6 ms·

Whenever I fly on business with my macbook/lenovo I am super jealous of surface users, because they can use their machine during take off, as it's classified as

Whenever I fly on business with my macbook/lenovo I am super jealous of surface users, because they can use their machine during take off, as it's classified as a tablet when folded over. Seems minor but it's annoying when you're stuck looking at some crappy tv show or movie for an hour on each flight.

usaphp 9y ago
But can you do any real work in a folded mode, unless you are a graphic designer or something.
- anotherproj 9y ago
  define "real work"
- dawnerd 9y ago
  Can watch movies/tv, browse the web (especially on the new planes with gate to gate wifi).
dm319 9y ago
Maybe treat yourself to the Thinkpad X1 Yoga gen 2?
- singularity2001 9y ago
  for some reaon Chinese spyware tastes appaling
  - MikusR 9y ago
    It might, but do you have proof that it has it?
    - Pharaoh2 9y ago
      https://boingboing.net/2017/09/07/depraved-indifference-or-malic.html https://boingboing.net/2017/09/07/depraved-indifference-or-m...
      - MikusR 9y ago
        Those were not Thinkpad Yoga.
  - che_shirecat 9y ago
    how does NSA spyware taste?
    - MengerSponge 9y ago
      Not great, but better
      - KGIII 9y ago
        Needs more salt.
  - tensotors 9y ago
    for some other reason, the Thinkpad line was never affected.
  - amongwhales 9y ago
    Linux runs great on Thinkpads
  - scholia 9y ago
    (1) Superfish isn't a Chinese company -- it was founded in Tel Aviv and moved to Palo Alto; (2) Superfish wasn't installed on ThinkPads; (3) it wasn't on Lenovo laptops for long: they uninstalled it and apologised.
    - olyjohn 9y ago
      The fact that they did it in the first place is enough for most people. An apology hardly covers the potential for damage. All in the name of some bundled shitware to make them a few extra bucks. Totally inexcusable, and I don't see why people jump in to defend them at all.
      - Crespyl 9y ago
        Yeah, I wish I could like them, since Lenovo/Thinkpad has been putting out some pretty appealing hardware recently, but that kind of irresponsible behavior demands a response from people who understand the severity. I refuse to buy or recommend Lenovo for my family members for at least another three years yet, no matter how much they seem to have reformed. If they haven't had a repeat incident in that time I'll be glad to start considering them again.
        scholia 9y ago
        You could boycott Lenovo-branded machines while not boycotting ThinkPads. As far as I know, ThinkPads have been beyond reproach. It's a valuable brand for Lenovo, and it acquired the whole IBM division, not just the name. I managed to be a ThinkPad fanboy for decades while despising IBM ;-)
      - scholia 9y ago
        You also don't see why someone should jump in to correct a wrong statement? Either way, the potential for damage wasn't that obvious: it could have happened to any company. (Employees often make commercial decisions without understanding the technical ramifications.) Also, Superfish said it wasn't its fault: it blamed Komodo's tool. This amounts to a similar type of buck-passing. I've bought a couple of Lenovo machines since Superfish, mainly because they were fantastic value for money. I also know that if I wasn't happy with the installation, I could download Windows 10 from Microsoft and do a clean installation.
  - rbanffy 9y ago
    If you install a decent OS replacing the one it comes with, there won't be any malware (at leat not the kind we knew about)
    - milcron 9y ago
      Reinstalling the OS may be good enough for most people, but you also have to be aware of firmware.
      - rbanffy 9y ago
        For that, the metal shredder is probably the best solution.
    - wlesieutre 9y ago
      Just linked this in another comment, but I’ll post it here too: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150812/11395231925/lenovo-busted-stealthily-installing-crapware-via-bios-fresh-windows-installs.shtml https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150812/11395231925/lenov... Short version, manufacturers can use a feature called WPBT to load executables into your “clean” Windows installation from firmware. It’s intended for providing drivers.
sscotth 9y ago
Being able to fold your laptop into a tablet does not classify it as a "small Personal Electronic Device" according to the FAA. It is determined by weight/size. Anything under 2 lbs is considered a PED and is allowed for use during all phases of flight. The Surface Book is too heavy and would not qualify. Although, flight attendants aren't walking around with scales checking and it certainly looks less conspicuous in folded mode. But, I've successfully used my 4 lb 15" Retina MBP during take off/landing many times without issue. YMMV http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/07/travel/faa-airplane-electronics-update/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/07/travel/faa-airplane-electronic... https://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/media/2013/InFO13010SUP.pdf https://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_op... > Larger PEDs are those the operator has determined weigh more than 2 pounds or are of a size that would impede egress

usaphp 9y ago

But can you do any real work in a folded mode, unless you are a graphic designer or something.

anotherproj 9y ago
define "real work"
dawnerd 9y ago
Can watch movies/tv, browse the web (especially on the new planes with gate to gate wifi).

dm319 9y ago

Maybe treat yourself to the Thinkpad X1 Yoga gen 2?

singularity2001 9y ago
for some reaon Chinese spyware tastes appaling
- MikusR 9y ago
  It might, but do you have proof that it has it?
  - Pharaoh2 9y ago
    https://boingboing.net/2017/09/07/depraved-indifference-or-malic.html https://boingboing.net/2017/09/07/depraved-indifference-or-m...
    - MikusR 9y ago
      Those were not Thinkpad Yoga.
- che_shirecat 9y ago
  how does NSA spyware taste?
  - MengerSponge 9y ago
    Not great, but better
    - KGIII 9y ago
      Needs more salt.
- tensotors 9y ago
  for some other reason, the Thinkpad line was never affected.
- amongwhales 9y ago
  Linux runs great on Thinkpads
- scholia 9y ago
  (1) Superfish isn't a Chinese company -- it was founded in Tel Aviv and moved to Palo Alto; (2) Superfish wasn't installed on ThinkPads; (3) it wasn't on Lenovo laptops for long: they uninstalled it and apologised.
  - olyjohn 9y ago
    The fact that they did it in the first place is enough for most people. An apology hardly covers the potential for damage. All in the name of some bundled shitware to make them a few extra bucks. Totally inexcusable, and I don't see why people jump in to defend them at all.
    - Crespyl 9y ago
      Yeah, I wish I could like them, since Lenovo/Thinkpad has been putting out some pretty appealing hardware recently, but that kind of irresponsible behavior demands a response from people who understand the severity. I refuse to buy or recommend Lenovo for my family members for at least another three years yet, no matter how much they seem to have reformed. If they haven't had a repeat incident in that time I'll be glad to start considering them again.
      - scholia 9y ago
        You could boycott Lenovo-branded machines while not boycotting ThinkPads. As far as I know, ThinkPads have been beyond reproach. It's a valuable brand for Lenovo, and it acquired the whole IBM division, not just the name. I managed to be a ThinkPad fanboy for decades while despising IBM ;-)
    - scholia 9y ago
      You also don't see why someone should jump in to correct a wrong statement? Either way, the potential for damage wasn't that obvious: it could have happened to any company. (Employees often make commercial decisions without understanding the technical ramifications.) Also, Superfish said it wasn't its fault: it blamed Komodo's tool. This amounts to a similar type of buck-passing. I've bought a couple of Lenovo machines since Superfish, mainly because they were fantastic value for money. I also know that if I wasn't happy with the installation, I could download Windows 10 from Microsoft and do a clean installation.
- rbanffy 9y ago
  If you install a decent OS replacing the one it comes with, there won't be any malware (at leat not the kind we knew about)
  - milcron 9y ago
    Reinstalling the OS may be good enough for most people, but you also have to be aware of firmware.
    - rbanffy 9y ago
      For that, the metal shredder is probably the best solution.
  - wlesieutre 9y ago
    Just linked this in another comment, but I’ll post it here too: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150812/11395231925/lenovo-busted-stealthily-installing-crapware-via-bios-fresh-windows-installs.shtml https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150812/11395231925/lenov... Short version, manufacturers can use a feature called WPBT to load executables into your “clean” Windows installation from firmware. It’s intended for providing drivers.

sscotth 9y ago

Being able to fold your laptop into a tablet does not classify it as a "small Personal Electronic Device" according to the FAA. It is determined by weight/size. Anything under 2 lbs is considered a PED and is allowed for use during all phases of flight. The Surface Book is too heavy and would not qualify. Although, flight attendants aren't walking around with scales checking and it certainly looks less conspicuous in folded mode. But, I've successfully used my 4 lb 15" Retina MBP during take off/landing many times without issue. YMMV http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/07/travel/faa-airplane-electronics-update/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/07/travel/faa-airplane-electronic... https://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/media/2013/InFO13010SUP.pdf https://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_op... > Larger PEDs are those the operator has determined weigh more than 2 pounds or are of a size that would impede egress