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I think what is always lacking in these reviews is: compared to what? I’m always curious to see what other devices authors have used prior to this “best device

I think what is always lacking in these reviews is: compared to what? I’m always curious to see what other devices authors have used prior to this “best device”. For example, I started with a 2010 MacBook Pro, then a T430 Thinkpad, then a dell, then a desktop computer, then Apple finally fixed the butterfly keyboard so now I use a 2021 MacBook Pro. In my experience nothing comes close to the trackpad of the MacBook. But I haven’t tried something like a Framework or a Chromebook. So maybe those are better. I really wish there was a “rent a laptop” service where you could check out a different laptop every month and see if you really like it.

ofalkaed 2y ago
He is not claiming it to be a best device and clearly says it is deficient in most everyway but the complete package results in something so useful and handy and easy to carry around that it makes up for all of its faults. A favorite is generally not the best, the word implies being colored by emotion and lacking in logical reasoning.
- wvenable 2y ago
  You can get laptops in all shapes, sizes, performances, battery-lives, prices, etc. I've never met a Chromebook that seemed like a good value. They're either cheap and underpowered or expensive and overpowered for being a Chromebook.
  - ofalkaed 2y ago
    The Duet is not a laptop, its a Chrome tablet with a detachable keyboard so you can use it as a small laptop or a proper tablet and you get Chrome's linux dev environment tossed into the deal unlike the vast majority of tablets.
    - wvenable 2y ago
      Lenovo makes a Intel i7 version also called the Duet with the same type of detachable keyboard.
      - ofalkaed 2y ago
        Made, past tense, been a year or two since you could get one of those. The Duet 7i came with a bluetooth keyboard that sort of attached (don't believe they folded either and just had a case which held both tablet and keyboard but don't remember) and had terrible battery life unless you kept the screen brightness and CPU usage very low. Those were also 13" and $700 more than the Duet 3, that series was a failure for many reasons. There was a Celeron version of the current Snapdragon Duets but also had rather poor battery life and I don't think they ever got the ram upgrade that the Snapdragons got. HP had one as well but is also no more. There is a reason the Snapdragon models have succeeded and stayed in production while the Intel ones have failed, they don't try and be both a full laptop and a full tablet, they just do both well enough in a very convenient package; it is small enough that it is never an issue take it with you, the keyboard is the cover and not much thicker than the standard folio tablet cover so always with you, cheap enough that you don't worry about accidents or theft, and has the battery life so you don't need to worry about charge. In a few years when it no longer gets updates it will still safely do 95% of what I use it for and I can always have someone with the skills and tools install linux on it, or use the linux dev environment. But I probably will just disconnect it from my accounts and be perfectly happy with it only doing 95% of what I currently use it for, assuming nothing happens to it before then.
        wvenable 2y ago
        You don't have to get one from Lenovo. These types of form factors (and many more) are available as full PCs in every possible configuration. There's never any reason to limit yourself to a Chromebook.
        ofalkaed 2y ago
        I did not limit myself to a Chromebook or Lenovo, I went with the tool which best suited the tasks which I was buying it for, best happened to be a Chromebook.
- fragmede 2y ago
  It's like that photography saying, the best camera is the one you have. It's no use if I've got this high end Thinkpad that's better if I'm too afraid of losing it so it never leaves the house and I end up taking the Chromebook most of the time.
bitwize 2y ago
No, there are two kinds of trackpads in the world: Apple trackpads and shitty trackpads.
kokada 2y ago
Hello, author of the post here. I never said best device, I said favorite device. I have a work MacBook Pro 16'' M2 Pro (what the f* is the name scheme of Apple nowadays, but I disgress), that of course is miles better than this device, but even if it was mine I would never bring it in say, a short trip. It is simple too big and too heavy. The fact is this device small and lightweight, so I leave this at my nightstand since it doesn't occupy too much space, and ends up being always there when I want to do a quick coding session or write in this blog. Compare this with my heavier laptops that never leave my desk because they're too big.
koonsolo 2y ago
In my experience, the MacBook features a trackpad, sound system and battery life that no other laptop comes close to supporting, let alone all 3 of them. I'm a heavy Linux user, but my next laptop will be a MacBook.
deleted 2y ago
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ofalkaed 2y ago

He is not claiming it to be a best device and clearly says it is deficient in most everyway but the complete package results in something so useful and handy and easy to carry around that it makes up for all of its faults. A favorite is generally not the best, the word implies being colored by emotion and lacking in logical reasoning.

wvenable 2y ago
You can get laptops in all shapes, sizes, performances, battery-lives, prices, etc. I've never met a Chromebook that seemed like a good value. They're either cheap and underpowered or expensive and overpowered for being a Chromebook.
- ofalkaed 2y ago
  The Duet is not a laptop, its a Chrome tablet with a detachable keyboard so you can use it as a small laptop or a proper tablet and you get Chrome's linux dev environment tossed into the deal unlike the vast majority of tablets.
  - wvenable 2y ago
    Lenovo makes a Intel i7 version also called the Duet with the same type of detachable keyboard.
    - ofalkaed 2y ago
      Made, past tense, been a year or two since you could get one of those. The Duet 7i came with a bluetooth keyboard that sort of attached (don't believe they folded either and just had a case which held both tablet and keyboard but don't remember) and had terrible battery life unless you kept the screen brightness and CPU usage very low. Those were also 13" and $700 more than the Duet 3, that series was a failure for many reasons. There was a Celeron version of the current Snapdragon Duets but also had rather poor battery life and I don't think they ever got the ram upgrade that the Snapdragons got. HP had one as well but is also no more. There is a reason the Snapdragon models have succeeded and stayed in production while the Intel ones have failed, they don't try and be both a full laptop and a full tablet, they just do both well enough in a very convenient package; it is small enough that it is never an issue take it with you, the keyboard is the cover and not much thicker than the standard folio tablet cover so always with you, cheap enough that you don't worry about accidents or theft, and has the battery life so you don't need to worry about charge. In a few years when it no longer gets updates it will still safely do 95% of what I use it for and I can always have someone with the skills and tools install linux on it, or use the linux dev environment. But I probably will just disconnect it from my accounts and be perfectly happy with it only doing 95% of what I currently use it for, assuming nothing happens to it before then.
      - wvenable 2y ago
        You don't have to get one from Lenovo. These types of form factors (and many more) are available as full PCs in every possible configuration. There's never any reason to limit yourself to a Chromebook.
        ofalkaed 2y ago
        I did not limit myself to a Chromebook or Lenovo, I went with the tool which best suited the tasks which I was buying it for, best happened to be a Chromebook.
fragmede 2y ago
It's like that photography saying, the best camera is the one you have. It's no use if I've got this high end Thinkpad that's better if I'm too afraid of losing it so it never leaves the house and I end up taking the Chromebook most of the time.

bitwize 2y ago

No, there are two kinds of trackpads in the world: Apple trackpads and shitty trackpads.

kokada 2y ago

Hello, author of the post here. I never said best device, I said favorite device. I have a work MacBook Pro 16'' M2 Pro (what the f* is the name scheme of Apple nowadays, but I disgress), that of course is miles better than this device, but even if it was mine I would never bring it in say, a short trip. It is simple too big and too heavy. The fact is this device small and lightweight, so I leave this at my nightstand since it doesn't occupy too much space, and ends up being always there when I want to do a quick coding session or write in this blog. Compare this with my heavier laptops that never leave my desk because they're too big.

koonsolo 2y ago

In my experience, the MacBook features a trackpad, sound system and battery life that no other laptop comes close to supporting, let alone all 3 of them. I'm a heavy Linux user, but my next laptop will be a MacBook.

deleted 2y ago

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