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Going to throw this out there, you decide if it is viable: You can use a Nexus 10 or iPad with Linode or other VNC software, and a bluetooth keyboard/mouse. It

Going to throw this out there, you decide if it is viable: You can use a Nexus 10 or iPad with Linode or other VNC software, and a bluetooth keyboard/mouse. It is also possible to rig a tablet with an ethernet connection directly to a host Mac/Linux/Windows device to eliminate any performance issues that a wifi connection might present, although for this to work effectively the device needs a USB 3.0 connection (some newer tablets are sporting this), both for speed and full duplex communication. Android supports IP over USB (even outside of the debugger, but requires some trickery if I remember correctly). Advantages: Cheap: ($400-$500) Potential to use satellite connection (if whatever tablet you are buying supports it). 9+ hours of battery life in some cases. 2560x1600 resolution (slightly less for iPad 3). Disadvantages: lag/performance issues portability (carrying more pieces) Other than that, you kind of have to prioritize what is most important for you. In my case, portability is not such a big issue, as long as the device can easily be set up in a hotel room or office I am set. This means I don't really need to limit myself to devices that are battery-powered, and I have considered using a Mac Mini with a portable monitor/keyboard, or even modding a 21 inch iMac to fit in a suitcase (I am unfortunately limited to Apple devices as I do a lot of work with iOS). The performance difference between my iMac (27) and Macbook Air is night and day (and both are new). In general, there are many hacky ways to avoid buying a laptop, and I recommend it because laptops are often over-priced and under-powered.

jlgreco 14y ago
I would add "having to carry two things around now" to that list. That is what keeps me from adopting a setup like that.
- gavanwoolery 14y ago
  fixed :) Although I should add you can create any number of mods that convert the pieces into one cohesive device, although obviously that is not for everybody.
nextstep 14y ago
What tablets support a satellite connection?
- gavanwoolery 14y ago
  Google "4g tablets" -- looks like the newest gen iPad does, the Galaxy Tab 10.1, among others. ("Satellite" connection may be a slight misnomer here, depending on how you factor in proxying from cellphone towers).
taligent 14y ago
Sorry but this is just crazy talk. Neither a Nexus 10 or iPad has an IDE which is mission critical for getting anything done e.g. refactor, debugging. Then you have the issue of having to be online to get anything done which with a laptop isn't a requirement. And after all that you still are without the ability to properly take advantage of source control e.g. git local branches. I personally run my entire stack of Nginx, Java, Redis, ElasticSearch and Cassandra all on my laptop and it works just fine with our without an internet connection. My suggestion is that if you can't afford a new machine then go on eBay buy a second hand one and put a $99 Samsung 830 SSD in it.
- gavanwoolery 14y ago
  I thought it might be too! But there are some people that swear by it (have even ditched their Macbooks in favor of an iPad). Neither of them does have a good text editor (at least yet), but you are not limited by the native platform when using a VNC solution. Also, as mentioned if you keep your host device connected to your tablet, your VNC connection is always alive. All that said, it really depends on how you personally need to work - there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Personally, I would never use a tablet to get work done, although I have been thinking of ways to effectively turn them into supplementary monitors (2560x1600 for $400? I'll take it).
bryanlarsen 14y ago
I'm totally keeping my eye on this as an option. If you're an Emacs user, than a native port of Emacs+TRAMP will let you edit your files locally, making lag much less of a concern, and let you function when your network connection is problematic. The Logitech K810 keyboard is reviewing very well[1], so my plan is to get a Nexus 10 + a K810 as soon as the Android Emacs port matures enough to be useful. Right now it has problems with Tramp and external keyboard handling. The thing about most development is that it's so bursty. While editing you don't need much CPU, but when you recompile or spin up your stack or run your test suite, more CPU translates directly into less wasted time. And even though laptop CPU's appear to be catching up to desktop CPU's, desktop CPU's are still a lot faster. I highly recommend overclocking, current Intel CPU's have so much margin. Don't be aggressive about overclocking: a single reboot will kill any gains you got from the extra 100%. But modern Intel Desktop CPU's with a K suffix can conservatively overclocked 1GHz or so. My recommendation: split your $1700 in half, half on a cheap laptop and half on a killer desktop. $850 easily buys a killer desktop if you don't include the cost of a monitor or Windows license. Then use tmux and your editor's equivalent of emacs-tramp on your laptop so you can seemlessly transition from laptop to desktop. 1: http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/11/27/logitech-bluetooth-illuminated-keyboard-k810-review-yes-you-want-one/ http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/11/27/logitech-bluetooth-i...

jlgreco 14y ago

I would add "having to carry two things around now" to that list. That is what keeps me from adopting a setup like that.

gavanwoolery 14y ago
fixed :) Although I should add you can create any number of mods that convert the pieces into one cohesive device, although obviously that is not for everybody.

nextstep 14y ago

What tablets support a satellite connection?

gavanwoolery 14y ago
Google "4g tablets" -- looks like the newest gen iPad does, the Galaxy Tab 10.1, among others. ("Satellite" connection may be a slight misnomer here, depending on how you factor in proxying from cellphone towers).

taligent 14y ago

Sorry but this is just crazy talk. Neither a Nexus 10 or iPad has an IDE which is mission critical for getting anything done e.g. refactor, debugging. Then you have the issue of having to be online to get anything done which with a laptop isn't a requirement. And after all that you still are without the ability to properly take advantage of source control e.g. git local branches. I personally run my entire stack of Nginx, Java, Redis, ElasticSearch and Cassandra all on my laptop and it works just fine with our without an internet connection. My suggestion is that if you can't afford a new machine then go on eBay buy a second hand one and put a $99 Samsung 830 SSD in it.

gavanwoolery 14y ago
I thought it might be too! But there are some people that swear by it (have even ditched their Macbooks in favor of an iPad). Neither of them does have a good text editor (at least yet), but you are not limited by the native platform when using a VNC solution. Also, as mentioned if you keep your host device connected to your tablet, your VNC connection is always alive. All that said, it really depends on how you personally need to work - there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Personally, I would never use a tablet to get work done, although I have been thinking of ways to effectively turn them into supplementary monitors (2560x1600 for $400? I'll take it).

bryanlarsen 14y ago

I'm totally keeping my eye on this as an option. If you're an Emacs user, than a native port of Emacs+TRAMP will let you edit your files locally, making lag much less of a concern, and let you function when your network connection is problematic. The Logitech K810 keyboard is reviewing very well[1], so my plan is to get a Nexus 10 + a K810 as soon as the Android Emacs port matures enough to be useful. Right now it has problems with Tramp and external keyboard handling. The thing about most development is that it's so bursty. While editing you don't need much CPU, but when you recompile or spin up your stack or run your test suite, more CPU translates directly into less wasted time. And even though laptop CPU's appear to be catching up to desktop CPU's, desktop CPU's are still a lot faster. I highly recommend overclocking, current Intel CPU's have so much margin. Don't be aggressive about overclocking: a single reboot will kill any gains you got from the extra 100%. But modern Intel Desktop CPU's with a K suffix can conservatively overclocked 1GHz or so. My recommendation: split your $1700 in half, half on a cheap laptop and half on a killer desktop. $850 easily buys a killer desktop if you don't include the cost of a monitor or Windows license. Then use tmux and your editor's equivalent of emacs-tramp on your laptop so you can seemlessly transition from laptop to desktop. 1: http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/11/27/logitech-bluetooth-illuminated-keyboard-k810-review-yes-you-want-one/ http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/11/27/logitech-bluetooth-i...