machine.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> End of Discuss Digest, Vol 60, Issue 1
> **************************************
>