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Ask HN: I have two most basic requirements for a laptop. Why can't I find one?
1. 8+ hours of battery life running only vim and Erlang unit tests on Linux. Would honestly enjoy 12 hours.
2. <=1.6 kg (3.5 lb)
I don't care about GPU or processor. It can be ARM (well.. Vim implies it has to have a workable-size physical keyboard).
Why is it so hard to find one? Or do I miss the one?
- GoldenMonkey 15y agoHow about macbook air? You can run vim on it. 1.35kg, 7 hrs (using wireless web). http://www.apple.com/macbookair/specs.html http://www.apple.com/macbookair/specs.html
- revorad 15y agoWhat's your budget? What size do you want? Which country are you going to buy it in?
- motiejus 15y agoHopes for $1k (it shouldn't be more, should it?), budget is up to $2k. UK or USA (I could ask a friend to bring me one easily). Size: I need a workable keyboard, that's all. As mentioned in description, there are 2 requirements: battery life and weight. In practice, I feel comfortable enough with 11'. I don't like Macs for many reasons, one of which is I can't change its battery.
- caw 15y agoYou could try looking for a larger netbook, those had fairly decent battery life, and you could trade out batteries. However, the screen probably won't be as nice. You could also look at Ultrabooks (similar to the Air), but they'll have the same problem of changing batteries.
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]
- gunhinta 15y agoSony x series with extended battery. Light and 10 hours plus.
- ukd1 15y agoThinkPad X220 with a 9-cell, plus an additional battery pack for when you're travelling. http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:item.detail?GroupID=38&Code=0A36283&category-id=40320E4BA86742C5B4CCF58B2BC147AA&hide_menu_area=yes http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPo... Plus bigger pack: http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:item.detail?GroupID=38&Code=0A36280&category-id=40320E4BA86742C5B4CCF58B2BC147AA&hide_menu_area=yes http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPo...
- motiejus 15y agoBoth battery slice and 9 cell battery exceeds the desired weight. With 6 cells you get somewhere around 7-8 hours if you are lucky. I know this laptop, but looking for better options.
- ukd1 15y agoYou will get more than 8 hours with just the 9 cell, which will bring it to under your weight - http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=98466 http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=98466 You don't need the 9 cell as well as the plate - it was just a suggestion if you needed more.
- revorad 15y agoOk, here are some options: HP Pavilion DM1 - http://www.amazon.com/mn/search/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=pretgrap-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-keywords=pavilion%20dm1&url=search-alias%3Dcomputers&sprefix=Pavilion%20dm1%2Caps%2C542 http://www.amazon.com/mn/search/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=pret... Samsung Series 9 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NF0LGG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pretgrap-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004NF0LGG http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004NF0LGG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... Acer Aspire Timeline X - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042X8W0Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pretgrap-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0042X8W0Q http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042X8W0Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?...
- gte910h 15y agoone of which is I can't change its battery<= They are user serviceable on the macs, just not externally so. It's not like the iPhone.
- nextparadigms 15y agoAsus Transformer Prime should last about 15 hours with the keyboard dock. It's based on ARM. I have no idea if Vim can work on Android, though. Maybe this will work: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.aor.droidedit&feature=more_from_developer#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwMiwiY29tLmFvci5kcm9pZGVkaXQiXQ. https://market.android.com/details?id=com.aor.droidedit&.... https://market.android.com/details?id=com.touchqode.editor&feature=search_result https://market.android.com/details?id=com.touchqode.editor&#... There are others, too. If you need it right now, this is the only one that can last that much. But if you're not in a hurry, you might want to wait for a larger screen combination, which I think will appear by summer or so. Here it is, even lighter and half the price of a Macbook Air: http://eee.asus.com/en/eeepad/transformer-prime/specification/ http://eee.asus.com/en/eeepad/transformer-prime/specificatio...
- motiejus 15y agoI will be able to run Linux happily on it. Looks nice. However, it doesn't have a nice-to-have: RAM. However, really considerable. Thanks!
- nextparadigms 15y agoI agree, I wish it came with 2 GB of RAM (not much more you can ask for in the ARM world right now). There are actually a couple of Lenovo and Toshiba tablets with that much RAM that have been announced, but they don't have an integrated keyboard like the Transformer. As I said, you might want to wait a few more months otherwise. The next Transformer should come with 2 GB of RAM, 1920x1200 resolution, and might even have a 11.6" version (but just totally speculating here, based on how Asus might think for a future device).
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]
- may 15y agoI like the Lenovo ThinkPad X120E w/ an SSD. However, you could get a better lenovo with longer battery life for more than 500.
- webreac 15y agoArchos 9 pc tablet SSD (800g) + Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 5000 (415g) + battery 6000Mah (around 8h on Windows 7, I do not know for linux)
- jdietrich 15y agoThe x220 with a 9-cell battery weighs 1650g. It is in every other respect the perfect development ultraportable - it's powerful, extremely frugal in lower power states and has a mSATA slot allowing for both an SSD and a HDD. It'll run for 8 hours on a realistic workload and 12 hours on idle, although like any laptop you'll want to run linux in a VM under windows, as you'll get better battery life. Unless you're taking it into space, just suck up the extra two ounces and buy the better machine.
- ericabiz 15y agoSeconded. Typing this on an older X200s and very happy with it. It gets 8+ hours of battery life (well, 6-7 these days, as it's nearly 3 years old.) Battery is fully swappable/replaceable.
- gte910h 15y agoWith the wireless off, the 13" mba should do that http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook-air/macbook-air-faq/macbook-air-mid-2011-real-world-battery-life-core-i5-core-i7.html http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook-air/macbook-ai... http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC965LL/A http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC965LL/A? $1300 Ubuntu installs on them fine.
- Artagra 15y ago11" Macbook Air = 1.08kg HyperJuice 60Wh external Battery = 0.36kg Comes in under your weight limit, will give you 10+ hours. Only disadvantage is it's a cumbersome / weird form factor, macbook plus external batt. However, if you find a decent small bag, it won't really be that much of an issue. http://www.hypershop.com/HyperJuice-External-Battery-for-MacBook-iPad-60Wh-p/mbp-060.htm http://www.hypershop.com/HyperJuice-External-Battery-for-Mac...
- SamReidHughes 15y agoPanasonic SX1 with large battery, weighs 1.39 kg, claims 16 h of battery life, i5 processor.