6 ms·

Sputnik – Dell’s Ubuntu-based developer laptop is here

80 points by macco 14y ago

jamesbritt 14y ago
See current HN discussion on this here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4847720 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4847720
bstar77 14y ago
Despite being a mac user now, I am so happy to see a high-end product optimized for a linux distribution. During the 7 years I used linux as my daily driver, I would have killed for a well integrated, high-end mobile machine. I don't plan to move away from macs anytime soon, but I still rejoice when the platform makes progress. I'm already hearing whispers from developers that plan to support Steam's linux client which seems unbelievable to me- this was unthinkable just a couple years ago. I hope this window of opportunity stays open long enough for a viable pc/windows alternative to take foot.
valugi 14y ago
expensive. expensive. expensive.
gerritone 14y ago
It's resolution is really lolz! Im a developer and seriously even 1400x900 doesn't feel right (dell e6410).
- davewasthere 14y ago
  Yeah, I bought a new Thinkpad (great keyboard) to replace my broken laptop. But at 1366x768 resolution, I just couldn't be productive. 1600x900 on my new Samsung Series 9 does the trick. Keyboard isn't as awesome, but chuffed with the rest of it.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
macco 14y ago
This is a great day for Ubuntu. The first Ubuntu is served on a top of the line product - not on cheap low end hardware. The Sputnik is even more expensive than the Win8 version It's saying: Ubuntu, because it's better, not cheaper.
edmond_dantes 14y ago
Developers have been complaining about the 1366x768 screen resolution in the Ars comments. Shouldn't developers be designing for (and on) the resolution the user is most likely be using?[1] 1: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/11/statcounter-finds-1366-x-768-to-be-most-popular-screen-resolutio/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/11/statcounter-finds-1366-x-...
- ominous_prime 14y ago
  I work on backend Linux systems, as do a huge percentage of Linux devs. Other people's screen resolution is irrelevant to me.
- gerritone 14y ago
  In 2012 most UIs are html driven and not native apps anymore that have been designed to fit some mostly used resolutions.
  - iamdave 14y ago
    Most UI's or most web-based UIs?
- WatchDog 14y ago
  Its easy to make your browser resolution smaller. You can't make it bigger though.
- jonknee 14y ago
  What does the resolution of an end user have to do with the desired resolution of a developer's machine? Each is accomplishing different tasks. Should you also program in an uncomfortable chair because many of your users will not be able to afford a quality one?
  - snapdata 14y ago
    Shameless PSA: the Markus is the most comfortable chair I've ever owned. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00103102/ http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00103102/
DigitalSea 14y ago
Will the cloud-to-cloud integration this laptop ships with be an option for those who haven't got the money to buy this developer beast of a laptop perhaps as something you can buy separately or is it tailored only to the laptop that ships with it?
ghc 14y ago
I'm never going back to a sub-1920x1080 laptop screen for development. Screen real estate is just too precious to waste by having a sub-optimal resolution. Maybe in 10 years, or whenever I need reading glasses, I'll feel differently.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- codewright 14y ago
  I have terrible eyesight, I still prefer this. I compensate by wisely choosing fonts.
hcarvalhoalves 14y ago
This should have been released 6-8 years ago.
- Kilimanjaro 14y ago
  And at $999. But looks like Dell doesn't like our money.
bugsbunnyak 14y ago
Kind of odd that they have a Microsoft Office ad on the 2nd screen of the customization wizard... :/
- iamdave 14y ago
  Why? People still think in the mindset of Linux vs. Windows when in reality, each party makes use of the other's software; frequently. I promise the "competition" is purely in your head.
  - bugsbunnyak 14y ago
    "Productivity Software" page in the customization dialog. A large banner displays "MS Office - Get tools to express ideas and solve problems with full functionality". However (obviously) there is no possibility to actually select MS Office! Just odd/bemusing oversight.
janzer 14y ago
It's rather funny, rather sad to see the comments about how overpriced this is. Especially the implications that the overpricing is because the laptop runs linux by default. The XPS-13 line is a standard ultrabook line from Dell. The closest comparable windows version is the same price. But it has half the ram (4GB) and a generation older chipset (Sandy Bridge). So this price is completely in line with, and even a bit cheaper than Dell's other offerings.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
vhost- 14y ago
My System76 has that resolution and I hate it. I thought it was going to be okay, but it's not. I won't make that mistake again. A tiling window manager helped, but I still cry from time to time when I think about it. /me goes and cries.
frenchfries 14y ago
too expensive
vanmik 14y ago
Ubuntu laptop with Windows logo on keyboard. Great.

80 points by macco 14y ago

See current HN discussion on this here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4847720 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4847720

bstar77 14y ago

Despite being a mac user now, I am so happy to see a high-end product optimized for a linux distribution. During the 7 years I used linux as my daily driver, I would have killed for a well integrated, high-end mobile machine. I don't plan to move away from macs anytime soon, but I still rejoice when the platform makes progress. I'm already hearing whispers from developers that plan to support Steam's linux client which seems unbelievable to me- this was unthinkable just a couple years ago. I hope this window of opportunity stays open long enough for a viable pc/windows alternative to take foot.

valugi 14y ago

expensive. expensive. expensive.

gerritone 14y ago

It's resolution is really lolz! Im a developer and seriously even 1400x900 doesn't feel right (dell e6410).

davewasthere 14y ago
Yeah, I bought a new Thinkpad (great keyboard) to replace my broken laptop. But at 1366x768 resolution, I just couldn't be productive. 1600x900 on my new Samsung Series 9 does the trick. Keyboard isn't as awesome, but chuffed with the rest of it.

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

macco 14y ago

This is a great day for Ubuntu. The first Ubuntu is served on a top of the line product - not on cheap low end hardware. The Sputnik is even more expensive than the Win8 version It's saying: Ubuntu, because it's better, not cheaper.

edmond_dantes 14y ago

Developers have been complaining about the 1366x768 screen resolution in the Ars comments. Shouldn't developers be designing for (and on) the resolution the user is most likely be using?[1] 1: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/11/statcounter-finds-1366-x-768-to-be-most-popular-screen-resolutio/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/11/statcounter-finds-1366-x-...

ominous_prime 14y ago
I work on backend Linux systems, as do a huge percentage of Linux devs. Other people's screen resolution is irrelevant to me.
gerritone 14y ago
In 2012 most UIs are html driven and not native apps anymore that have been designed to fit some mostly used resolutions.
- iamdave 14y ago
  Most UI's or most web-based UIs?
WatchDog 14y ago
Its easy to make your browser resolution smaller. You can't make it bigger though.
jonknee 14y ago
What does the resolution of an end user have to do with the desired resolution of a developer's machine? Each is accomplishing different tasks. Should you also program in an uncomfortable chair because many of your users will not be able to afford a quality one?
- snapdata 14y ago
  Shameless PSA: the Markus is the most comfortable chair I've ever owned. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00103102/ http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00103102/

DigitalSea 14y ago

Will the cloud-to-cloud integration this laptop ships with be an option for those who haven't got the money to buy this developer beast of a laptop perhaps as something you can buy separately or is it tailored only to the laptop that ships with it?

ghc 14y ago

I'm never going back to a sub-1920x1080 laptop screen for development. Screen real estate is just too precious to waste by having a sub-optimal resolution. Maybe in 10 years, or whenever I need reading glasses, I'll feel differently.

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
codewright 14y ago
I have terrible eyesight, I still prefer this. I compensate by wisely choosing fonts.

hcarvalhoalves 14y ago

This should have been released 6-8 years ago.

Kilimanjaro 14y ago
And at $999. But looks like Dell doesn't like our money.

bugsbunnyak 14y ago

Kind of odd that they have a Microsoft Office ad on the 2nd screen of the customization wizard... :/

iamdave 14y ago
Why? People still think in the mindset of Linux vs. Windows when in reality, each party makes use of the other's software; frequently. I promise the "competition" is purely in your head.
- bugsbunnyak 14y ago
  "Productivity Software" page in the customization dialog. A large banner displays "MS Office - Get tools to express ideas and solve problems with full functionality". However (obviously) there is no possibility to actually select MS Office! Just odd/bemusing oversight.

janzer 14y ago

It's rather funny, rather sad to see the comments about how overpriced this is. Especially the implications that the overpricing is because the laptop runs linux by default. The XPS-13 line is a standard ultrabook line from Dell. The closest comparable windows version is the same price. But it has half the ram (4GB) and a generation older chipset (Sandy Bridge). So this price is completely in line with, and even a bit cheaper than Dell's other offerings.

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]

vhost- 14y ago

My System76 has that resolution and I hate it. I thought it was going to be okay, but it's not. I won't make that mistake again. A tiling window manager helped, but I still cry from time to time when I think about it. /me goes and cries.

frenchfries 14y ago

too expensive

vanmik 14y ago

Ubuntu laptop with Windows logo on keyboard. Great.