perfect laptop ;)

[void]

Hey guys, while this is probably not the best forum for this kind of question some previous threads showed there are member well oriented in hardware so I will give it a try.
I'm currently looking to replace my Fujitsu Lifebook U series laptop which is a perfect super light device in many aspect but its performance became insufficient for me recently and it also suffers from some unpleasant design flaws.
Unfortunately the market has changed dramatically in the last two decades towards design-oriented impractical razor-thin port-less toys.

My key requirements are:

under 1.2kg
under 14" inch (the smaller the better - 11" would be ideal but mission impossible nowadays)
touch screen
USB-C power delivery port on each side
USB-A port
RJ45 port
loud speakers not located at the bottom
single-handed lid opening
upper-right corner Delete key
airflow inlets and outlets not located at the bottom
backlit keyboard
linux support

I would appreciate any suggestions that would tick the most boxes as I'm obviously ready to accept a compromise.

thanks

 

[W Fish]

I have been using Lenovo X1 Carbons for about a decade now. Dont have the latest model but what I am using now lacks:
power on both sides
rj45
dont know where the loudspeakers are as i dont use them much, I use external speakers or earbuds if needed.
airflow seems to be from bottom

for linux there doesnt seem to be that much alternatives - HP top of the line machine and thats prettty much it? 😉.

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[daniels27]

W Fish said:
I have been using Lenovo X1 Carbons for about a decade now.
Click to expand...

They also have the fans in the bottom. Not very good in hot areas as they overhead much quicker.

Linux works well on Lenovo. Free Software Foundation people still use the X200 models today. Works well but would lack the power supply.

Maybe time for a Kickstarter for a thick edition notebook? I think there should be some demand in the niche.

Or you could get a tiny PC with touchscreen like 8 inch and then use a tiny keyboard. That might fit the bill.

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

What about getting a framework laptop? Will be a more efficient way to keep it performant in the future:

https://frame.work/nl/en/products/laptop13-diy-intel-ultra-1

Some distros work out of the box with it as well.

 

[void]

0xDEADBEEF said:
What about getting a framework laptop? Will be a more efficient way to keep it performant in the future:

https://frame.work/nl/en/products/laptop13-diy-intel-ultra-1

Some distros work out of the box with it as well.
Click to expand...

it's interesting, I think I run into this or similar project in the past but totally forgot about it

before I'll look into it... do you have your own personal experience?

 

[daniels27]

Yes, I would be intersted in knowing too. How is the long-term support really. Is it real good or similar to Fairphone?

 

[JohnnyDoe]

@void I'm curious to know if you also use a tablet, if not why, and if so how you make it coexist with a laptop.
Over the years I gradually abandoned laptops in favor of iPads, of course while keeping a pc in some locations.

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[0xDEADBEEF]

void said:
it's interesting, I think I run into this or similar project in the past but totally forgot about it

before I'll look into it... do you have your own personal experience?
Click to expand...

Not me personally, as I prefer macbooks. However if I was going to step away from the Apple ecosystem, Framework would be my top choice.

A friend of mine has purchased one in 2021, the quality is not on the same level as an Apple device, but it is durable and he is a frequent traveller as well. There were some flaws with the tilting of his screen, he reported it and got a replacement kit within 2 weeks. Only had to pay shipping. He has bought multiple pluggable modules too, so you can easily swap those out (e.g. you are at a location where you will be using WiFi for an extended time so no need for the ethernet port, or adding extra USB ports when needed). A neat feature is that you can swap out broken parts yourself and they provide clear documentation and videos for repairs, making it accessible even for those without technical experience.

Battery life is okayish at 4-8 hours, again this is where Apple takes the crown with 12+ hours. It can run hot after using it for a while, especially during resource-intensive tasks. The fans can get a bit noisy under heavy load, but that's expected for this form factor.

My choice for this would be based upon longevity of the device, buying newer high-end laptops tend to force you to buy new devices for upgrades to ram/ssd. You can start with base specs and upgrade components as needed. Plus, having readily available parts means you're not dependent on authorized service centers for repairs.

 

[void]

JohnnyDoe said:
@void I'm curious to know if you also use a tablet, if not why, and if so how you make it coexist with a laptop.
Over the years I gradually abandoned laptops in favor of iPads, of course while keeping a pc in some locations.
Click to expand...

never used tablets, doesn't work for me, just like silly convertible laptops and detachable screens etc.
I type with all my fingers 200 keystrokes per minute due to my high school training 😀 so the physical keyboard is a big advantage despite I'm no longer a full-time developer
desktop PC is also not an option for me because of traveling all the time
classic laptop is an ideal solution for me and serves mostly as a device to consume content and interact with the world, a terminal to access servers and virtual machines running in the data centers and occasionally for data analysis and software development
I treat it as a disposable device that can be stolen or damaged any moment without losing any data and worrying about leaking anything - this not only works for me but also cannot think of any other setup that would be acceptable for my threat model

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

Perhaps an iPad with the magic keyboard could be a solution too. The experience is pretty smooth as well, and you can also have a CLI: https://holzschu.github.io/a-Shell_iOS/.

I have seen people use it for software engineering as well, where they have a server with vscode. Screen size, security and portability of the iPad would fit your criteria as well.

I would recommend you to try it out in an Apple store.

 

[void]

0xDEADBEEF said:
Perhaps an iPad with the magic keyboard could be a solution too. The experience is pretty smooth as well, and you can also have a CLI: https://holzschu.github.io/a-Shell_iOS/.

I have seen people use it for software engineering as well, where they have a server with vscode. Screen size, security and portability of the iPad would fit your criteria as well.

I would recommend you to try it out in an Apple store.
Click to expand...

good thinking, I believe this could work but I'm too conservative and apple ecosystem makes me sick.... I would rather suffer on linux desktop sacrificing some features (as Windows ended up like one big pile of bloatware)

 

[ActionMan]

This is likely what you're looking for””one of my developers uses it and swears by it:
https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/TUXEDO-InfinityBook-Pro-14-Gen9-AMD.tuxedo

You can also try those as well:
https://slimbook.com/en/
https://system76.com/laptops

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[ShillGates]

dell xps 13.3

use dongle docking for
USB-A port
RJ45 port

its a small usb c to whatever port you desire type dock - smaller than your hand, small tiny to big whatever you want rj45 hdmi usb a etc.

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/del...dapter-da310/apd/470-aeup/wifi-and-networking

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/del.../470-bckq/pc-accessories?tfcid=43590050&gQT=2

 

[void]

ShillGates said:
dell xps 13.3

use dongle docking for
USB-A port
RJ45 port

its a small usb c to whatever port you desire type dock - smaller than your hand, small tiny to big whatever you want rj45 hdmi usb a etc.

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/del...dapter-da310/apd/470-aeup/wifi-and-networking

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/del.../470-bckq/pc-accessories?tfcid=43590050&gQT=2
Click to expand...

yeah, I'm well aware of this option as I used one of the previous versions of xps13 for 5 years, including the first generation of the port extender 😉
it ticks many of my boxes but I'm still hoping to find something smaller....

 

[Forester]

0xDEADBEEF said:
Perhaps an iPad with the magic keyboard could be a solution too. The experience is pretty smooth as well, and you can also have a CLI: https://holzschu.github.io/a-Shell_iOS/.

I have seen people use it for software engineering as well, where they have a server with vscode. Screen size, security and portability of the iPad would fit your criteria as well.

I would recommend you to try it out in an Apple store.
Click to expand...

void said:
good thinking, I believe this could work but I'm too conservative and apple ecosystem makes me sick.... I would rather suffer on linux desktop sacrificing some features (as Windows ended up like one big pile of bloatware)
Click to expand...

Well, yes: I guess that you, @0xDEADBEEF, understand well that a Linux user usually has extremely high demands on customization of his systems ”“ and this is something that you cannot find (TBMK) in the Apple ecosystem... 🙂

ActionMan said:
This is likely what you're looking for””one of my developers uses it and swears by it:
https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/en/TUXEDO-InfinityBook-Pro-14-Gen9-AMD.tuxedo

You can also try those as well:
https://slimbook.com/en/
https://system76.com/laptops
Click to expand...

Tuxedo is probably fine; yet his model has 14" display, means too big; I am not sure whether they produce smaller...

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[void]

Forester said:
Tuxedo is probably fine; yet his model has 14" display, means too big; I am not sure whether they produce smaller...
Click to expand...

it's a shame that segment of ultra portable professional laptops is non-existent these days

20 year ago I owned FSC P7120... (https://www.notebookcheck.net/Fujitsu-Siemens-Lifebook-P7120.1632.0.html) - piece of art that still works 😉 - fantastic ergonomics in 10", single handed opening, passive cooling, all thinkable peripherals including DVD burner, power button accessible even with the lid closed - it cost a fortune but it was flawless and undisputed quality - today it's mission impossible to find something comparable

 

[mraleph]

void said:
Hey guys, while this is probably not the best forum for this kind of question some previous threads showed there are member well oriented in hardware so I will give it a try.
I'm currently looking to replace my Fujitsu Lifebook U series laptop which is a perfect super light device in many aspect but its performance became insufficient for me recently and it also suffers from some unpleasant design flaws.
Unfortunately the market has changed dramatically in the last two decades towards design-oriented impractical razor-thin port-less toys.

My key requirements are:

under 1.2kg
under 14" inch (the smaller the better - 11" would be ideal but mission impossible nowadays)
touch screen
USB-C power delivery port on each side
USB-A port
RJ45 port
loud speakers not located at the bottom
single-handed lid opening
upper-right corner Delete key
airflow inlets and outlets not located at the bottom
backlit keyboard
linux support

I would appreciate any suggestions that would tick the most boxes as I'm obviously ready to accept a compromise.

thanks
Click to expand...

DELL Latitude 5410 is a choice I prefer when travelling though its becoming obsolete. For you, a selection (11"-14", multicore cpu, 5G wwan, touchscreen) exist at

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/del...ragon-x-elite-processor,amd-ryzen-7-processor

 

[churumbelo]

daniels27 said:
They also have the fans in the bottom. Not very good in hot areas as they overhead much quicker.

Linux works well on Lenovo. Free Software Foundation people still use the X200 models today. Works well but would lack the power supply.

Maybe time for a Kickstarter for a thick edition notebook? I think there should be some demand in the niche.

Or you could get a tiny PC with touchscreen like 8 inch and then use a tiny keyboard. That might fit the bill.
Click to expand...

Mine does not have fans at the bottom. I don´t know about the new gens. Mine is a 7th or 8th gen. I do not use others than X1 Carbon. I also have a X1 Yoga.

They do not have a RJ45. That would make them thicker.

 

[drillbill]

not possible to find a laptop with specs you listed above

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[alexfr85]

I've using Lenovo X1 Carbon for years; that matches partly your needs :
under 1.2kg -> 1.14 kg
under 14" inch -> 13.6
touch screen -> not mine but yes for Gen11
USB-C power delivery port on each side -> 2 USB-C on one side
USB-A port -> 2 USB-A
RJ45 port -> none (but I've a USB-C -> Ethernet in my bag)
single-handed lid opening -> yes
upper-right corner Delete key -> yes
airflow inlets and outlets not located at the bottom -> no
backlit keyboard -> yes on Gen11
linux support -> yes

really a good choice, very easy to carry, use, open, close, and somehow quite resistant (using it 40 hours a week, since 2021, brought it 2 Africa twice for 1 week each time, no problem at all).