Comments on: I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/ because technology is just another ecosystem Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:10:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: tecosystems » fire eagle: Yahoo’s Location Platform http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-329701 tecosystems » fire eagle: Yahoo’s Location Platform Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:12:05 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-329701 [...] when the visibility’s not so good. I’m so in the bag for GPS, in fact, that I’ve been campaigning for it on my next [...] [...] when the visibility’s not so good. I’m so in the bag for GPS, in fact, that I’ve been campaigning for it on my next [...]

]]> By: tecosystems » Have I Finally Found What I’m Looking For? http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-321954 tecosystems » Have I Finally Found What I’m Looking For? Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:18:32 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-321954 [...] in January, I publicly lamented what I regarded as the sorry state of laptop computing. In a continuation of a running theme, I [...] [...] in January, I publicly lamented what I regarded as the sorry state of laptop computing. In a continuation of a running theme, I [...]

]]> By: tecosystems » Do or Do Not Do, There is No OS X http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-281115 tecosystems » Do or Do Not Do, There is No OS X Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:47:18 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-281115 [...] never say never, but I’m happy. And I’m going to wait a month or two before making a new machine decision, as I’d like to see what the manufacturers do with Penryn and promise for [...] [...] never say never, but I’m happy. And I’m going to wait a month or two before making a new machine decision, as I’d like to see what the manufacturers do with Penryn and promise for [...]

]]> By: kent cook http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-279996 kent cook Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:40:13 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-279996 Steve, It would be really helpful to get more insight from you on the issues you have been hearing regarding the XPS 1330. "Available, but of less interest are the Dell XPS M1330, a very fine machine that meets the majority of my requirements" Latest customer feedback is pretty positive. I'd like to know if there are any other significant misses or concerns we should be aware of. Steve,

It would be really helpful to get more insight from you on the issues you have been hearing regarding the XPS 1330.

“Available, but of less interest are the Dell XPS M1330, a very fine machine that meets the majority of my requirements”

Latest customer feedback is pretty positive. I’d like to know if there are any other significant misses or concerns we should be aware of.

]]> By: Cote' http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-273388 Cote' Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:13:28 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-273388 You know what I'd recommend, of course ;) The trackpad and one mouse buttons are, interestingly, the last hold back for most people when it comes to Macs. From another angle, it would be really interesting to see what your reaction to using a Mac day in and day out for awhile would be. I'd love to read how you compared the overall Linux experience to the Mac experience. I think those two camps could learn a lot from each other, but there are cult (individual and company) lines that prevent much knowledge transfer from happening. You know what I’d recommend, of course ;)

The trackpad and one mouse buttons are, interestingly, the last hold back for most people when it comes to Macs.

From another angle, it would be really interesting to see what your reaction to using a Mac day in and day out for awhile would be. I’d love to read how you compared the overall Linux experience to the Mac experience.

I think those two camps could learn a lot from each other, but there are cult (individual and company) lines that prevent much knowledge transfer from happening.

]]> By: Corey Gilmore http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-270607 Corey Gilmore Sun, 06 Jan 2008 03:17:35 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-270607 It almost sounds like you might want a convertible TabletPC (although I have to agree with Alex, Alan and Kevin about the MacBook trackpad). You'll find a lot of tablets ship without an optical drive, have mediocre (battery friendly) graphics cards, decent processors that tend to favor decreased power consumption instead of performance, and in general, good battery life. Take a look at the Fujitsu T4220 for instance: http://tinyurl.com/2fulbk 8 hours of battery life if you remove the optical drive and put in a second battery, up to 4GB RAM, 12" display at 1400 x 1050 (with the SXGA+ display). I've had pretty good luck with Fujitsu's in general, and I think it'd be worth looking at their offerings. It almost sounds like you might want a convertible TabletPC (although I have to agree with Alex, Alan and Kevin about the MacBook trackpad). You’ll find a lot of tablets ship without an optical drive, have mediocre (battery friendly) graphics cards, decent processors that tend to favor decreased power consumption instead of performance, and in general, good battery life.

Take a look at the Fujitsu T4220 for instance: http://tinyurl.com/2fulbk
8 hours of battery life if you remove the optical drive and put in a second battery, up to 4GB RAM, 12″ display at 1400 x 1050 (with the SXGA+ display).

I’ve had pretty good luck with Fujitsu’s in general, and I think it’d be worth looking at their offerings.

]]> By: David Churbuck http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-270086 David Churbuck Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:23:10 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-270086 Stephen. I would suggest you email me directly at david@churbuck.com. I will be able to help you out. Stephen. I would suggest you email me directly at david@churbuck.com. I will be able to help you out.

]]> By: Kevin Schmidt http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-269476 Kevin Schmidt Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:27:04 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-269476 Since you haven't ruled out a MacBook, I'll share a few items about my experience you may find useful. I have the 15" MacBook Pro which sounds like it is a little larger than you'd like, but of course they do have 13" versions. I actually don't find the 15" too large for travel as it fits nicely in the bag I have and isn't too heavy. The battery life, at least as mine is configured and works, may not meet your 6 hours but it works for me and I am disconnected from power a fair amount of the time. I moved to my MacBook from a Dell/Windows but have also been a Linux user for years. I have found that OS/X works great and I have (mostly, just IE for a specific app) no need to run Windows (have it available via Parallels). I have also set up a VM for Linux (currently have LinuxMint) and have found that the latest version of VMware works better than the older version of Parallels I have. When running in full screen mode you can't tell it isn't natively running Linux. It has good connectivity with WiFi and Bluetooth built in. I use a Bluetooth GPS receiver with it and it works great. Regarding the touch pad, I have actually preferred them to Trackpoint, but understand your concern. I certainly have no problems with the touch pad on the Mac and it is one of it not the best I've used. You can "right click" with a two finger tap and I've gotten used to that so there is no issue there but agree, not including a right mouse button is just silly. In the office, I also use a cordless mouse and while there isn't a physical right button apparent, clicking on the right side does result in a right mouse click action. Hope this helps! Since you haven’t ruled out a MacBook, I’ll share a few items about my experience you may find useful.

I have the 15″ MacBook Pro which sounds like it is a little larger than you’d like, but of course they do have 13″ versions. I actually don’t find the 15″ too large for travel as it fits nicely in the bag I have and isn’t too heavy.

The battery life, at least as mine is configured and works, may not meet your 6 hours but it works for me and I am disconnected from power a fair amount of the time.

I moved to my MacBook from a Dell/Windows but have also been a Linux user for years. I have found that OS/X works great and I have (mostly, just IE for a specific app) no need to run Windows (have it available via Parallels). I have also set up a VM for Linux (currently have LinuxMint) and have found that the latest version of VMware works better than the older version of Parallels I have. When running in full screen mode you can’t tell it isn’t natively running Linux.

It has good connectivity with WiFi and Bluetooth built in. I use a Bluetooth GPS receiver with it and it works great.

Regarding the touch pad, I have actually preferred them to Trackpoint, but understand your concern. I certainly have no problems with the touch pad on the Mac and it is one of it not the best I’ve used. You can “right click” with a two finger tap and I’ve gotten used to that so there is no issue there but agree, not including a right mouse button is just silly. In the office, I also use a cordless mouse and while there isn’t a physical right button apparent, clicking on the right side does result in a right mouse click action.

Hope this helps!

]]> By: Alan Hogan http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-269467 Alan Hogan Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:02:25 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/01/03/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/#comment-269467 I'm going to back up Alex by saying Apple's touchpads are indeed flawless, and reassure you that the "just-one-button" issue isn't an issue at all. That's right. All you have to do is go to System Preferences, Keyboard & Mouse, and then enable "two fingers + button secondary click" or something to that effect. Typically, to right-click when I'm on the road, I just place an extra finger down on the trackpad and then use my thumb to click the large single button. It's very natural. Other perks: Two fingers + movement = scrolling Input ignored while typing (no accidental mouse movement or clicks) And yeah, HP/Dell touchpads sure are a pain. When I have to use such notebooks, I often find myself asking the owner how they can stand it. Have you tried their little scroll strips?? Horrible, horrible, horrible technology. Jumps around like crazy. HTH I’m going to back up Alex by saying Apple’s touchpads are indeed flawless, and reassure you that the “just-one-button” issue isn’t an issue at all. That’s right. All you have to do is go to System Preferences, Keyboard & Mouse, and then enable “two fingers + button secondary click” or something to that effect.

Typically, to right-click when I’m on the road, I just place an extra finger down on the trackpad and then use my thumb to click the large single button. It’s very natural.

Other perks:

Two fingers + movement = scrolling

Input ignored while typing (no accidental mouse movement or clicks)

And yeah, HP/Dell touchpads sure are a pain. When I have to use such notebooks, I often find myself asking the owner how they can stand it. Have you tried their little scroll strips?? Horrible, horrible, horrible technology. Jumps around like crazy.

HTH

]]>