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If it’s a laptop battery life should be the first thing to compare. The ability to be anywhere and not worry about battery life seems like THE #1 most important

If it’s a laptop battery life should be the first thing to compare. The ability to be anywhere and not worry about battery life seems like THE #1 most important aspect.

tambourine_man 4y ago
It used to be, but these days laptops are the new desktops. Almost no one buys desktops anymore, even though they are obviously a better choice in many regards, including ergonomics, if the thing is to be strapped to a desk 100% of the time.
- samatman 4y ago
  Because as soon as that 100% becomes a reasonable number like 98%, a laptop is your only choice. The market for desktop computers is a market for people who also own laptops, with very few exceptions (mostly gamers).
  - tambourine_man 4y ago
    The 98% would probably be better served with a very light with great battery laptop and beefy, quiet, large screen and good keyboard, desktop but instead end up buying something that's not great for either use case.
- pessimizer 4y ago
  The batteries on my laptops are pragmatically just a UPS. The time between occasions that I need to use my laptop on the hoof (for more than "two hours") is so long that the age of the battery is a far bigger factor to consider than the software being run. I don't loiter at coffee shops unless I'm on a date, and libraries/offices/hotels have outlets. Speaking of UPSes, I wish that desktops/servers would just chuck a laptop battery socket on the back. Batteries are the only real difference between desktops and laptops, and desktops need them nearly as much as laptops do.
smoldesu 4y ago
It's a desktop operating system. The software itself doesn't have a very robust impact on battery life.
abrouwers 4y ago
Personally, I have a minimum expectation, but beyond that, it moves a lot lower on my priority list, too. I wouldn't accept 2 hours, but once something hits 5-6, it's usually GoodEnough for my case (though, I'm not OP). Of course, I would love 20hr, but the OS, etc. starts to become more important at some point.

If it’s a laptop battery life should be the first thing to compare. The ability to be anywhere and not worry about battery life seems like THE #1 most important aspect.

tambourine_man 4y ago

It used to be, but these days laptops are the new desktops. Almost no one buys desktops anymore, even though they are obviously a better choice in many regards, including ergonomics, if the thing is to be strapped to a desk 100% of the time.

samatman 4y ago
Because as soon as that 100% becomes a reasonable number like 98%, a laptop is your only choice. The market for desktop computers is a market for people who also own laptops, with very few exceptions (mostly gamers).
- tambourine_man 4y ago
  The 98% would probably be better served with a very light with great battery laptop and beefy, quiet, large screen and good keyboard, desktop but instead end up buying something that's not great for either use case.
pessimizer 4y ago
The batteries on my laptops are pragmatically just a UPS. The time between occasions that I need to use my laptop on the hoof (for more than "two hours") is so long that the age of the battery is a far bigger factor to consider than the software being run. I don't loiter at coffee shops unless I'm on a date, and libraries/offices/hotels have outlets. Speaking of UPSes, I wish that desktops/servers would just chuck a laptop battery socket on the back. Batteries are the only real difference between desktops and laptops, and desktops need them nearly as much as laptops do.

smoldesu 4y ago

It's a desktop operating system. The software itself doesn't have a very robust impact on battery life.

abrouwers 4y ago

Personally, I have a minimum expectation, but beyond that, it moves a lot lower on my priority list, too. I wouldn't accept 2 hours, but once something hits 5-6, it's usually GoodEnough for my case (though, I'm not OP). Of course, I would love 20hr, but the OS, etc. starts to become more important at some point.