Are thin laptops always better?

[Dr. Zaus]

I'm curious what they're going to do next. I mean, look at the new Macbook:

https://www.apple.com/macbook/

The thickness tapers from 0.52" down to 0.14". Somehow they were able to create keyboard keys that reviewers were pleased with, but I don't think you can get much thinner without giving up tactile feedback from springy keys, and I'd hate to lose that because that's how I type! It has the new 14nm CPU architecture, so it's fanless, which is pretty cool, and the modern 1.1ghz & 1.2ghz dual-core Core M chips are quick enough for average user tasks. I'm sure down the road we'll see a 3ghz model at 8nm with 64 gigs of RAM or something ridiculous, but I don't know if I'd want the form factor to get much thinner than that.

I did see one video review where they said it was surprisingly solid (no flex) thanks to being made out of metal & not plastic like other ultra-thin laptops. Now that they're pumping out sapphire glass, custom gold, etc. we may see even stronger, more drop-proof & scratch-proof laptops in the future. With that said, I'm pretty happy with my $199 Chromebook 😀

When they have a 14inch retina that fits in the same size as the 13 inch mac book air and has two usb C ports i'm buying into the mac books.

Reviews are like "why isn't the mac book air update" answer: It's over, they're going back to mac book and mac book pro.

 

[kyrax12]

Thinner laptops are generally worse in every way other than they are thinner, which may make them fit easier in a thin laptop bag,or may make them lighter. But, that comes at a cost, worse keyboards, less cooling, less room for a battery, less room for a hard drive, weird/custom motherboard design, etc ...

That said, the same argument applies to laptop vs desktop, and essentially is why desktops offer superior performance per dollar to laptops.

How much of this applies to the t450s?

I heard the keyboard for the t450s is best in its class. Not sure about the cooling though. I think it has some special design fan for better cooling.

 

[Ichinisan]

When they have a 14inch retina that fits in the same size as the 13 inch mac book air and has two usb C ports i'm buying into the mac books.

Reviews are like "why isn't the mac book air update" answer: It's over, they're going back to mac book and mac book pro.

I'd like an updated Air that has Retina and 2x USB-C ports and a normal Magsafe port. The loss of Magsafe hurts the appeal of the 2015 Macbook.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

I'd like an updated Air that has Retina and 2x USB-C ports and a normal Magsafe port. The loss of Magsafe hurts the appeal of the 2015 Macbook.

Yep. But they won't. USB-C is the future 🙁

Also, I like the idea of being able to charge on either side and connect monitors on either side.

 

[smackababy]

I'd like an updated Air that has Retina and 2x USB-C ports and a normal Magsafe port. The loss of Magsafe hurts the appeal of the 2015 Macbook.

I would be okay with USB-C charging, if they included more than a single port. Perhaps, 3 USB-C ports? One on each side, with an additional one somewhere else (Back for monitor?).

 

[BurnItDwn]

How much of this applies to the t450s?

I heard the keyboard for the t450s is best in its class. Not sure about the cooling though. I think it has some special design fan for better cooling.

Not sure. I agree that scissorswitch keyboards are not terrible, especially compared to normal dome membrane keyboards, but, they are ll crap compared to buckling spring. (I know nothing about laptops, I'm a committed desktop fanboy, I use a laptop when necessary (for work), but normally Im on a desktop.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I'll probably get a second gen MacBook. By that time my laptop should be on its death bed.

 

[CZroe]

I would be okay with USB-C charging, if they included more than a single port. Perhaps, 3 USB-C ports? One on each side, with an additional one somewhere else (Back for monitor?).

What if the charger worked as a powered hub with USB C and A ports (and as an unpowered hub when disconnected from AC)? The removable prongs aren't just for switching head to fit sockets in other countries. Apple already sells cords that slot on in place of the removable prongs (so it can stay on your desk). I see it as a huge missed opportunity.

 

[CZroe]

I'd love a 1080p 11.6" Air with two USB C ports and a charger that doubles as a USB A adapter.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I never met a single person who didn't like them thicker.

If you have to carry it around with you, like I do, you definitely prefer them thinner.

I have a Toshiba work computer that is pretty small and light. I carry it back and forth between work and home, sometimes on the motorcycle, and to meetings so having a smaller lighter laptop definitely appeals to me. It has a SSD in it so it is pretty fast and quiet too. Docking station at my desk with full keyboard, mouse and dual monitors and I don't miss a tower PC at all.

 

[xSauronx]

I love my surface and you'll have to pry if from my cold dead hands.

if i was a lesser employee id have a surface 3 pro from work right now, but i had to go fix that thinkpad. probably stupidly. /also want to get as new a surface pro as possible one day.

 

[Obsy]

I'd love a 1080p 11.6" Air with two USB C ports and a charger that doubles as a USB A adapter.

1080p would be pretty cramped (work space of 540p). Unless you mean you'll run it unscaled, in which case you either have really good vision or really bad posture.

 

[CZroe]

Scaled is fine (vector scaling). It increases the DPI without going so far as to seriously hamper battery life and graphics performance like full retina DPI/resolution would (iPad mini Retina has the same resolution as the full-size Retina iPads). Heck, why not 1200p?

 

[Dr. Zaus]

Scaled is fine (vector scaling). It increases the DPI without going so far as to seriously hamper battery life and graphics performance like full retina DPI/resolution would (iPad mini Retina has the same resolution as the full-size Retina iPads). Heck, why not 1200p?

The higher DPI seriously improves reading.

 

[Obsy]

Scaled is fine (vector scaling). It increases the DPI without going so far as to seriously hamper battery life and graphics performance like full retina DPI/resolution would (iPad mini Retina has the same resolution as the full-size Retina iPads). Heck, why not 1200p?

Vector-based scaling really would be nice, but MacBooks don't do it that way and instead suffer a (huge) performance hit when you try to get more spatial resolution

 

[kyrax12]

I love my surface and you'll have to pry if from my cold dead hands.

Why do you love your surface so much?

 

[Dr. Zaus]

Why do you love your surface so much?

Answer please!

 

[xeemzor]

Answer please!

I travel a ton so having an ultra-light portable laptop is a huge plus. There is no other device on the market that has the specs and is as easy to carry as a surface.