19 ms·

A small notebook for a system administrator

531 points by atomlib 8y ago

awiesenhofer 8y ago
Articles like this are what i love about HN. You may call it some techies wet dream, but the dedication to detail for this dream embodies this community for me.
- dbuder 8y ago
  Except I get the impression that the author/designer would need to hire 5 different roles just to get this to stage where the CM says ok but it will cost you 4x what you thought it would. Has he ever implemented any of these connectors? That along with the promises of galvanic isolation mean there will be so many magnetics, all needing their fields accounted for. Look at the struggles Bunnie and a whole team had putting a laptop together, sure they had other goals, but a laptop is a serious design challenge and you can't do low volume because you're basically tied to the screen and all your compliance requires you can't change the chips as they go end of life.
phillipseamore 8y ago
Love this concept! The comment thread is fantastic as well.
enriquto 8y ago
oh my good I just need something like this!
- tym0 8y ago
  There is the GPD MicroPC if you can handle a terrible keyboard
rbanffy 8y ago
It's the antonym of "MacBook".
orf 8y ago
This feels like it's an unrealistic Christmas present list. By that I mean having a laptop with everything in this article would be absolutely amazing, but is it even possible to mass produce something like that, let alone even build the thing as a one-off? What would a more realistic sysadmin notebook look like?
- kokey 8y ago
  Like a Macbook with a bag that has plenty of hubs and adapters and a Raspberry Pi in there just in case. Perhaps the middle ground would be a box with all the ports this design has that you can plug into a USB-C laptop or tablet.
  - giancarlostoro 8y ago
    The Surface has a "hub" but it's not nearly as powerful, and already in the $199 margin (Surface Dock).
- opencl 8y ago
  The GPD MicroPC actually exists and is not too far off of this thing in terms of ports, sadly it lacks the trackpoint. Especially sad since GPD has already released a system with a trackpoint.
  - aplanas 8y ago
    But the GPD Pocket have the trackpoint. There is also a Pocket 2 and a new one still on design.
- greenyouse 8y ago
  I'd vote for getting a disposable laptop with good enough hardware to do most sysadmin things. A 2006/7/8 macbook isn't a bad choice IMO since it has all the standard ports. It supports two disk drives and the keyboard works OK. If you poke around you can usually get one in the $20-40 range. No USB-C or large processing power, but if you're mostly networking into other computers it shouldn't really be a bottleneck, right?
z3t4 8y ago
I think a mobile/phablet with usb adapter(s) could do the job. I'm currently working on an IDE with built in terminal emulator for mobile phones, where the hard lifting is done by the IDE backend running on a server. I think you either want a "full" laptop experience, or something more mobile, that fits in your pocket. Not something in-between. But it would look cool in a hacker movie!
- S4M 8y ago
  Do you have your mobile IDE available somewhere? I am looking for a way to code from my cellphone and I can't user Termux without a code keyboard (to get ctrl, tab, etc.) which takes most of the screen space on my phone.
  - snazz 8y ago
    The volume buttons become control and alt in Termux, and if you swipe from the left and open the keyboard menu, you can enable a little overlay that includes keys like tab and escape. See more info at the Termux wiki: https://wiki.termux.com/wiki/Touch_Keyboard https://wiki.termux.com/wiki/Touch_Keyboard
tyingq 8y ago
Isn't small or light, but Getac ruggedized laptops seem to cover the high number of ports requirement: https://thecomputermarket.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/getacx500_backside.jpg https://thecomputermarket.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/... And, there's more ports on the sides too.
- gravypod 8y ago
  And getac keyboards are very interesting. If you love them you really love them.
- a012 8y ago
  Isn't it too expensive and heavy for daily tasks? If your work needs carry it around DC or similar, the rugged laptop is overkill.
  - tyingq 8y ago
    I shared because it's the only thing I've seen that approaches the port density in the article.
  - lightedman 8y ago
    "Isn't it too expensive and heavy for daily tasks?" At my job, we're carting 50+ lb solar panels around every other minute, by hand. All of us here right now are just in fits of giggling at the thought of any laptop being too heavy to carry around all day. To quote my Lay-up lead: "Si piensan que llevar una computadora portátil todo el día es un dolor, ¡deberían tratar de cargar a un niño durante 9 meses!"
anilakar 8y ago
Mostly reminds me of https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/The_Homer https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/The_Homer On a serious note, I mostly disagree about the small size. The author mentioned his preferred size being A5, which is about half a letter. Having to type commands on machine that just fits under your palms is painful. I'd rather have a large keyboard, large screen and a large battery. My current EDC setup is an X250 with a huge bag of adapter dongles, carried in a Falcon II.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- dkdbejwi383 8y ago
  > which is about half a letter What oddly specific unit of measurement is this?
  - runj__ 8y ago
    "US letter size" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_(paper_size) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_(paper_size)
  - piqufoh 8y ago
    It's specific (US Letter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_(paper_size) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_(paper_size) ) - half of which is reasonaby close to A5, but I'm not sure why the "odd" qualifier.
    - robin_reala 8y ago
      I guess odd because it’s really only used in North America. I’ve never seen a piece of letter sized paper although I’ve heard of it (first after deciphering the weird PC LOAD LETTER error on HP laser printers which is extra confusing if you don’t realise that letter is a paper size).
      - odonnellryan 8y ago
INTPenis 8y ago
My geek sense goes a tingling for everything small and compact. BUT I used to be a sysadmin, still perform some of those duties, and I don't really need a tiny laptop. I have no issue with carrying a laptop bag containing a Thinkpad X1 anywhere I might need it. So outside of geekvalue I fail to see the market for this if the market is supposed to be sysadmins. Who thinks modern ultrabooks are too heavy? Considering it's a trade-off for having a full size keyboard and screen. If the author thinks their x200 is too heavy I can heartily recommend the x260 or even x280 which I saw recently at a friends place.
navidfarhadi 8y ago
This was a very interesting read. I’d love to see a similar write-up for a developer laptop. This is a small nitpick but the battery should be listed as 42 Wh, not W/h.
homero 8y ago
Incredible. This is real? It's like a fantasy wish list come to life.
- misterdoubt 8y ago
  It's a fantasy wish list brought to 3D rendering.
SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
I remember when laptops had all sorts of legacy ports all over them. Good times! While getting this thing built seems somewhat unrealistic, perhaps someone could build a USB-C dock that basically replicates the back of a late-90s ATX PC - if only for the geek value alone.
- mysterydip 8y ago
  Sounds like something one of the better-known retro hardware geeks could do a kickstarter for. I'd buy one :)
keithpeter 8y ago
A bit small as others have commented but I like the 'Swiss army knife' approach. Perhaps a slightly larger version could be the future for the 'non-endpoint' laptop? Sound artists and so forth might find a use for such a thing. I find my ancient Thinkpad X61s is the one I actually take around, even though my slightly newer X220 is faster, has more memory and has a brighter screen.
- ranger207 8y ago
  >I find my ancient Thinkpad X61s is the one I actually take around, even though my slightly newer X220 is faster, has more memory and has a brighter screen. You may be interested in the x62: https://geoff.greer.fm/2017/07/16/thinkpad-x62/ https://geoff.greer.fm/2017/07/16/thinkpad-x62/
mihaifm 8y ago
Using the laptop monitor as a display for external sources (and the video input port) is a good idea, I'm not sure why nobody is implementing it these days. Are there any technical challenges to this, or is it a feature considered useless by all of the laptop producers?
- dsfyu404ed 8y ago
  It's the latter. Displays of all types have been able to handle multiple sources since forever. The only people who want this are sysadmins trying to troubleshoot A/V systems or plug into a server and college students who want to use a laptop as a screen for a gaming system. Neither of those groups are large or make the laptop manufacturers much profit so they're not going to be catered to by the OEMs.
- detaro 8y ago
  Tiny market share. With USB3, at least you can have video capture dongles with reasonable resolution. I know for HDMI they're quite common, but I'd assume someone makes a VGA version too.
  - detaro 8y ago
    Searched a bit: USB3 VGA capture things are surprisingly expensive, but there's some cheap USB2 ones around. Presumably a sysadmin doesn't need high resolution, so those should work too.
- vdm 8y ago
  https://www.startech.com/Server-Management/KVM-Switches/USB-Crash-Cart-Adapter~NOTECONS02X https://www.startech.com/Server-Management/KVM-Switches/USB-...
  - 24gttghh 8y ago
    $560? What the hell is in that thing?
    - 8y ago
yakshaving_jgt 8y ago
I just want a company to keep making the previous generation MacBook Air. Keep the ports. Keep the MagSafe. Don’t screw with the keyboard. More memory and disk space would be nice, but it’s not a deal-breaker. I don’t mind going for a walk or enjoying a cup of coffee while I wait for GHC to compile. It’s a good machine. Now leave it alone.
- robin_reala 8y ago
  Preferably the 11" Macbook Air.
  - tluyben2 8y ago
    That was my favorite Apple laptop. So annoying they do not produce it anymore.
    - TomVDB 8y ago
      My big mistake was to buy the 2GB/64GB version. I could upgrade the SSD to 128GB, but the RAM is soldered. And it’s juat not enough for today.
      - tluyben2 8y ago
        I bought the 13 inch one with 4gb after my 11 inch one died and that really doesn't work anymore either; for anything serious 4gb is just always thrashing seeing the lovely colored ball which makes you wanting to pull your hair out.
        rconti 8y ago
        Yeah I have a 2011 with 4GB.. it's finally starting to show its age, and the 128gb disk is always full. 8/256 would be perfect... but the screen is just starting to wear my down. I'm thinking of "upgrading" to the new one because of the display...
  - isostatic 8y ago
ngcc_hk 8y ago
Like mac but for support carbon x1 with SIM card
NeedMoreTea 8y ago
Well now. I'd probably buy one for novelty if the price wasn't absurd. Bonus points for trackpoint. More bonus points for the USB in power supply brick. I do wish that was standard rather than usually one "power" USB port in the laptop. Lots of interesting ideas, many of which simply don't seem that useful any more. Having to carry around a bag of gender changers, PS2<-->USB and all the rest is thankfully becoming rarer. I'm not the target though, as I don't need a lot more than ability to ssh somewhere these days. If I wanted that small I'd probably go with a Gemini, the Psion 5 spritual successor, with proven great but tiny keyboard. Even that has proved too niche to part me from actual money: https://jmcomms.com/2017/11/29/gemini-pda-20-years-on-meet-the-all-new-psion-series-5/ https://jmcomms.com/2017/11/29/gemini-pda-20-years-on-meet-t...
- giancarlostoro 8y ago
  > Well now. I'd probably buy one for novelty if the price wasn't absurd. Bonus points for trackpoint. More bonus points for the USB in power supply brick. I do wish that was standard rather than usually one "power" USB port in the laptop. The Surface Book 2 has a USB slot on the charge brick.
  - komali2 8y ago
    Last I checked, the surface book 2 under load consumed more power than the brick could provide. If it functions anything like my sp3 brick did, if there's a phone or whatever plugged in in such situations, they don't get enough juice to charge.
    - Intermernet 8y ago
      Yeah, but you gotta get to serious load. If you use it as a mining rig it might go flat, but I've trained ML models, done 3d rendering, and played some demanding games on mine without any problems.
- bigbugbag 8y ago
  Sorry but the trackpoint is probably gonna be dropped from this design. This is thing is heavily patented and costs a fortune that makes it unrealistic to add to a niche market product. This is learned from experience by the team who designed the openpandora.
StreamBright 8y ago
This would make my life easier in many situations. If it has enough RAM I would use it as my main computer even.
fuball63 8y ago
I recently found my old netbook while going through some stuff. The netbook trend was short lived, but I really like this machine (Acer Aspire One ZG5). Ethernet and card ports, plenty of USBs. And it has VGA, which for some reason I still have more use for than HDMI. They keyboard and mouse were better than my current laptop, a Lenovo Yoga 2 that I can't seem to get the hang of. And it has an Atom processor and really good battery life. Sadly I slipped on ice in a parking lot and broke the screen. I ordered a new one on ebay a few days ago, so hopefully I can revive it.
- black-tea 8y ago
  I still have a Dell Mini 9. Everything still works apart from the battery which doesn't last long. I recently built a very minimal Gentoo on there and it's very quick. I use it as a coffee table computer in my living room.
  - gglitch 8y ago
    I got the Dell Mini 10v and I think it's still my favorite machine of all time. I've dj'ed several weddings with it, using mocp. It was the only machine I used in grad school. That was a truly righteous machine.
- smacktoward 8y ago
  I have very fond memories of my old Asus Eee PC 1000 netbook (see https://www.computerworld.com/article/2532501/mobile-wireless/the-asus-eee-1000----more-power--still-portable.html https://www.computerworld.com/article/2532501/mobile-wireles...). I miss netbooks. It’s too bad that we let Intel and Microsoft kill them.
  - fuball63 8y ago
    I remember when Eee PC's came out and all the buzz about them. What do you mean by Microsoft and Intel killed them? I just assumed it was lack of market interest.
    - 8y ago
pcunite 8y ago
Hilarious! Would love to see something like this. I have the Thinkpad X220, and it is really a nice size for getting something serious done while still on the small side.
taneq 8y ago
If you ever build this thing I will buy one.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
aboutruby 8y ago
Like a lot of people mentioned, there are some obvious shortcomings. What I really like is all the thoughts are original ideas the author came up for this render. So many amazing little details.
chrisseaton 8y ago
> Such notebook is suitable for posting photos on Instagram, but not for work. At least not for mine. Why do people feel the need to be so snide and put down what other people do as 'not work'?
- varjag 8y ago
  For some reason it's a common attitude of sysadmins in the former USSR.
- huhtenberg 8y ago
  That's the only comment you have on a detailed technical post that spans several pages? This is not a snide remark. The site is habr.com, which is a Russian resource. So what you perceive is an offensive faux pas, is just a dry and cynical joke of a kind very common to the IT people of the former Soviet Union space. It's not a terribly funny joke, nor do I personally like this brand of humor, but it's clearly not made in bad spirit or meant to offend.
  - chrisseaton 8y ago
    > That's the only comment you have on a detailed technical post that spans several pages? Yes it's a shame that it lets down the rest of the article, isn't it? > This is not a snide remark. Maybe you have a different idea of what snide is. I don't think it's 'offensive' I just think it's a bit nasty. Why can't they talk about their work without saying that what someone else does isn't work? What's the need for it? What does it add? This is 'snide' to me - derogatory and mocking.
    - lostmyoldone 8y ago
      When reading an article written by someone that clearly doesn't have English as a first language, I don't believe its altogether fair to criticize the tone of language as if it was written by a native speaker. More so when a literal reading of the sentences I assume you refer to, doesn't seem to support the interpretation you are criticising. It might be useful for the author to know how the text might be read, but otherwise one is probably better off reading the text with some lenience towards weaknesses, or mistakes in style and tone. The author clearly did quite a bit of work, writes an article in decent English, and I believe they deserve a little slack for what is most likely a minor cultural gaffe, or a joke that doesn't translate that well.
platz 8y ago
Not sure what I'll find to replace my T420 with classic keyboard when it dies. What laptops do T420 users migrate to that has a non-terrible keyboard? (I am not a big fan of the new Thinkpad keyboards) Can I put a t420 classic keyboard on a new-gen Thinkpad? Is it a good idea?
- Tharkun 8y ago
  There are basically no laptops with good keyboards anymore. I've given up on trying to find one. Thinkpads have gone down the drain. Lenovo aren't even offering on-site support or extended warranty on all models anymore (even if you want to pay more!). They've gone from quality business models to, well, slightly better than garbage.
  - pnutjam 8y ago
    Run of the mill Dell's suck, but the latitude line of laptops are pretty good. They are easier to service and find parts for as well.
- ntw1103 8y ago
  You can install a T420 keyboard into a T430/T430s/x230. This requires a really tiny modification to the plastic, cutting/filing it to fit, but the connectors are the same. There will be a couple keys that remain dead, but aside from that, it works great. There is also the Thinkpad 25 retro, if you have a ton of money, but I haven't gotten a chance to try that keyboard.
criddell 8y ago
> Such notebook is suitable for posting photos on Instagram, but not for work. There's something about that statement that put me off the entire article. Maybe the author truly is 3l337, but it just comes off as condescending. Plus, who uses a notebook for Instagram? The author managed to be simultaneously derisive and clueless.
- carlospwk 8y ago
  Ditto. I instantly thought of a less successful and intelligent version of Gilfoyle from Silicon Valley.
- dagw 8y ago
  who uses a notebook for Instagram? I think he's doing the tech equivalent of pretending not have heard of a popular band or not knowing what the Super Bowl is to try to make yourself look extra cool.
- tom_ 8y ago
  Well, the sysadmin type of role does attract a specific type of dork! - but I think you rather unfairly stopped quoting just before the key point.
- supermooka 8y ago
  > All of them imitate the MacBook Air: thin, shiny, glamorous, and they all critically lack ports. This is the sentence before. IMO you’re being way too harsh. He is clearly trying to emphasize that the average consumers has lost their need for ports, thus, most lightweight computers aren’t sufficient for the author’s line of work. But OMG the author doesn’t know the proper context of Instagram! This whole article loses credibility! Listen to yourself.
  - tedunangst 8y ago
    Why do people who don't need multiple serial ports stop being real users?
    - 8y ago
varjag 8y ago
Doesn't have coaxial propellers option to double as a camera drone. A show stopper for me! Seriously, this is computer nerds' version of prepping, starting with a diss at clueless commoners and gradually piling up the levels of ridiculous.
- bryanlarsen 8y ago
  The author wrote "But I hope you will find a couple of interesting thoughts here." They're asking notebook makers to see it as a grab bag of ideas, not a unified whole.
- lostmyoldone 8y ago
  Except for the diss - which I felt was quite unnecessary - I don't think that's fair. There are people out there that definitely would have use of something like this if it existed. Feels a bit on the small size for me, but if you spend a fair amount of time in crampes networking/gear closets, I can see how it would be useful. I have worked in environments where I've had to lug around screens, RS232, RS485, CAN bus adapters, SD card readers, you name it. Have had to scrounge up extension cables to get power because there are no jacks within 20m, and the list goes on. Yes you can use adapters and dongles, yes you get by, it's your job to make things work. But in certain kind of environments a machine in this vein is something that actually would make work more efficient, and much more fun. While these environments might be getting more rare nowadays, they are not extinct by a long shot.
morganvachon 8y ago
Unfortunately something like this would never come to market, but I use a laptop that comes close enough for my needs. My current portable is a HP Elite X2 1011 G1 (yep that's a mouthful), it's a previous generation version of their current 1012 G2 product. It's a Surface-style convertible that is as fast as a typical business desktop machine, with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB M.2 SSD onboard. The keyboard base has 2x USB3, a SmartCard slot, full size DisplayPort output, some sort of HP proprietary dock connector, a TRRS headset jack, and an internal battery. The tablet portion doesn't have any ports other than a TRRS headset jack, but it does have a Wacom stylus as well as a MicroSD slot and onboard LTE celluar data (I'm using a Ting GSM SIM with that). Using it as a laptop I get 12+ hours of battery life. It draws from the keyboard battery first, so you can run that dry and still have 5 to 6 hours of battery in the tablet, making it an all day machine. It's only slightly bigger than my last convertible, an ASUS Transformer Pad, and much more powerful. It doesn't have the wide range of ports in this article, but then nothing out there does. If I need VGA/DVI/HDMI I can carry a DisplayPort cable with those ends, and if I need Ethernet I can carry a USB3 to Gigabit adapter. Both would fit in the slim case I kept from the Transformer.
- jeffreymartin99 8y ago
  There is every possibility of something close to this coming to market. Not every device needs to sell in the millions.
  - tluyben2 8y ago
    Yep, look at the Gemini or the Pocket (2). Niche systems which are apparently worth making.
    - bigbugbag 8y ago
      look at the pyra: https://pyra-handheld.com/ https://pyra-handheld.com/
      - tluyben2 8y ago
hasperdi 8y ago
If you want something that you can buy now, or soon... here are some options: - GPD Micro https://liliputing.com/2019/01/first-look-gpd-micro-pc-handheld-computer-with-intel-gemini-lake-ces-2019.html https://liliputing.com/2019/01/first-look-gpd-micro-pc-handh... - GPD Pocket 2 Mini https://liliputing.com/2018/12/gpd-launches-a-cheaper-pocket-2-mini-laptop-with-celeron-3965y.html https://liliputing.com/2018/12/gpd-launches-a-cheaper-pocket... - Clones / look alike of the GPD Pocket
- chrisseaton 8y ago
  Whatever happened to the 'netbook' form factor? That just seemed to disappear overnight.
  - ansible 8y ago
    There are various Chromebooks nearly as small, with low weight. I've installed GalliumOS on mine, and it is working pretty good. Light and handy, though battery life isn't quite as good as it was with ChromeOS. The main thing missing is Ethernet, but I have a dongle for that.
  - ohithereyou 8y ago
    Thin margins and the realization that if netbooks became popular most people would likely not buy normal laptops. Why make the one thing that kills the rest of your product line?
    - yellowapple 8y ago
      If that were the case, then companies would be tripping over each other to build netbooks and torch their existing laptop lines, lest some other company beats them to the punch and steals the market from under them.
  - 24gttghh 8y ago
    Smartphones with 6" screens I would imagine.
  - 8y ago
aaronharnly 8y ago
I love the exercise of this — it reminds me of the hours I spent as a kid, drawing multi-angle views of what I hoped would be the “Commodore 256” or “Amiga 5000”. The loving inclusion of each port, paragraphs of explanation — it’s just great.
- pbhjpbhj 8y ago
  Ha, I love that you were a childhood product designer for home computers. I used to do similar for cars, lots of arrows with text descriptions of what the "novel" parts were. Wonder what things other people did? I know of people who were obsessed with inventing dinosaurs, and monsters/aliens.
  - bloopernova 8y ago
    I used to spend hours and days designing ships for Elite, Carrier Command, and Starglider 2 I was a terrible artist, but loved detailing every console and chair and storage space (seriously, I loved drawing storage spaces! I think it stems from seeing the Millennium Falcon in Empire Strikes Back with all its open crawlspaces and falling-apart-awesomeness)
  - TeMPOraL 8y ago
    I did spaceships and cars; the latter essentially designed for James Bond.
chvid 8y ago
I was going to suggest him to get the smallest macbook pro ...
readingnews 8y ago
Soooo, when is the kickstarter? I have had so many countless sysadmins ask for a keyboard similar to that one (perhaps not the keyboard layout). I think the primary interests are: serial port (yes, even today not having to carry a dongle is great) ability to use kb/vid/mouse as a kb/vid/mouse for servers multiple network connections I would probably pitch into a kickstarter for that laptop.
ainiriand 8y ago
For me aluminum is a no-go. I get electric discharges every time I touch it. Independently if I am at the office, at home, or at the beach.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
foo101 8y ago
How were the illustrations in this post created?
afandian 8y ago
The Apple eMate 300 had a tripod stand in the base. https://www.flickr.com/photos/48126477@N05/8463211826 https://www.flickr.com/photos/48126477@N05/8463211826
hartator 8y ago
The MacBook 12” is still pretty strong if you don’t need a CPU.
jshowa3 8y ago
My guess is there's way too much stuff in terms of I/O for this form factor to even be feasible.
m0skit0 8y ago
I love the thought experiment however putting all those connectors in there + a decent battery is not going to be simple (if even possible at all).
oregontechninja 8y ago
HP x360, Intel i3, 6GB ram. Affordable, durable, works well with multiple flavors of Linux and dual boots just fine. Been administrating systems for years with this baby.
- lou1306 8y ago
  I know HP takes a lot of flak for their consumer laptops, but some of their Pavilion x360 are good in an almost unreasonable way, if you want them to be. I got a 13'' one, with an i5, at a Cyber monday sale and used the extra money to put in a good SSD and double the RAM to 16 GB. Just a lovely machine, which is also quite repair-friendly: I had to replace the fan after ~2 years and everything I needed was readily available online (parts list, service manual, etc.)
_pmf_ 8y ago
I love it (though it's like Homer's car).
lifeformed 8y ago
What about a touchscreen? Are matte touchscreens a thing? I didn't think I'd ever use the touchscreen on my laptop but I have found myself finding it convenient for quick actions when I'm not seated in front of it. I can imagine only having the TrackPoint to navigate menus to be annoying when you're standing.
thisismyaccoun7 8y ago
I went with a Dell Latitude 3180, which is basically a Chromebook that comes with Windows instead. I wanted something 10+ hours battery life, small (11-13" screen), fanless so that it'd be quiet. --Linux works 100% --11 hour in-use battery life so it doesn't live plugged in --Dead quiet (no fan) --Has good enough specs to get by (N4000 cpu, 4gb ram, edit: also a ssd rather than flash storage, which makes a big difference, and I have a 256gb microsd for extra storage) --Not a convertible and has a real keyboard I paid about $200 for it. It gets used more than my $1k laptop.
bubblethink 8y ago
Lots of good ideas. I have on more than one occasion wished for the laptop's monitor, keyboard and mouse to double up as peripherals for another computer. Another niche thing I've wished for is this: An input selector on the laptop's monitor to select b/w igpu and dgpu. The use case if for gpu passthrough to vms so that you switch between host and guest and still get good gpu performance in the guest. Current optimus setups on laptops are all over the place in their implementation, although some of them do allow passthrough of the dgpu. The main blocker though is that dgpu is only connected to external ports. So if you mux it to the internal panel, you can achieve this without complicated software hacks or copying of framebuffer from one gpu to another. The only additional software support you'd need is to capture the keyboard and mouse for the host or guest based on the context.
sdwisely 8y ago
honestly I'd be really happy with a keyboard that folded out to around the size of one of the smallish bluetooth keyboards, X emacs a browser and a terminal on my phablet. The closest I've come was a nexus 7 with a keyboard case and bluetooth mouse and remote desktop.
duiker101 8y ago
Corporate GUIs: The laptop.
- TeMPOraL 8y ago
  You mean: designed to be useful, not pretty?
MagicPropmaker 8y ago
Lenovo Yoga!
cik 8y ago
I use a Microsoft Surface Pro 2 for all my mobile needs. I bought it on eBay for ~$200 two years ago, and it's now 5 years old. It's light as all get up, runs Linux perfectly out of the box and I bought it to run a browser and SSH into things. It also has a displayport, and a single USB, and I can ultimately connect it to everything I need. It's literally the best piece of technology I've ever owned. I use it for so much more than I intended - but at $200, when the thing dies, I'm just going to throw it out and buy a newer one on eBay. I'm blown away by how much more useful this is than every other thing I've had over the last 20 years.
- tluyben2 8y ago
  I keep wanting to get one but the battery life always keeps me from doing that. Mobile for me means a lot of battery life; you do not need that or is it actually ok?
  - cik 8y ago
    I get ~5 hours which is beyond more than enough for my needs. I also keep power adapters. Honestly, I've never understood the obsession with long battery life on a laptop. It's significantly lighter to carry the adapter (super light on a surface) than have an extended battery, and either way you have a knapsack/laptop bag. Also - other than this one coffee shop I'm not a fan of, there's always power nearby.
    - tluyben2 8y ago
      Yeah that really depends on where/what you are doing. I spend a large amount of time in airplanes, a lot of which (as I don't fly business) have no charging sockets. Then in places where I go, for instance in HK, it is actually really rare to find sockets in coffee shops or bars.
      - cik 8y ago
        That totally makes sense to me. It's the same reason I hard relied on the air years ago - the 9 hours just about covered the majority of the exact same need. Tradeoffs.
tw04 8y ago
I've been staring at a surface go for a while now which I think meets all these needs. The one thing I'd like is a case with an attached keyboard (like the old clamcase) rather than the soft keyboard/stand.
- jimnutt 8y ago
  I have a surface go, the 8gb version, and am very happy with it. I've left it running Windows 10 home, but installed the linux subsystem which works quite nicely. You'd think the keyboard would be a weak point, but it's not as bad to use as it looks like it would be. And it runs the games I care about (Civ 6, Kerbal, Subnautica, etc) well enough that I can enjoy them. It's lacking in ports, having just a single USB C, but a hub with a couple of USB A ports, a USB C, HDMI and ethernet only runs about $60 and isn't very big. All in all, I've been really happy with it, it fits in a small bag, will charge off the same USB C charger my phone uses if needed (albeit slowly) and is useful as a tablet for just surfing the web on or watching Netflix.
runjake 8y ago
This is the TempleOS of computer hardware. I don't know whether to be impressed or weirded out. I am also a network engineer, and I have an X200 and an 11" Chromebook (yeah ChromeOS can do FTDI serial) set up as rudimentary on-the-go engineers stations but they're still not at flexible as my 15" MacBook Pro -- so I just end up lugging my 15" MBP around and propping it up precariously in racks. I still dream, though.
- kingofhdds 8y ago
  What do you mean by flexibility here?
- dTal 8y ago
  Not sure what you mean by that, given that TempleOS actually exists but is very impractical, unlike this (on both counts).
  - runjake 8y ago
    That was what I meant. I don't find this practical at all. The author means well, though.
yellowapple 8y ago
I use a ThinkPad T470 at work and it's served me quite well. Not really sure I'd want to go much smaller. I do agree that it's silly to have Print Screen where it is (though it's actually kinda handy, too, when I need to take a whole bunch of screenshots, e.g. when writing documentation). The idea of being able to plug a laptop into a server or something and instantly transform said laptop into a console is pretty neat. Sure, that's what SSH and RDP are for, until the server falls off the network. This would be a great application for USB Type-C; just plug into the C connector on the front of the server, switch to "console" mode on the laptop, and you're in business.
- smorrow 8y ago
  They should just put those Sheevaplug USB serials in servers.
sbr464 8y ago
I'm needing a clamp or solution to hold/lock usb-c cables into a macbook pro typically, or IBM X1. I was going to just 3d print something, but was hoping for something a bit more polished/form fitting. Having issues in the lab/shop with cables coming out during sensitive processes/data collection etc. Especially since a usb/ethernet dongle is heavier with multiple cables plugged in.
- lostmyoldone 8y ago
  Yeah keeping cables in can be an issue, and I don't know of any polished solutions. I have occasionally used high quality adhesive hook and loop tape to affix USB hubs and hard drives to the backside of my laptop screen to help avoid similar issues. I taped a few strips of the soft loops on the lid which I replace when they get dirty, and then hooks on the accessories. So while it won't lock the cable in the USB slot, maybe it could help to use an industrial hub with either lockable, or high-retention USB ports affixed to the computer, and then only have a very short and soft cable to the laptop USB-C port? Sample lockable ports hub: https://buy.advantech-bb.com/USB-Communications/USB-Hubs/model-BB-USH304.htm https://buy.advantech-bb.com/USB-Communications/USB-Hubs/mod...
arthurcolle 8y ago
sad this doesn't exist. it's so cute
rwmj 8y ago
I submitted this link for the new Pinebook Pro which was released a couple of days ago. It didn't get much traction but here goes: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19038420 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19038420 It doesn't have the crazy keyboard or "sunshade", but it's fairly similar in other ways and only costs $199 so I guess you have money left over to drill extra holes for indicators and extra external ports.
- afandian 8y ago
  HN has discussed Pinebooks over the years, but I too was hoping for some discussion about the recent announcements.
- aidenn0 8y ago
  Killer feature of the TFA notebook IMO is the VGA input. It was actually the feature I first thought of reading the title before clicking.
- bigbugbag 8y ago
  I own several pine64 and they're not delivering on the promises and expectations. This is why I'm staying far away from the pinebook pro. Also imho the pinebook pro is crippled by a lack of ram, arm cpu (lack of support from major OS), lack of upgrability, etc. it's more in line with a olpc laptop than the sysadmin notebook presented here.
sneakernets 8y ago
I'll make this simpler: I want a 4:3 ThinkPad T61 with modern hardware. Same thickness, same keyboard, same everything. Widescreen sucks for code.
- amiga-workbench 8y ago
  Take a look at the 51nb X62.
cabalamat 8y ago
The folding blinds are a very nice touch.
deanclatworthy 8y ago
Anyone who works in the field or tough conditions just goes for toughbooks. These things can withstand pretty much anything you throw at it. https://na.panasonic.com/us/computers-tablets-handhelds/computers/laptops/toughbook-31 https://na.panasonic.com/us/computers-tablets-handhelds/comp...
5874-4b22-a4e0 8y ago
This looks really good, can I paypal you a preorder deposit for 10 machines?
eddie_catflap 8y ago
I'm in the market for something like this for on call purposes. Something small/light enough to stow in a coat pocket but which has a physical keyboard and enough functionality for me to be able to triage most issues without having to resort to a laptop. I've been trying the Gemini which almost fits the bill but doesn't quite cut it - the keyboard is OK but not backlit (I didn't think about how often that comes in handy when purchasing). I'll probably try the follow up 'Cosmo' when that comes out. Would love to see any other suggestions.
- beetwenty 8y ago
  In another reply thread I mentioned that I'm using a $50 smartphone kit consisting of a smartphone stand(Nulaxy brand, but there are dozens of similar designs) and iClever folding Bluetooth keyboard for writing. I think this is roughly along the lines of what you might want. The keyboard fits snugly in a vest pocket(it comes in two versions - I'm using the larger version with full-size keys and backlight) and gives a decent - not amazing, but good enough that I don't care - typing experience. There are many folding Bluetooth keyboards on Amazon, but this one stood out from the pack. Combined with the stand to raise my phone I have something a bit more ergonomic than most integrated-device experiences, definitely better than what I would get from a Gemini when a flat surface is available, and I can literally throw on my vest and go for a jog and then take out the kit at a coffeeshop and lose myself in writing without difficulty. You might also need more I/O or a full PC architecture, but this setup was like a "my search is over" moment for me.
  - eddie_catflap 8y ago
    I’ll check that keyboard out! Many thanks.
hsnewman 8y ago
And that's when we knew he had way, way too much time on his hands.
teachrdan 8y ago
> The notebook has 2 webcams. The front-facing one is 8MP (4K / UltraHD), while the “selfie” one is 2MP (FullHD). Naive question from a software engineer: What does a sysadmin need a forward-facing camera for? I personally only ever use my laptop camera for Zoom meetings.
- mschuster91 8y ago
  > What does a sysadmin need a forward-facing camera for? Photographing server racks for documentation comes to my mind.
mschuster91 8y ago
I'd buy one in a heartbeat, although in a form factor a bit larger... an DIN A5 sized device is a bit small for my needs, but DIN A4? Count me in. What I'd add though is support for PS2 mouse/keyboard. Much old stuff still uses that...
linsomniac 8y ago
This design reminds me of the original OLPC XO with the hand crank generator. One of the OLPC people gave a talk to our Linux Users Group and told the story: We realized that the hand crank put a lot of stress on the chassis of the XO. The materials design people came to us and said "We can totally solve this! We just machine this part of the chassis out of titanium!" And we were like "Thanks guys, but that's not even close to being in budget." Thinking about the tripod mount: That seems like it's going to create a lot of stress on the body of the laptop. Some of the ideas of this Admin Book remind me of that: sure you could probably make it happen, but the cost would probably be eye-watering. Like top of the line MacBook Pro pricing. He says he is interested in doing a Kickstarter but doesn't know how, I think there's a reality check that needs to go into it as the first step. It's an interesting idea, and something I would have liked in the past for on-call EDC. But in the end I decided on a ThinkPad T520 and just carried it with me in a bag if I was using it, or in the car if I was not working. I kept looking at those Sony Vaio P laptops, but never ended up buying one.
linsomniac 8y ago
It seems like this would be better as two laptops: An ultra-compact for carrying in your pocket, and a bigger one with tons of accessories that you carry in a Pelican for work in the field. If you are climbing a mast or the like, you are probably out in the field with a kit. You probably don't need a laptop that can fit in your coat pocket. You probably want various cables and dongles and mounting brackets for tripod or pipe mount, etc... For on-call, I'd be tempted to just use my phone. I can set up Android with SSH and VPN, I can use a bluetooth keyboard if I need to type a lot, or if I just need to get in and run some commands to investigate, I can use the on screen keyboard.
keepper 8y ago
This is SUCH a niche system, that I don't understand why carrying adapter is a bad thing. There are already laptops that kinda fit his keyboard/pointer/size requirements. - His "video subsystem" idea already has a solution for many years. KVM2USB. https://www.epiphan.com/products/kvm2usb-3-0/ https://www.epiphan.com/products/kvm2usb-3-0/ - His "let me turn this into a boot device" also has a solution. Many virtual cd rom devices exist, for example https://www.amazon.com/Iodd-Iodd2531-Black-Virtual-Enclosures/dp/B00TDJ4BJU https://www.amazon.com/Iodd-Iodd2531-Black-Virtual-Enclosure... If you're in such a niche requirements.. either you pay a ton ( military laptops), or you're ok with adapters :)
- garettmd 8y ago
  As someone who's used a KVM->USB device before, check out this Startech device. Still outrageously expensive (WTH should a device like this cost more than $50?) but cheaper than the epiphan. https://smile.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Console-Portable-Adapter-Transfer/dp/B00IZGR6IK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1549047645&sr=8-3&keywords=startech+kvm https://smile.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Console-Portable-Adapt...
- camtarn 8y ago
  Why carrying an adaptor is a bad thing: That horrible feeling when you get to the end of your five hour drive to the client site, and realize the adaptor is on your desk. Of course, you can fix this with checklists or a shadow board style toolkit, but I do certainly dream of having one piece of hardware that connects to everything I use. As an industrial programmer and occasional field sysadmin, this notebook would be amazing for me. Of course, it would probably also be so expensive that I would never buy one...!
  - sigi45 8y ago
    I would assume, that i would have a 'toolbox' like any handyman but for it stuff. I like the idea very much of switching input/output and using it for that (had often enough once in a year experience with this issue) but i can also just carry a lcd display with me. I would also make sure that my customer sites are in a state of ready. Like having a display close by or keyboard.
mey 8y ago
Get a Surface Go with LTE (or if you need TPM a Surface Pro). Then get a small bag of usb-a dongles for your needs. For the head unit issue, something like https://www.epiphan.com/products/kvm2usb-3-0/ https://www.epiphan.com/products/kvm2usb-3-0/ could work.
bokchoi 8y ago
I recently came across this cool DYI laptop that is in the works: http://mntmn.com/reform/ http://mntmn.com/reform/ It doesn't fit exactly with the OP's needs but it comes pretty close I think.
- bokchoi 8y ago
  Here is a recent status update with pictures of the beta unit: https://mntmn.com/media/news_md/2019-01-14-status_update_on_reform.html https://mntmn.com/media/news_md/2019-01-14-status_update_on_...
syntaxing 8y ago
Reminds me of a GPD Pocket (2) Laptop minus the peripheral interface and custom key colors. E: Probably would be cheaper to make a USB-C interface board to work with the GPD.
widowlark 8y ago
It's literally an X200s
automathematics 8y ago
Since most of my work is command line / cloud I just really want to see something like the Sony Vaio P form factor that runs a really great terminal emulator. I'm ok with USB-C and dongles for when I need to hook something up, but a laptop the size of an iPad mini would make me very happy
nfriedly 8y ago
This reminds me of the GPD MicroPC - https://www.gpd.hk/gpdmicropc https://www.gpd.hk/gpdmicropc - it's not available yet, but they should begin taking orders pretty soon. This is a review of a pre-production model: https://liliputing.com/2019/01/first-look-gpd-micro-pc-handheld-computer-with-intel-gemini-lake-ces-2019.html https://liliputing.com/2019/01/first-look-gpd-micro-pc-handh... & https://liliputing.com/2019/01/gpd-micropc-benchmarks.html https://liliputing.com/2019/01/gpd-micropc-benchmarks.html I have one of their previous devices, the Win 2, which is more gaming-oriented, and I love it.
kevin_thibedeau 8y ago
If you want modern hardware, mate a 7" tablet to a Cherry G84 compact keyboard. Otherwise resurrect a netbook.
hutch120 8y ago
I'm keen to see the phone evolve into a useful computer. Physical connections could be achieved with bluetooth adapters and the like. Keyboard either virtual/projected, or tacktile foldout for touchtyping. Screen could be a tiny projector, or google glass style. Anyone got links to this type of system?
v8engine 8y ago
The color coded keyboard seems like a neat and readily achievable idea. Are there any laptops with that available on market now?
amiga-workbench 8y ago
I really do empathise with the authors sentiment, even the supposedly business grade lines of laptops are being consumerized with soldered RAM, no ports, no swappable batteries and cruddy 16:9 displays. I wish Panasonic actually sold their gear outside Japan, they still build tools first and foremost, fashion accessories second. The Lets Note RZ6 looks fantastic.
fipple 8y ago
This set of ideas is probably most easily commercialized as a USB-C dongle with a fuckload of ports (including display inputs) that you can then connect to any laptop you want. For bonus points, the dongle could include port-testing functionality, and a webserver, so you plug it in, browse to http://dongle http://dongle, and see that your Ethernet port is fucked.
dimman 8y ago
Small change proposal for the UART<->USB bridge: make Vio selectable between 3.3V/5V
wiseleo 8y ago
I use an 8" Windows 10 tablet with a USB hub and random keyboards and mice. There's always a keyboard and a mouse somewhere in the data center. If not, I have my bluetooth keyboard with a touchpad. I have it configured with all necessary tools. It works great as a Cisco console. Oh yeah, it cost me $48 at Fry's. I have two of them. Battery life is more than 5 hours.
mvkel 8y ago
This largely speaks to the hardware issue of managing racks, but... is there actually a hardware issue?

531 points by atomlib 8y ago

Articles like this are what i love about HN. You may call it some techies wet dream, but the dedication to detail for this dream embodies this community for me.

dbuder 8y ago
Except I get the impression that the author/designer would need to hire 5 different roles just to get this to stage where the CM says ok but it will cost you 4x what you thought it would. Has he ever implemented any of these connectors? That along with the promises of galvanic isolation mean there will be so many magnetics, all needing their fields accounted for. Look at the struggles Bunnie and a whole team had putting a laptop together, sure they had other goals, but a laptop is a serious design challenge and you can't do low volume because you're basically tied to the screen and all your compliance requires you can't change the chips as they go end of life.

phillipseamore 8y ago

Love this concept! The comment thread is fantastic as well.

enriquto 8y ago

oh my good I just need something like this!

tym0 8y ago
There is the GPD MicroPC if you can handle a terrible keyboard

rbanffy 8y ago

It's the antonym of "MacBook".

orf 8y ago

This feels like it's an unrealistic Christmas present list. By that I mean having a laptop with everything in this article would be absolutely amazing, but is it even possible to mass produce something like that, let alone even build the thing as a one-off? What would a more realistic sysadmin notebook look like?

kokey 8y ago
Like a Macbook with a bag that has plenty of hubs and adapters and a Raspberry Pi in there just in case. Perhaps the middle ground would be a box with all the ports this design has that you can plug into a USB-C laptop or tablet.
- giancarlostoro 8y ago
  The Surface has a "hub" but it's not nearly as powerful, and already in the $199 margin (Surface Dock).
opencl 8y ago
The GPD MicroPC actually exists and is not too far off of this thing in terms of ports, sadly it lacks the trackpoint. Especially sad since GPD has already released a system with a trackpoint.
- aplanas 8y ago
  But the GPD Pocket have the trackpoint. There is also a Pocket 2 and a new one still on design.
greenyouse 8y ago
I'd vote for getting a disposable laptop with good enough hardware to do most sysadmin things. A 2006/7/8 macbook isn't a bad choice IMO since it has all the standard ports. It supports two disk drives and the keyboard works OK. If you poke around you can usually get one in the $20-40 range. No USB-C or large processing power, but if you're mostly networking into other computers it shouldn't really be a bottleneck, right?

z3t4 8y ago

I think a mobile/phablet with usb adapter(s) could do the job. I'm currently working on an IDE with built in terminal emulator for mobile phones, where the hard lifting is done by the IDE backend running on a server. I think you either want a "full" laptop experience, or something more mobile, that fits in your pocket. Not something in-between. But it would look cool in a hacker movie!

S4M 8y ago
Do you have your mobile IDE available somewhere? I am looking for a way to code from my cellphone and I can't user Termux without a code keyboard (to get ctrl, tab, etc.) which takes most of the screen space on my phone.
- snazz 8y ago
  The volume buttons become control and alt in Termux, and if you swipe from the left and open the keyboard menu, you can enable a little overlay that includes keys like tab and escape. See more info at the Termux wiki: https://wiki.termux.com/wiki/Touch_Keyboard https://wiki.termux.com/wiki/Touch_Keyboard

tyingq 8y ago

Isn't small or light, but Getac ruggedized laptops seem to cover the high number of ports requirement: https://thecomputermarket.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/getacx500_backside.jpg https://thecomputermarket.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/... And, there's more ports on the sides too.

gravypod 8y ago
And getac keyboards are very interesting. If you love them you really love them.
a012 8y ago
Isn't it too expensive and heavy for daily tasks? If your work needs carry it around DC or similar, the rugged laptop is overkill.
- tyingq 8y ago
  I shared because it's the only thing I've seen that approaches the port density in the article.
- lightedman 8y ago
  "Isn't it too expensive and heavy for daily tasks?" At my job, we're carting 50+ lb solar panels around every other minute, by hand. All of us here right now are just in fits of giggling at the thought of any laptop being too heavy to carry around all day. To quote my Lay-up lead: "Si piensan que llevar una computadora portátil todo el día es un dolor, ¡deberían tratar de cargar a un niño durante 9 meses!"

anilakar 8y ago

Mostly reminds me of https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/The_Homer https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/The_Homer On a serious note, I mostly disagree about the small size. The author mentioned his preferred size being A5, which is about half a letter. Having to type commands on machine that just fits under your palms is painful. I'd rather have a large keyboard, large screen and a large battery. My current EDC setup is an X250 with a huge bag of adapter dongles, carried in a Falcon II.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
dkdbejwi383 8y ago
> which is about half a letter What oddly specific unit of measurement is this?
- runj__ 8y ago
  "US letter size" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_(paper_size) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_(paper_size)
- piqufoh 8y ago
  It's specific (US Letter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_(paper_size) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_(paper_size) ) - half of which is reasonaby close to A5, but I'm not sure why the "odd" qualifier.
  - robin_reala 8y ago
    I guess odd because it’s really only used in North America. I’ve never seen a piece of letter sized paper although I’ve heard of it (first after deciphering the weird PC LOAD LETTER error on HP laser printers which is extra confusing if you don’t realise that letter is a paper size).
    - odonnellryan 8y ago

INTPenis 8y ago

My geek sense goes a tingling for everything small and compact. BUT I used to be a sysadmin, still perform some of those duties, and I don't really need a tiny laptop. I have no issue with carrying a laptop bag containing a Thinkpad X1 anywhere I might need it. So outside of geekvalue I fail to see the market for this if the market is supposed to be sysadmins. Who thinks modern ultrabooks are too heavy? Considering it's a trade-off for having a full size keyboard and screen. If the author thinks their x200 is too heavy I can heartily recommend the x260 or even x280 which I saw recently at a friends place.

navidfarhadi 8y ago

This was a very interesting read. I’d love to see a similar write-up for a developer laptop. This is a small nitpick but the battery should be listed as 42 Wh, not W/h.

homero 8y ago

Incredible. This is real? It's like a fantasy wish list come to life.

misterdoubt 8y ago
It's a fantasy wish list brought to 3D rendering.

SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago

I remember when laptops had all sorts of legacy ports all over them. Good times! While getting this thing built seems somewhat unrealistic, perhaps someone could build a USB-C dock that basically replicates the back of a late-90s ATX PC - if only for the geek value alone.

mysterydip 8y ago
Sounds like something one of the better-known retro hardware geeks could do a kickstarter for. I'd buy one :)

keithpeter 8y ago

A bit small as others have commented but I like the 'Swiss army knife' approach. Perhaps a slightly larger version could be the future for the 'non-endpoint' laptop? Sound artists and so forth might find a use for such a thing. I find my ancient Thinkpad X61s is the one I actually take around, even though my slightly newer X220 is faster, has more memory and has a brighter screen.

ranger207 8y ago
>I find my ancient Thinkpad X61s is the one I actually take around, even though my slightly newer X220 is faster, has more memory and has a brighter screen. You may be interested in the x62: https://geoff.greer.fm/2017/07/16/thinkpad-x62/ https://geoff.greer.fm/2017/07/16/thinkpad-x62/

mihaifm 8y ago

Using the laptop monitor as a display for external sources (and the video input port) is a good idea, I'm not sure why nobody is implementing it these days. Are there any technical challenges to this, or is it a feature considered useless by all of the laptop producers?

dsfyu404ed 8y ago
It's the latter. Displays of all types have been able to handle multiple sources since forever. The only people who want this are sysadmins trying to troubleshoot A/V systems or plug into a server and college students who want to use a laptop as a screen for a gaming system. Neither of those groups are large or make the laptop manufacturers much profit so they're not going to be catered to by the OEMs.
detaro 8y ago
Tiny market share. With USB3, at least you can have video capture dongles with reasonable resolution. I know for HDMI they're quite common, but I'd assume someone makes a VGA version too.
- detaro 8y ago
  Searched a bit: USB3 VGA capture things are surprisingly expensive, but there's some cheap USB2 ones around. Presumably a sysadmin doesn't need high resolution, so those should work too.
vdm 8y ago
https://www.startech.com/Server-Management/KVM-Switches/USB-Crash-Cart-Adapter~NOTECONS02X https://www.startech.com/Server-Management/KVM-Switches/USB-...
- 24gttghh 8y ago
  $560? What the hell is in that thing?
  - 8y ago

yakshaving_jgt 8y ago

I just want a company to keep making the previous generation MacBook Air. Keep the ports. Keep the MagSafe. Don’t screw with the keyboard. More memory and disk space would be nice, but it’s not a deal-breaker. I don’t mind going for a walk or enjoying a cup of coffee while I wait for GHC to compile. It’s a good machine. Now leave it alone.

robin_reala 8y ago
Preferably the 11" Macbook Air.
- tluyben2 8y ago
  That was my favorite Apple laptop. So annoying they do not produce it anymore.
  - TomVDB 8y ago
    My big mistake was to buy the 2GB/64GB version. I could upgrade the SSD to 128GB, but the RAM is soldered. And it’s juat not enough for today.
    - tluyben2 8y ago
      I bought the 13 inch one with 4gb after my 11 inch one died and that really doesn't work anymore either; for anything serious 4gb is just always thrashing seeing the lovely colored ball which makes you wanting to pull your hair out.
      - rconti 8y ago
        Yeah I have a 2011 with 4GB.. it's finally starting to show its age, and the 128gb disk is always full. 8/256 would be perfect... but the screen is just starting to wear my down. I'm thinking of "upgrading" to the new one because of the display...
- isostatic 8y ago

ngcc_hk 8y ago

Like mac but for support carbon x1 with SIM card

NeedMoreTea 8y ago

Well now. I'd probably buy one for novelty if the price wasn't absurd. Bonus points for trackpoint. More bonus points for the USB in power supply brick. I do wish that was standard rather than usually one "power" USB port in the laptop. Lots of interesting ideas, many of which simply don't seem that useful any more. Having to carry around a bag of gender changers, PS2<-->USB and all the rest is thankfully becoming rarer. I'm not the target though, as I don't need a lot more than ability to ssh somewhere these days. If I wanted that small I'd probably go with a Gemini, the Psion 5 spritual successor, with proven great but tiny keyboard. Even that has proved too niche to part me from actual money: https://jmcomms.com/2017/11/29/gemini-pda-20-years-on-meet-the-all-new-psion-series-5/ https://jmcomms.com/2017/11/29/gemini-pda-20-years-on-meet-t...

giancarlostoro 8y ago
> Well now. I'd probably buy one for novelty if the price wasn't absurd. Bonus points for trackpoint. More bonus points for the USB in power supply brick. I do wish that was standard rather than usually one "power" USB port in the laptop. The Surface Book 2 has a USB slot on the charge brick.
- komali2 8y ago
  Last I checked, the surface book 2 under load consumed more power than the brick could provide. If it functions anything like my sp3 brick did, if there's a phone or whatever plugged in in such situations, they don't get enough juice to charge.
  - Intermernet 8y ago
    Yeah, but you gotta get to serious load. If you use it as a mining rig it might go flat, but I've trained ML models, done 3d rendering, and played some demanding games on mine without any problems.
bigbugbag 8y ago
Sorry but the trackpoint is probably gonna be dropped from this design. This is thing is heavily patented and costs a fortune that makes it unrealistic to add to a niche market product. This is learned from experience by the team who designed the openpandora.

StreamBright 8y ago

This would make my life easier in many situations. If it has enough RAM I would use it as my main computer even.

fuball63 8y ago

I recently found my old netbook while going through some stuff. The netbook trend was short lived, but I really like this machine (Acer Aspire One ZG5). Ethernet and card ports, plenty of USBs. And it has VGA, which for some reason I still have more use for than HDMI. They keyboard and mouse were better than my current laptop, a Lenovo Yoga 2 that I can't seem to get the hang of. And it has an Atom processor and really good battery life. Sadly I slipped on ice in a parking lot and broke the screen. I ordered a new one on ebay a few days ago, so hopefully I can revive it.

black-tea 8y ago
I still have a Dell Mini 9. Everything still works apart from the battery which doesn't last long. I recently built a very minimal Gentoo on there and it's very quick. I use it as a coffee table computer in my living room.
- gglitch 8y ago
  I got the Dell Mini 10v and I think it's still my favorite machine of all time. I've dj'ed several weddings with it, using mocp. It was the only machine I used in grad school. That was a truly righteous machine.
smacktoward 8y ago
I have very fond memories of my old Asus Eee PC 1000 netbook (see https://www.computerworld.com/article/2532501/mobile-wireless/the-asus-eee-1000----more-power--still-portable.html https://www.computerworld.com/article/2532501/mobile-wireles...). I miss netbooks. It’s too bad that we let Intel and Microsoft kill them.
- fuball63 8y ago
  I remember when Eee PC's came out and all the buzz about them. What do you mean by Microsoft and Intel killed them? I just assumed it was lack of market interest.
  - 8y ago

pcunite 8y ago

Hilarious! Would love to see something like this. I have the Thinkpad X220, and it is really a nice size for getting something serious done while still on the small side.

taneq 8y ago

If you ever build this thing I will buy one.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

aboutruby 8y ago

Like a lot of people mentioned, there are some obvious shortcomings. What I really like is all the thoughts are original ideas the author came up for this render. So many amazing little details.

chrisseaton 8y ago

> Such notebook is suitable for posting photos on Instagram, but not for work. At least not for mine. Why do people feel the need to be so snide and put down what other people do as 'not work'?

varjag 8y ago
For some reason it's a common attitude of sysadmins in the former USSR.
huhtenberg 8y ago
That's the only comment you have on a detailed technical post that spans several pages? This is not a snide remark. The site is habr.com, which is a Russian resource. So what you perceive is an offensive faux pas, is just a dry and cynical joke of a kind very common to the IT people of the former Soviet Union space. It's not a terribly funny joke, nor do I personally like this brand of humor, but it's clearly not made in bad spirit or meant to offend.
- chrisseaton 8y ago
  > That's the only comment you have on a detailed technical post that spans several pages? Yes it's a shame that it lets down the rest of the article, isn't it? > This is not a snide remark. Maybe you have a different idea of what snide is. I don't think it's 'offensive' I just think it's a bit nasty. Why can't they talk about their work without saying that what someone else does isn't work? What's the need for it? What does it add? This is 'snide' to me - derogatory and mocking.
  - lostmyoldone 8y ago
    When reading an article written by someone that clearly doesn't have English as a first language, I don't believe its altogether fair to criticize the tone of language as if it was written by a native speaker. More so when a literal reading of the sentences I assume you refer to, doesn't seem to support the interpretation you are criticising. It might be useful for the author to know how the text might be read, but otherwise one is probably better off reading the text with some lenience towards weaknesses, or mistakes in style and tone. The author clearly did quite a bit of work, writes an article in decent English, and I believe they deserve a little slack for what is most likely a minor cultural gaffe, or a joke that doesn't translate that well.

platz 8y ago

Not sure what I'll find to replace my T420 with classic keyboard when it dies. What laptops do T420 users migrate to that has a non-terrible keyboard? (I am not a big fan of the new Thinkpad keyboards) Can I put a t420 classic keyboard on a new-gen Thinkpad? Is it a good idea?

Tharkun 8y ago
There are basically no laptops with good keyboards anymore. I've given up on trying to find one. Thinkpads have gone down the drain. Lenovo aren't even offering on-site support or extended warranty on all models anymore (even if you want to pay more!). They've gone from quality business models to, well, slightly better than garbage.
- pnutjam 8y ago
  Run of the mill Dell's suck, but the latitude line of laptops are pretty good. They are easier to service and find parts for as well.
ntw1103 8y ago
You can install a T420 keyboard into a T430/T430s/x230. This requires a really tiny modification to the plastic, cutting/filing it to fit, but the connectors are the same. There will be a couple keys that remain dead, but aside from that, it works great. There is also the Thinkpad 25 retro, if you have a ton of money, but I haven't gotten a chance to try that keyboard.

criddell 8y ago

> Such notebook is suitable for posting photos on Instagram, but not for work. There's something about that statement that put me off the entire article. Maybe the author truly is 3l337, but it just comes off as condescending. Plus, who uses a notebook for Instagram? The author managed to be simultaneously derisive and clueless.

carlospwk 8y ago
Ditto. I instantly thought of a less successful and intelligent version of Gilfoyle from Silicon Valley.
dagw 8y ago
who uses a notebook for Instagram? I think he's doing the tech equivalent of pretending not have heard of a popular band or not knowing what the Super Bowl is to try to make yourself look extra cool.
tom_ 8y ago
Well, the sysadmin type of role does attract a specific type of dork! - but I think you rather unfairly stopped quoting just before the key point.
supermooka 8y ago
> All of them imitate the MacBook Air: thin, shiny, glamorous, and they all critically lack ports. This is the sentence before. IMO you’re being way too harsh. He is clearly trying to emphasize that the average consumers has lost their need for ports, thus, most lightweight computers aren’t sufficient for the author’s line of work. But OMG the author doesn’t know the proper context of Instagram! This whole article loses credibility! Listen to yourself.
- tedunangst 8y ago
  Why do people who don't need multiple serial ports stop being real users?
  - 8y ago

varjag 8y ago

Doesn't have coaxial propellers option to double as a camera drone. A show stopper for me! Seriously, this is computer nerds' version of prepping, starting with a diss at clueless commoners and gradually piling up the levels of ridiculous.

bryanlarsen 8y ago
The author wrote "But I hope you will find a couple of interesting thoughts here." They're asking notebook makers to see it as a grab bag of ideas, not a unified whole.
lostmyoldone 8y ago
Except for the diss - which I felt was quite unnecessary - I don't think that's fair. There are people out there that definitely would have use of something like this if it existed. Feels a bit on the small size for me, but if you spend a fair amount of time in crampes networking/gear closets, I can see how it would be useful. I have worked in environments where I've had to lug around screens, RS232, RS485, CAN bus adapters, SD card readers, you name it. Have had to scrounge up extension cables to get power because there are no jacks within 20m, and the list goes on. Yes you can use adapters and dongles, yes you get by, it's your job to make things work. But in certain kind of environments a machine in this vein is something that actually would make work more efficient, and much more fun. While these environments might be getting more rare nowadays, they are not extinct by a long shot.

morganvachon 8y ago

Unfortunately something like this would never come to market, but I use a laptop that comes close enough for my needs. My current portable is a HP Elite X2 1011 G1 (yep that's a mouthful), it's a previous generation version of their current 1012 G2 product. It's a Surface-style convertible that is as fast as a typical business desktop machine, with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB M.2 SSD onboard. The keyboard base has 2x USB3, a SmartCard slot, full size DisplayPort output, some sort of HP proprietary dock connector, a TRRS headset jack, and an internal battery. The tablet portion doesn't have any ports other than a TRRS headset jack, but it does have a Wacom stylus as well as a MicroSD slot and onboard LTE celluar data (I'm using a Ting GSM SIM with that). Using it as a laptop I get 12+ hours of battery life. It draws from the keyboard battery first, so you can run that dry and still have 5 to 6 hours of battery in the tablet, making it an all day machine. It's only slightly bigger than my last convertible, an ASUS Transformer Pad, and much more powerful. It doesn't have the wide range of ports in this article, but then nothing out there does. If I need VGA/DVI/HDMI I can carry a DisplayPort cable with those ends, and if I need Ethernet I can carry a USB3 to Gigabit adapter. Both would fit in the slim case I kept from the Transformer.

jeffreymartin99 8y ago
There is every possibility of something close to this coming to market. Not every device needs to sell in the millions.
- tluyben2 8y ago
  Yep, look at the Gemini or the Pocket (2). Niche systems which are apparently worth making.
  - bigbugbag 8y ago
    look at the pyra: https://pyra-handheld.com/ https://pyra-handheld.com/
    - tluyben2 8y ago

hasperdi 8y ago

If you want something that you can buy now, or soon... here are some options: - GPD Micro https://liliputing.com/2019/01/first-look-gpd-micro-pc-handheld-computer-with-intel-gemini-lake-ces-2019.html https://liliputing.com/2019/01/first-look-gpd-micro-pc-handh... - GPD Pocket 2 Mini https://liliputing.com/2018/12/gpd-launches-a-cheaper-pocket-2-mini-laptop-with-celeron-3965y.html https://liliputing.com/2018/12/gpd-launches-a-cheaper-pocket... - Clones / look alike of the GPD Pocket

chrisseaton 8y ago
Whatever happened to the 'netbook' form factor? That just seemed to disappear overnight.
- ansible 8y ago
  There are various Chromebooks nearly as small, with low weight. I've installed GalliumOS on mine, and it is working pretty good. Light and handy, though battery life isn't quite as good as it was with ChromeOS. The main thing missing is Ethernet, but I have a dongle for that.
- ohithereyou 8y ago
  Thin margins and the realization that if netbooks became popular most people would likely not buy normal laptops. Why make the one thing that kills the rest of your product line?
  - yellowapple 8y ago
    If that were the case, then companies would be tripping over each other to build netbooks and torch their existing laptop lines, lest some other company beats them to the punch and steals the market from under them.
- 24gttghh 8y ago
  Smartphones with 6" screens I would imagine.
- 8y ago

aaronharnly 8y ago

I love the exercise of this — it reminds me of the hours I spent as a kid, drawing multi-angle views of what I hoped would be the “Commodore 256” or “Amiga 5000”. The loving inclusion of each port, paragraphs of explanation — it’s just great.

pbhjpbhj 8y ago
Ha, I love that you were a childhood product designer for home computers. I used to do similar for cars, lots of arrows with text descriptions of what the "novel" parts were. Wonder what things other people did? I know of people who were obsessed with inventing dinosaurs, and monsters/aliens.
- bloopernova 8y ago
  I used to spend hours and days designing ships for Elite, Carrier Command, and Starglider 2 I was a terrible artist, but loved detailing every console and chair and storage space (seriously, I loved drawing storage spaces! I think it stems from seeing the Millennium Falcon in Empire Strikes Back with all its open crawlspaces and falling-apart-awesomeness)
- TeMPOraL 8y ago
  I did spaceships and cars; the latter essentially designed for James Bond.

chvid 8y ago

I was going to suggest him to get the smallest macbook pro ...

readingnews 8y ago

Soooo, when is the kickstarter? I have had so many countless sysadmins ask for a keyboard similar to that one (perhaps not the keyboard layout). I think the primary interests are: serial port (yes, even today not having to carry a dongle is great) ability to use kb/vid/mouse as a kb/vid/mouse for servers multiple network connections I would probably pitch into a kickstarter for that laptop.

ainiriand 8y ago

For me aluminum is a no-go. I get electric discharges every time I touch it. Independently if I am at the office, at home, or at the beach.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

foo101 8y ago

How were the illustrations in this post created?

afandian 8y ago

The Apple eMate 300 had a tripod stand in the base. https://www.flickr.com/photos/48126477@N05/8463211826 https://www.flickr.com/photos/48126477@N05/8463211826

hartator 8y ago

The MacBook 12” is still pretty strong if you don’t need a CPU.

jshowa3 8y ago

My guess is there's way too much stuff in terms of I/O for this form factor to even be feasible.

m0skit0 8y ago

I love the thought experiment however putting all those connectors in there + a decent battery is not going to be simple (if even possible at all).

oregontechninja 8y ago

HP x360, Intel i3, 6GB ram. Affordable, durable, works well with multiple flavors of Linux and dual boots just fine. Been administrating systems for years with this baby.

lou1306 8y ago
I know HP takes a lot of flak for their consumer laptops, but some of their Pavilion x360 are good in an almost unreasonable way, if you want them to be. I got a 13'' one, with an i5, at a Cyber monday sale and used the extra money to put in a good SSD and double the RAM to 16 GB. Just a lovely machine, which is also quite repair-friendly: I had to replace the fan after ~2 years and everything I needed was readily available online (parts list, service manual, etc.)

_pmf_ 8y ago

I love it (though it's like Homer's car).

lifeformed 8y ago

What about a touchscreen? Are matte touchscreens a thing? I didn't think I'd ever use the touchscreen on my laptop but I have found myself finding it convenient for quick actions when I'm not seated in front of it. I can imagine only having the TrackPoint to navigate menus to be annoying when you're standing.

thisismyaccoun7 8y ago

I went with a Dell Latitude 3180, which is basically a Chromebook that comes with Windows instead. I wanted something 10+ hours battery life, small (11-13" screen), fanless so that it'd be quiet. --Linux works 100% --11 hour in-use battery life so it doesn't live plugged in --Dead quiet (no fan) --Has good enough specs to get by (N4000 cpu, 4gb ram, edit: also a ssd rather than flash storage, which makes a big difference, and I have a 256gb microsd for extra storage) --Not a convertible and has a real keyboard I paid about $200 for it. It gets used more than my $1k laptop.

bubblethink 8y ago

Lots of good ideas. I have on more than one occasion wished for the laptop's monitor, keyboard and mouse to double up as peripherals for another computer. Another niche thing I've wished for is this: An input selector on the laptop's monitor to select b/w igpu and dgpu. The use case if for gpu passthrough to vms so that you switch between host and guest and still get good gpu performance in the guest. Current optimus setups on laptops are all over the place in their implementation, although some of them do allow passthrough of the dgpu. The main blocker though is that dgpu is only connected to external ports. So if you mux it to the internal panel, you can achieve this without complicated software hacks or copying of framebuffer from one gpu to another. The only additional software support you'd need is to capture the keyboard and mouse for the host or guest based on the context.

sdwisely 8y ago

honestly I'd be really happy with a keyboard that folded out to around the size of one of the smallish bluetooth keyboards, X emacs a browser and a terminal on my phablet. The closest I've come was a nexus 7 with a keyboard case and bluetooth mouse and remote desktop.

duiker101 8y ago

Corporate GUIs: The laptop.

TeMPOraL 8y ago
You mean: designed to be useful, not pretty?

MagicPropmaker 8y ago

Lenovo Yoga!

cik 8y ago

I use a Microsoft Surface Pro 2 for all my mobile needs. I bought it on eBay for ~$200 two years ago, and it's now 5 years old. It's light as all get up, runs Linux perfectly out of the box and I bought it to run a browser and SSH into things. It also has a displayport, and a single USB, and I can ultimately connect it to everything I need. It's literally the best piece of technology I've ever owned. I use it for so much more than I intended - but at $200, when the thing dies, I'm just going to throw it out and buy a newer one on eBay. I'm blown away by how much more useful this is than every other thing I've had over the last 20 years.

tluyben2 8y ago
I keep wanting to get one but the battery life always keeps me from doing that. Mobile for me means a lot of battery life; you do not need that or is it actually ok?
- cik 8y ago
  I get ~5 hours which is beyond more than enough for my needs. I also keep power adapters. Honestly, I've never understood the obsession with long battery life on a laptop. It's significantly lighter to carry the adapter (super light on a surface) than have an extended battery, and either way you have a knapsack/laptop bag. Also - other than this one coffee shop I'm not a fan of, there's always power nearby.
  - tluyben2 8y ago
    Yeah that really depends on where/what you are doing. I spend a large amount of time in airplanes, a lot of which (as I don't fly business) have no charging sockets. Then in places where I go, for instance in HK, it is actually really rare to find sockets in coffee shops or bars.
    - cik 8y ago
      That totally makes sense to me. It's the same reason I hard relied on the air years ago - the 9 hours just about covered the majority of the exact same need. Tradeoffs.

tw04 8y ago

I've been staring at a surface go for a while now which I think meets all these needs. The one thing I'd like is a case with an attached keyboard (like the old clamcase) rather than the soft keyboard/stand.

jimnutt 8y ago
I have a surface go, the 8gb version, and am very happy with it. I've left it running Windows 10 home, but installed the linux subsystem which works quite nicely. You'd think the keyboard would be a weak point, but it's not as bad to use as it looks like it would be. And it runs the games I care about (Civ 6, Kerbal, Subnautica, etc) well enough that I can enjoy them. It's lacking in ports, having just a single USB C, but a hub with a couple of USB A ports, a USB C, HDMI and ethernet only runs about $60 and isn't very big. All in all, I've been really happy with it, it fits in a small bag, will charge off the same USB C charger my phone uses if needed (albeit slowly) and is useful as a tablet for just surfing the web on or watching Netflix.

runjake 8y ago

This is the TempleOS of computer hardware. I don't know whether to be impressed or weirded out. I am also a network engineer, and I have an X200 and an 11" Chromebook (yeah ChromeOS can do FTDI serial) set up as rudimentary on-the-go engineers stations but they're still not at flexible as my 15" MacBook Pro -- so I just end up lugging my 15" MBP around and propping it up precariously in racks. I still dream, though.

kingofhdds 8y ago
What do you mean by flexibility here?
dTal 8y ago
Not sure what you mean by that, given that TempleOS actually exists but is very impractical, unlike this (on both counts).
- runjake 8y ago
  That was what I meant. I don't find this practical at all. The author means well, though.

yellowapple 8y ago

I use a ThinkPad T470 at work and it's served me quite well. Not really sure I'd want to go much smaller. I do agree that it's silly to have Print Screen where it is (though it's actually kinda handy, too, when I need to take a whole bunch of screenshots, e.g. when writing documentation). The idea of being able to plug a laptop into a server or something and instantly transform said laptop into a console is pretty neat. Sure, that's what SSH and RDP are for, until the server falls off the network. This would be a great application for USB Type-C; just plug into the C connector on the front of the server, switch to "console" mode on the laptop, and you're in business.

smorrow 8y ago
They should just put those Sheevaplug USB serials in servers.

sbr464 8y ago

I'm needing a clamp or solution to hold/lock usb-c cables into a macbook pro typically, or IBM X1. I was going to just 3d print something, but was hoping for something a bit more polished/form fitting. Having issues in the lab/shop with cables coming out during sensitive processes/data collection etc. Especially since a usb/ethernet dongle is heavier with multiple cables plugged in.

lostmyoldone 8y ago
Yeah keeping cables in can be an issue, and I don't know of any polished solutions. I have occasionally used high quality adhesive hook and loop tape to affix USB hubs and hard drives to the backside of my laptop screen to help avoid similar issues. I taped a few strips of the soft loops on the lid which I replace when they get dirty, and then hooks on the accessories. So while it won't lock the cable in the USB slot, maybe it could help to use an industrial hub with either lockable, or high-retention USB ports affixed to the computer, and then only have a very short and soft cable to the laptop USB-C port? Sample lockable ports hub: https://buy.advantech-bb.com/USB-Communications/USB-Hubs/model-BB-USH304.htm https://buy.advantech-bb.com/USB-Communications/USB-Hubs/mod...

arthurcolle 8y ago

sad this doesn't exist. it's so cute

rwmj 8y ago

I submitted this link for the new Pinebook Pro which was released a couple of days ago. It didn't get much traction but here goes: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19038420 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19038420 It doesn't have the crazy keyboard or "sunshade", but it's fairly similar in other ways and only costs $199 so I guess you have money left over to drill extra holes for indicators and extra external ports.

afandian 8y ago
HN has discussed Pinebooks over the years, but I too was hoping for some discussion about the recent announcements.
aidenn0 8y ago
Killer feature of the TFA notebook IMO is the VGA input. It was actually the feature I first thought of reading the title before clicking.
bigbugbag 8y ago
I own several pine64 and they're not delivering on the promises and expectations. This is why I'm staying far away from the pinebook pro. Also imho the pinebook pro is crippled by a lack of ram, arm cpu (lack of support from major OS), lack of upgrability, etc. it's more in line with a olpc laptop than the sysadmin notebook presented here.

sneakernets 8y ago

I'll make this simpler: I want a 4:3 ThinkPad T61 with modern hardware. Same thickness, same keyboard, same everything. Widescreen sucks for code.

amiga-workbench 8y ago
Take a look at the 51nb X62.

cabalamat 8y ago

The folding blinds are a very nice touch.

deanclatworthy 8y ago

Anyone who works in the field or tough conditions just goes for toughbooks. These things can withstand pretty much anything you throw at it. https://na.panasonic.com/us/computers-tablets-handhelds/computers/laptops/toughbook-31 https://na.panasonic.com/us/computers-tablets-handhelds/comp...

5874-4b22-a4e0 8y ago

This looks really good, can I paypal you a preorder deposit for 10 machines?

eddie_catflap 8y ago

I'm in the market for something like this for on call purposes. Something small/light enough to stow in a coat pocket but which has a physical keyboard and enough functionality for me to be able to triage most issues without having to resort to a laptop. I've been trying the Gemini which almost fits the bill but doesn't quite cut it - the keyboard is OK but not backlit (I didn't think about how often that comes in handy when purchasing). I'll probably try the follow up 'Cosmo' when that comes out. Would love to see any other suggestions.

beetwenty 8y ago
In another reply thread I mentioned that I'm using a $50 smartphone kit consisting of a smartphone stand(Nulaxy brand, but there are dozens of similar designs) and iClever folding Bluetooth keyboard for writing. I think this is roughly along the lines of what you might want. The keyboard fits snugly in a vest pocket(it comes in two versions - I'm using the larger version with full-size keys and backlight) and gives a decent - not amazing, but good enough that I don't care - typing experience. There are many folding Bluetooth keyboards on Amazon, but this one stood out from the pack. Combined with the stand to raise my phone I have something a bit more ergonomic than most integrated-device experiences, definitely better than what I would get from a Gemini when a flat surface is available, and I can literally throw on my vest and go for a jog and then take out the kit at a coffeeshop and lose myself in writing without difficulty. You might also need more I/O or a full PC architecture, but this setup was like a "my search is over" moment for me.
- eddie_catflap 8y ago
  I’ll check that keyboard out! Many thanks.

hsnewman 8y ago

And that's when we knew he had way, way too much time on his hands.

teachrdan 8y ago

> The notebook has 2 webcams. The front-facing one is 8MP (4K / UltraHD), while the “selfie” one is 2MP (FullHD). Naive question from a software engineer: What does a sysadmin need a forward-facing camera for? I personally only ever use my laptop camera for Zoom meetings.

mschuster91 8y ago
> What does a sysadmin need a forward-facing camera for? Photographing server racks for documentation comes to my mind.

mschuster91 8y ago

I'd buy one in a heartbeat, although in a form factor a bit larger... an DIN A5 sized device is a bit small for my needs, but DIN A4? Count me in. What I'd add though is support for PS2 mouse/keyboard. Much old stuff still uses that...

linsomniac 8y ago

This design reminds me of the original OLPC XO with the hand crank generator. One of the OLPC people gave a talk to our Linux Users Group and told the story: We realized that the hand crank put a lot of stress on the chassis of the XO. The materials design people came to us and said "We can totally solve this! We just machine this part of the chassis out of titanium!" And we were like "Thanks guys, but that's not even close to being in budget." Thinking about the tripod mount: That seems like it's going to create a lot of stress on the body of the laptop. Some of the ideas of this Admin Book remind me of that: sure you could probably make it happen, but the cost would probably be eye-watering. Like top of the line MacBook Pro pricing. He says he is interested in doing a Kickstarter but doesn't know how, I think there's a reality check that needs to go into it as the first step. It's an interesting idea, and something I would have liked in the past for on-call EDC. But in the end I decided on a ThinkPad T520 and just carried it with me in a bag if I was using it, or in the car if I was not working. I kept looking at those Sony Vaio P laptops, but never ended up buying one.

linsomniac 8y ago

It seems like this would be better as two laptops: An ultra-compact for carrying in your pocket, and a bigger one with tons of accessories that you carry in a Pelican for work in the field. If you are climbing a mast or the like, you are probably out in the field with a kit. You probably don't need a laptop that can fit in your coat pocket. You probably want various cables and dongles and mounting brackets for tripod or pipe mount, etc... For on-call, I'd be tempted to just use my phone. I can set up Android with SSH and VPN, I can use a bluetooth keyboard if I need to type a lot, or if I just need to get in and run some commands to investigate, I can use the on screen keyboard.

keepper 8y ago

This is SUCH a niche system, that I don't understand why carrying adapter is a bad thing. There are already laptops that kinda fit his keyboard/pointer/size requirements. - His "video subsystem" idea already has a solution for many years. KVM2USB. https://www.epiphan.com/products/kvm2usb-3-0/ https://www.epiphan.com/products/kvm2usb-3-0/ - His "let me turn this into a boot device" also has a solution. Many virtual cd rom devices exist, for example https://www.amazon.com/Iodd-Iodd2531-Black-Virtual-Enclosures/dp/B00TDJ4BJU https://www.amazon.com/Iodd-Iodd2531-Black-Virtual-Enclosure... If you're in such a niche requirements.. either you pay a ton ( military laptops), or you're ok with adapters :)

garettmd 8y ago
As someone who's used a KVM->USB device before, check out this Startech device. Still outrageously expensive (WTH should a device like this cost more than $50?) but cheaper than the epiphan. https://smile.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Console-Portable-Adapter-Transfer/dp/B00IZGR6IK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1549047645&sr=8-3&keywords=startech+kvm https://smile.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Console-Portable-Adapt...
camtarn 8y ago
Why carrying an adaptor is a bad thing: That horrible feeling when you get to the end of your five hour drive to the client site, and realize the adaptor is on your desk. Of course, you can fix this with checklists or a shadow board style toolkit, but I do certainly dream of having one piece of hardware that connects to everything I use. As an industrial programmer and occasional field sysadmin, this notebook would be amazing for me. Of course, it would probably also be so expensive that I would never buy one...!
- sigi45 8y ago
  I would assume, that i would have a 'toolbox' like any handyman but for it stuff. I like the idea very much of switching input/output and using it for that (had often enough once in a year experience with this issue) but i can also just carry a lcd display with me. I would also make sure that my customer sites are in a state of ready. Like having a display close by or keyboard.

mey 8y ago

Get a Surface Go with LTE (or if you need TPM a Surface Pro). Then get a small bag of usb-a dongles for your needs. For the head unit issue, something like https://www.epiphan.com/products/kvm2usb-3-0/ https://www.epiphan.com/products/kvm2usb-3-0/ could work.

bokchoi 8y ago

I recently came across this cool DYI laptop that is in the works: http://mntmn.com/reform/ http://mntmn.com/reform/ It doesn't fit exactly with the OP's needs but it comes pretty close I think.

bokchoi 8y ago
Here is a recent status update with pictures of the beta unit: https://mntmn.com/media/news_md/2019-01-14-status_update_on_reform.html https://mntmn.com/media/news_md/2019-01-14-status_update_on_...

syntaxing 8y ago

Reminds me of a GPD Pocket (2) Laptop minus the peripheral interface and custom key colors. E: Probably would be cheaper to make a USB-C interface board to work with the GPD.

widowlark 8y ago

It's literally an X200s

automathematics 8y ago

Since most of my work is command line / cloud I just really want to see something like the Sony Vaio P form factor that runs a really great terminal emulator. I'm ok with USB-C and dongles for when I need to hook something up, but a laptop the size of an iPad mini would make me very happy

nfriedly 8y ago

This reminds me of the GPD MicroPC - https://www.gpd.hk/gpdmicropc https://www.gpd.hk/gpdmicropc - it's not available yet, but they should begin taking orders pretty soon. This is a review of a pre-production model: https://liliputing.com/2019/01/first-look-gpd-micro-pc-handheld-computer-with-intel-gemini-lake-ces-2019.html https://liliputing.com/2019/01/first-look-gpd-micro-pc-handh... & https://liliputing.com/2019/01/gpd-micropc-benchmarks.html https://liliputing.com/2019/01/gpd-micropc-benchmarks.html I have one of their previous devices, the Win 2, which is more gaming-oriented, and I love it.

kevin_thibedeau 8y ago

If you want modern hardware, mate a 7" tablet to a Cherry G84 compact keyboard. Otherwise resurrect a netbook.

hutch120 8y ago

I'm keen to see the phone evolve into a useful computer. Physical connections could be achieved with bluetooth adapters and the like. Keyboard either virtual/projected, or tacktile foldout for touchtyping. Screen could be a tiny projector, or google glass style. Anyone got links to this type of system?

v8engine 8y ago

The color coded keyboard seems like a neat and readily achievable idea. Are there any laptops with that available on market now?

amiga-workbench 8y ago

I really do empathise with the authors sentiment, even the supposedly business grade lines of laptops are being consumerized with soldered RAM, no ports, no swappable batteries and cruddy 16:9 displays. I wish Panasonic actually sold their gear outside Japan, they still build tools first and foremost, fashion accessories second. The Lets Note RZ6 looks fantastic.

fipple 8y ago

This set of ideas is probably most easily commercialized as a USB-C dongle with a fuckload of ports (including display inputs) that you can then connect to any laptop you want. For bonus points, the dongle could include port-testing functionality, and a webserver, so you plug it in, browse to http://dongle http://dongle, and see that your Ethernet port is fucked.

dimman 8y ago

Small change proposal for the UART<->USB bridge: make Vio selectable between 3.3V/5V

wiseleo 8y ago

I use an 8" Windows 10 tablet with a USB hub and random keyboards and mice. There's always a keyboard and a mouse somewhere in the data center. If not, I have my bluetooth keyboard with a touchpad. I have it configured with all necessary tools. It works great as a Cisco console. Oh yeah, it cost me $48 at Fry's. I have two of them. Battery life is more than 5 hours.

mvkel 8y ago

This largely speaks to the hardware issue of managing racks, but... is there actually a hardware issue?