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Reading down the proposed spec sheet, I'm starting to see how crappy the competition is! * Apple MacBook - Nothing configurable. Expensive and not build to be

Reading down the proposed spec sheet, I'm starting to see how crappy the competition is! * Apple MacBook - Nothing configurable. Expensive and not build to be repaired. * Microsoft Surface - Much the same, but with Windows * Lenovo Thinkpad - A little more configurable than a MacBook, and much better value, but still difficult to repair. Missing premium features like an Aluminium case. * Dell XPS 13 - Much like the Lenovo, but the Linux option is nice. If they pull this off, developers are going to love it. I really wish them the best. My advice? Make sure it works _flawlessly_ with the top 3 Linux distributions.

protomyth 6y ago
My advice? Make sure it works _flawlessly_ with the top 3 Linux distributions. May sure it works flawlessly with one of the BSD distributions and you know the Linux experience will be flawless.
f1refly 6y ago
My first thought on it was that I love it and I want one, my second thought was that its really sad they don't have a thinkpad-like rubberized alloy case but only a subpar mac-like shell available. Tastes differ, I guess.
w0mbat 6y ago
Intel processors are done in the laptop market. I'll stick with fast, silent, ARM based machines like the M1 MacBooks.
codemac 6y ago
> Missing premium features like an Aluminium case. Magnesium is a different type of premium for some.
- notretarded 6y ago
  Just don't get it wet!
- SilverRed 6y ago
  Its extremely light. I initially thought it was plastic until I tapped and scraped my fingernail along the vents.
arianvanp 6y ago
> * Lenovo Thinkpad - A little more configurable than a MacBook, and much better value, but still difficult to repair. Missing premium features like an Aluminium case. difficult to repair? They're super easy to repair! My T430 even came with a bay to access the RAM and hard drive without opening the case up. Also replacing things like keyboard usually is only 2 screws even on the newer models. All screws are standard philips too. Lenovo also published comprehensive repair guides for all their thinkpad laptops.
- dfgdghdf 6y ago
  I think that model is discontinued. You need to compare with the X1 Carbon models.
  - nickflood 6y ago
    Dell XPS 13/15/17 are super repairable, too. Unlike the macbooks, the battery is replaceable. On 15"/17" models the RAM is socketed. The SSD drives are all standard socketed. And nothing is glued, everything is screwed in with a good replacement parts market available after about a year of the laptop coming out. I've just gotten the XPS 9310 and 9700 and they are very repairable. Only things missing are the RAM on a 13" version and wifi cards being soldered in (but you can theoretically use a different wi-fi card on a 17" as it has a spare M.2 slot). Before that I've performed upgrades from XPS 15 9550 to 9560 and 9570 by swapping the motherboard and couple other parts. So it's not like Apple _at all_. It's more like the opposite of Apple
fsflover 6y ago
> I'm starting to see how crappy the competition is! What about this laptop? https://puri.sm/products/librem-14 https://puri.sm/products/librem-14
efficax 6y ago
Is the thinkpad better value than the MacBook? The i7 16GB ram / 512GB ssd Thinkpad X1 Carbon is $1900 and you don't even get a nice display. The M1 16GB/512GB ssd Macbook Pro is only $1700 and you get a best-in-class display along with that. The XPS 13 and Surface are similarly priced. Macbooks are very price competitive and have been for a long time.

protomyth 6y ago

My advice? Make sure it works _flawlessly_ with the top 3 Linux distributions. May sure it works flawlessly with one of the BSD distributions and you know the Linux experience will be flawless.

f1refly 6y ago

My first thought on it was that I love it and I want one, my second thought was that its really sad they don't have a thinkpad-like rubberized alloy case but only a subpar mac-like shell available. Tastes differ, I guess.

w0mbat 6y ago

Intel processors are done in the laptop market. I'll stick with fast, silent, ARM based machines like the M1 MacBooks.

codemac 6y ago

> Missing premium features like an Aluminium case. Magnesium is a different type of premium for some.

notretarded 6y ago
Just don't get it wet!
SilverRed 6y ago
Its extremely light. I initially thought it was plastic until I tapped and scraped my fingernail along the vents.

arianvanp 6y ago

> * Lenovo Thinkpad - A little more configurable than a MacBook, and much better value, but still difficult to repair. Missing premium features like an Aluminium case. difficult to repair? They're super easy to repair! My T430 even came with a bay to access the RAM and hard drive without opening the case up. Also replacing things like keyboard usually is only 2 screws even on the newer models. All screws are standard philips too. Lenovo also published comprehensive repair guides for all their thinkpad laptops.

dfgdghdf 6y ago
I think that model is discontinued. You need to compare with the X1 Carbon models.
- nickflood 6y ago
  Dell XPS 13/15/17 are super repairable, too. Unlike the macbooks, the battery is replaceable. On 15"/17" models the RAM is socketed. The SSD drives are all standard socketed. And nothing is glued, everything is screwed in with a good replacement parts market available after about a year of the laptop coming out. I've just gotten the XPS 9310 and 9700 and they are very repairable. Only things missing are the RAM on a 13" version and wifi cards being soldered in (but you can theoretically use a different wi-fi card on a 17" as it has a spare M.2 slot). Before that I've performed upgrades from XPS 15 9550 to 9560 and 9570 by swapping the motherboard and couple other parts. So it's not like Apple _at all_. It's more like the opposite of Apple

fsflover 6y ago

> I'm starting to see how crappy the competition is! What about this laptop? https://puri.sm/products/librem-14 https://puri.sm/products/librem-14

efficax 6y ago

Is the thinkpad better value than the MacBook? The i7 16GB ram / 512GB ssd Thinkpad X1 Carbon is $1900 and you don't even get a nice display. The M1 16GB/512GB ssd Macbook Pro is only $1700 and you get a best-in-class display along with that. The XPS 13 and Surface are similarly priced. Macbooks are very price competitive and have been for a long time.