8 ms·

The one time I programmed on a train (central pennsylvania to new york city) was better than the times I've programmed on aircraft. Not sure if it was seat size

The one time I programmed on a train (central pennsylvania to new york city) was better than the times I've programmed on aircraft. Not sure if it was seat size, the consistency of altitude, smoothness, etc. But I'd love to do more work trips on a train.

lucb1e 4y ago
Don't forget the constant very loud plane engine noise, and the number of people in line of sight to distract you (a train is more elongated so you're further away from most other passengers). And as you already mentioned, a major factor for me would be the space to actually use a 15" laptop conveniently. Programming on a train means 30 minutes of crunch time and tangible progress for me; on a plane I can't imagine it being nice though I never tried it (for me flying is a wonderful experience, probably because I almost never do it and I love the perspective you have out the window and I monitor my phone's sensors like pressure and gps and everything, enjoying the special experience).
- KptMarchewa 4y ago
  Modern trains are way quieter than planes though.
  - lucb1e 4y ago
    Oh darn I see that an edit I did made it confusing and I didn't re-read it anymore (edited again for clarity just now). I meant that planes are very loud whereas trains usually just whizz away. There are indeed some old trains that were very loud, I remember the NL Mat'64 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NS_Mat_%2764 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NS_Mat_%2764) where my phone (uncalibrated, so it'll have been wrong but I don't know by how much) said the employees had to be offered hearing protection and my subjective experience would say the same. For the 8 minutes that I spent in those local trains, it was perfectly fine and also hearing-safe afaik (don't try to drown it out with music as I did, though :/). Since the retirement of this model a few years ago, all trains I've been on in NL/DE are much quieter.
41b696ef1113 4y ago
If nothing else, you can spend nearly all of the time working. No "please stow away your large electronic devices" 20+ minutes before takeoff/landing.

lucb1e 4y ago

Don't forget the constant very loud plane engine noise, and the number of people in line of sight to distract you (a train is more elongated so you're further away from most other passengers). And as you already mentioned, a major factor for me would be the space to actually use a 15" laptop conveniently. Programming on a train means 30 minutes of crunch time and tangible progress for me; on a plane I can't imagine it being nice though I never tried it (for me flying is a wonderful experience, probably because I almost never do it and I love the perspective you have out the window and I monitor my phone's sensors like pressure and gps and everything, enjoying the special experience).

KptMarchewa 4y ago
Modern trains are way quieter than planes though.
- lucb1e 4y ago
  Oh darn I see that an edit I did made it confusing and I didn't re-read it anymore (edited again for clarity just now). I meant that planes are very loud whereas trains usually just whizz away. There are indeed some old trains that were very loud, I remember the NL Mat'64 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NS_Mat_%2764 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NS_Mat_%2764) where my phone (uncalibrated, so it'll have been wrong but I don't know by how much) said the employees had to be offered hearing protection and my subjective experience would say the same. For the 8 minutes that I spent in those local trains, it was perfectly fine and also hearing-safe afaik (don't try to drown it out with music as I did, though :/). Since the retirement of this model a few years ago, all trains I've been on in NL/DE are much quieter.

41b696ef1113 4y ago

If nothing else, you can spend nearly all of the time working. No "please stow away your large electronic devices" 20+ minutes before takeoff/landing.