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> 'budding hackers' nowadays coding on a Macbook Why hack on a laptop? Why not use a desktop that's much cheaper, much more powerful, much more reliable, and

> 'budding hackers' nowadays coding on a Macbook Why hack on a laptop? Why not use a desktop that's much cheaper, much more powerful, much more reliable, and easy to fix in one day? You can get two for the price of a new laptop. If you're on the road with sufficient frequency that you actually need a laptop to work then you're probably a salesman or manager, not a hacker. I can get to all my data from any machine: everything is on the web or accessible by ssh. I don't need to lug one with me. Paper works fine for the occasional six hour period away from a machine. I do have an old laptop I sync to my desktop with unison to use on the road when need be, but that's just not very often.

jmtulloss 19y ago
To work with other people wherever they end up. We're not working in some cubicle day in and day out, we need to go to our co-workers and sit there next to them hacking on problems. I prefer hacking on my desktop too, but I could not operate without the ability to take my work with me.
- kingkongrevenge 19y ago
  > sit there next to them hacking on problems This is high level design, no? It works fine on paper/white-board. You sit alone to refine it and do any implementation. You pair program on one machine if someone is clueless and being ramped up.
  - stcredzero 19y ago
    There are times with a sufficiently high level dynamic language, where you can usefully and quickly pair program your high level design. The ideal platform for this is a desktop on a table (not a concave cublicle desk, just a flat table) with a wireless keyboard.
  - jmtulloss 19y ago
    I find that it can be useful to just be in the same room when working on dependent, if separate tasks. It's often necessary to nail down details as you're thinking through every possible different situation, which really only occurs once you're coding every possible situation.
kirubakaran 19y ago
I like to code in the bus. I have a 1 year $4.75 bus pass with which I can go anywhere around here (Seattle). I can sit by the window and code.

jmtulloss 19y ago

To work with other people wherever they end up. We're not working in some cubicle day in and day out, we need to go to our co-workers and sit there next to them hacking on problems. I prefer hacking on my desktop too, but I could not operate without the ability to take my work with me.

kingkongrevenge 19y ago
> sit there next to them hacking on problems This is high level design, no? It works fine on paper/white-board. You sit alone to refine it and do any implementation. You pair program on one machine if someone is clueless and being ramped up.
- stcredzero 19y ago
  There are times with a sufficiently high level dynamic language, where you can usefully and quickly pair program your high level design. The ideal platform for this is a desktop on a table (not a concave cublicle desk, just a flat table) with a wireless keyboard.
- jmtulloss 19y ago
  I find that it can be useful to just be in the same room when working on dependent, if separate tasks. It's often necessary to nail down details as you're thinking through every possible different situation, which really only occurs once you're coding every possible situation.

kirubakaran 19y ago

I like to code in the bus. I have a 1 year $4.75 bus pass with which I can go anywhere around here (Seattle). I can sit by the window and code.