It just works: Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition Linux Ultrabook review

Discussion:

It just works: Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition Linux Ultrabook review | Ars Technica

Scott Granneman

2013-04-20 20:57:53 UTC

This looks like a really nice machine.

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/04/it-just-works-dell-xps-13-developer-edition-linux-ultrabook-review/

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Mike B.

2013-04-20 21:19:26 UTC

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Yeah. It does look nice.

But what about the wireless card? That is always a priority.

For instance, I cannot change the power level on my card (RTL8188CE
802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter) because it isn't supported. I don't know if the
cause is the driver or the hardware, but it sucks.

Post by Scott Granneman
This looks like a really nice machine.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/04/it-just-works-dell-xps-13-developer-edition-linux-ultrabook-review/
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Scott Granneman

2013-04-20 21:55:55 UTC

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The review surely would have mentioned if the wireless card had problems.

Your particular need is an edge case.

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Post by Mike B.
Yeah. It does look nice.
But what about the wireless card? That is always a priority.
For instance, I cannot change the power level on my card (RTL8188CE
802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter) because it isn't supported. I don't know if the
cause is the driver or the hardware, but it sucks.

Robert & Janet Bennett

2013-04-22 23:08:19 UTC

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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type">
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<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
<br>
It might be just me but the lack of ethernet would be a deal breaker
(especially when I could get an XPS 14 with gigabit ethernet.)<br>
<br>
Robert Bennett<br>
<br>
<br>
Scott Granneman wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:***@Nodemailer" type="cite">
<p>The review surely would have mentioned if the wireless card had
problems. </p>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Your particular need is an edge case. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Scott</div>
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<p>On Sat, Apr 20, 2013 at 4:19 PM, Mike B. <span dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:***@gmail.com"
target="_blank">***@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
</p>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>Yeah. It does look nice.  <br>
<br>
But what about the wireless card?  That is always a priority.<br>
<br>
</div>
For instance, I cannot change the power level on my card  (RTL8188CE
802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter)  because it isn't supported.  I don't know if
the cause is the driver or the hardware, but it sucks.<br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Apr 20, 2013 at 3:57 PM, Scott
Granneman <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:***@granneman.com" target="_blank">***@granneman.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">This
looks like a really nice machine.<br>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/04/it-just-works-dell-xps-13-developer-edition-linux-ultrabook-review/"
target="_blank">http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/04/it-just-works-dell-xps-13-developer-edition-linux-ultrabook-review/</a><br>
<br>
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Scott Granneman

2013-04-22 23:23:34 UTC

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Surely theres a dongle for Ethernet. There is for the Macs that dont come
with Ethernet. I have one.d

Of course, I think I might have used it ONCE. Increasingly, Ethernet ports
are also an edge case.

Also, the XPS13 & XPS 14 are completely different machines. The 14 uses old
tech; the 13 used newer tech. The 13 will be so much faster than the 14
it wont be funny (thanks to the SSD in the 13).

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On Mon, Apr 22, 2013 at 6:08 PM, Robert & Janet Bennett <

Post by Robert & Janet Bennett
**
It might be just me but the lack of ethernet would be a deal breaker
(especially when I could get an XPS 14 with gigabit ethernet.)
Robert Bennett
The review surely would have mentioned if the wireless card had problems.
Your particular need is an edge case.
Scott
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Post by Scott Granneman
This looks like a really nice machine.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/04/it-just-works-dell-xps-13-developer-edition-linux-ultrabook-review/
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tms

2013-04-23 00:40:10 UTC

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It's just me, but $1500 is stupid-pricey, especially considering it's
not really upgradable (RAM soldered to mobo, anyone?) ...

I bought a Dell Inspiron for $400, doubled the RAM to 8GB and swapped
out the hard drive for a solid state for another $100, so I now have a
dual-boot (Win7 and Mint 13) laptop, very sweet, very fast, rock-solid,
and what, 1/3 the price of their Ultrabook?

Granted, it's not quite as flashy/skinny, but saving $1,000 is kind of
worth it to me.

Just my opinion -- oh, and I did have to go and get drivers for the ALPS
touchpad, but there were darn near idiot-proof instructions online, and
it took me all of two minutes. (And, had I not done it, the touchpad
still worked, but it was klunky and didn't scroll.)

Everything else? Out of the box, on the Linux side, it "just worked".
Wi-fi, bluetooth, sound, ethernet, webcam, suspend on close lid,
recognizing specialized Dell function keys for things like "airplane
mode" for wifi ... they all "just worked" in Linux. Funny was on the
Windoze side I had to do a bunch of scrabbling around because their
included drivers disk was defective.

It's just me being an old curmudgeon, but I don't like the move to
disposable electronics, given that "thrown away" does *not* mean "safely
and economically recycled).

Scott for example (since you power-use if anyone does), how long do you
keep your average laptop before replacing it? If everyone goes to
"pitch it/replace it" every two years, what happens to the mountains of
older gear?

For that matter, what about the modifications I made to my machine? At
the very least, the delightful activity of computer tinkering becomes a
thing of the past, which strikes an old nerd like me as very sad.
Increasing RAM, swapping out a hard drive ... in most of the new
ultrabooks that means replacing the entire unit.

That strikes me as obscenely wasteful. Maybe it's a part of the
inevitable blurring between single-purpose and multi-purpose devices.
The lines between computers, phones, tablets, and other interfaces I
haven't even imagined yet, keeps getting vaguer.

Are we headed to a world where tinkering, either hardware or software,
is no longer possible? That would be sad.

TL;DR: ultrabooks meh

Theresa

Post by Robert & Janet Bennett
It might be just me but the lack of ethernet would be a deal breaker
(especially when I could get an XPS 14 with gigabit ethernet.)
Robert Bennett

Post by Scott Granneman
The review surely would have mentioned if the wireless card had
problems.
Your particular need is an edge case.
Scott
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Yeah. It does look nice.
But what about the wireless card? That is always a
priority.
For instance, I cannot change the power level on my card
(RTL8188CE 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter) because it isn't
supported. I don't know if the cause is the driver or the
hardware, but it sucks.
On Sat, Apr 20, 2013 at 3:57 PM, Scott Granneman
This looks like a really nice machine.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/04/it-just-works-dell-xps-13-developer-edition-linux-ultrabook-review/
Scott
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Robert Citek

2013-04-23 03:25:27 UTC

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Post by tms
It's just me, but $1500 is stupid-pricey, especially considering it's
not really upgradable (RAM soldered to mobo, anyone?) ...

...

Post by tms
TL;DR: ultrabooks meh

Nope, you are just not the intended market audience for that
ultrabook. Then again, I'm not sure who is. $1,500 exceeds MacBook
Air prices.

Regards,
- Robert
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Scott Granneman

2013-04-23 05:12:16 UTC

Permalink

I still find it funny how people complain about RAM soldered to the
motherboard.

Thats the way its gonna be by & large going forwards. Optical drives are
going to go bye-bye too. And user-replacable hard drives.

Oh sure, there will be a few laptops with user-replaceable stuff like RAM.
But over time, there will be fewer & fewer, because most people wont care
at all. And it enables manufacturers to make thinner machines.

I have 16 GB of RAM in my MacBook Pro. Its soldered. I cant replace it.
Thats why I got 16 GB.

My hard drive cant be replaced. Its a 512 GB SSD. Thats why I got 512
GB.

I do wonder about the pricing of those "user-customizable" machines. Will
they get more expensive because theyll have a smaller & smaller market, or
will they get cheaper & cheaper because theyll tend to be junk? Too soon
to tell.

And to answer Theresas question, I lease my computers, so I get a new one
every two years. It works great for me & several other friends who also
lease their Macs where I do. But I can understand why it certainly wouldnt
work for a lot of folks who dont need such a service.

Scott
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Post by Robert Citek

Post by tms
It's just me, but $1500 is stupid-pricey, especially considering it's
not really upgradable (RAM soldered to mobo, anyone?) ...

...

Post by tms
TL;DR: ultrabooks meh

Nope, you are just not the intended market audience for that
ultrabook. Then again, I'm not sure who is. $1,500 exceeds MacBook
Air prices.
Regards,
- Robert
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tms

2013-04-23 16:52:57 UTC

Permalink

Post by Scott Granneman
I still find it funny how people complain about RAM soldered to the
motherboard.

Why funny? After decades of being able to modify/upgrade hardware, it's
now a non-issue? And it's also generating even more e-waste? Sorry but
that strikes me as sad, not funny.

Post by Scott Granneman
That’s the way it’s gonna be by & large going forwards. Optical drives
are going to go bye-bye too. And user-replacable hard drives.

Sadly, I agree with you -- we seem to be migrating to throw-away
electronics. It's like saying nuclear power is awesome ... as long as
we don't have to think about what we're going to do with the waste as
one of the by-products. Sure, super-shiny skinny ultrabooks are
sexy ... but the Mac buyer really doesn't have to think about workers in
3rd world countries who breathe in toxic fumes on a daily basis when the
stuff is scrapped. Here's a link to a movie on the subject:

http://vimeo.com/34114795

Post by Scott Granneman
Oh sure, there will be a few laptops with user-replaceable stuff like
RAM. But over time, there will be fewer & fewer, because most
people won’t care at all. And it enables manufacturers to make thinner
machines.

Thinner machines is the goal? Why is that the be-all, end-all? And I
still, personally, don't see what that model is "better" than the old
(curmudgeonly?) model where the user can upgrade the components over
time, thus using the device for far longer than a throw-away one.

Not to mention all those people who don't have the money to buy shiny
new ultrabooks.

Post by Scott Granneman
I have 16 GB of RAM in my MacBook Pro. It’s soldered. I can’t replace
it. That’s why I got 16 GB.

So, in a year, when you get some new software that requires 32GB of RAM,
you'll dispose of your MacBook Pro, and get a new one? Throw away a
perfectly good machine otherwise, because one part can't be upgraded?

Post by Scott Granneman
My hard drive can’t be replaced. It’s a 512 GB SSD. That’s why I got
512 GB.

ditto.

Post by Scott Granneman
I do wonder about the pricing of those "user-customizable" machines.
Will they get more expensive because they’ll have a smaller & smaller
market, or will they get cheaper & cheaper because they’ll tend to be
junk? Too soon to tell.

Sadly, I think electronics may be heading the way of automobiles ...
becoming too complex, or not possible, for the end user to support or
tinker with. And I find that a great shame.

Post by Scott Granneman
And to answer Theresa’s question, I lease my computers, so I get a new
one every two years. It works great for me & several other friends who
also lease their Macs where I do. But I can understand why it
certainly wouldn’t work for a lot of folks who don’t need such a
service.

Or folks who have less disposable income? I've volunteered working with
inner city kids for the best part of the last decade, and very few, if
any of them, could afford a new computer. Once they got an old one,
they definitely appreciated learning how to upgrade it themselves, so
they could extend its lifetime.

Not picking on you, Scott -- I appreciate your comments and feedback.
And yes, I think "road warriors" like yourself are a great target market
for a top-end, shiny, throw-away computer. I just wish that the
manufacturers wouldn't forget about the rest of the people out there,
who would happily be another niche market for them, if they would only
provide.

<stepping off soapbox now>

Theresa
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Mike B.

2013-04-23 20:38:33 UTC

Permalink

BTW, Scott's little quote at the end of his 3rd response.

Try it. Go to melaniegriffith.com and...

Post by tms

Post by Scott Granneman
I still find it funny how people complain about RAM soldered to the
motherboard.

Why funny? After decades of being able to modify/upgrade hardware, it's
now a non-issue? And it's also generating even more e-waste? Sorry but
that strikes me as sad, not funny.

Post by Scott Granneman
Thats the way its gonna be by & large going forwards. Optical drives
are going to go bye-bye too. And user-replacable hard drives.

Post by Scott Granneman
Oh sure, there will be a few laptops with user-replaceable stuff like
RAM. But over time, there will be fewer & fewer, because most
people wont care at all. And it enables manufacturers to make thinner
machines.

Thinner machines is the goal? Why is that the be-all, end-all? And I
still, personally, don't see what that model is "better" than the old
(curmudgeonly?) model where the user can upgrade the components over
time, thus using the device for far longer than a throw-away one.
Not to mention all those people who don't have the money to buy shiny
new ultrabooks.

Post by Scott Granneman
I have 16 GB of RAM in my MacBook Pro. Its soldered. I cant replace
it. Thats why I got 16 GB.

Post by Scott Granneman
My hard drive cant be replaced. Its a 512 GB SSD. Thats why I got
512 GB.

ditto.

Post by Scott Granneman
I do wonder about the pricing of those "user-customizable" machines.
Will they get more expensive because theyll have a smaller & smaller
market, or will they get cheaper & cheaper because theyll tend to be
junk? Too soon to tell.

Sadly, I think electronics may be heading the way of automobiles ...
becoming too complex, or not possible, for the end user to support or
tinker with. And I find that a great shame.

Post by Scott Granneman
And to answer Theresas question, I lease my computers, so I get a new
one every two years. It works great for me & several other friends who
also lease their Macs where I do. But I can understand why it
certainly wouldnt work for a lot of folks who dont need such a
service.

Or folks who have less disposable income? I've volunteered working with
inner city kids for the best part of the last decade, and very few, if
any of them, could afford a new computer. Once they got an old one,
they definitely appreciated learning how to upgrade it themselves, so
they could extend its lifetime.
Not picking on you, Scott -- I appreciate your comments and feedback.
And yes, I think "road warriors" like yourself are a great target market
for a top-end, shiny, throw-away computer. I just wish that the
manufacturers wouldn't forget about the rest of the people out there,
who would happily be another niche market for them, if they would only
provide.
<stepping off soapbox now>
Theresa
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Scott Granneman

2013-04-24 15:18:28 UTC

Permalink

Hi, Theresa.

You raise good points. Rather than respond point-by-point, Ill just post a
few thoughts here.

As for e-waste:

* http://www.apple.com/recycling/
* http://www.dell.com/learn/dell-environment-recycling?c=us&l=en&s=corp
* http://www.lenovo.com/recycling
* http://www.hp.com/go/reuse-recycle

I could keep going on. The fact is, companies have recycling programs, so
raising that as a problem with non-servicable devices is a bit of a red
herring. In fact, I would argue that making things non-servicable by users
is BETTER for recycling. Who knows how many people upgraded RAM or a hard
drive or a battery & then just threw them away?

As for concerns about not being able to upgrade your hardware:

1. Most people - the VAST majority - dont care.

2. For those that do, you will undoubtedly be able to still find machines
that are user-servicable. As I said, they may be more expensive, or they
may be cheaper. Only time will tell.

3. The fact is, this is where computing is going. You may not like it, but
thats where things are going.

4. Who says "not user-servicable" means "throwaway"? You keep saying that.
What evidence do you have? I dont throw away my old machines. I take them
back to the leasing company, who re-sells them. In fact, Ive never thrown
a computer into the trash in my life. Other people will donate them to
schools or family or friends. Why would a non-user-servicable computer stop
that behavior?

5. Thinner & lighter is always the goal, for all electronics. Is your
monitor still a hulking CRT? Is your TV still an enormous box? Is your cell
phone still a foot long? Is your laptop still 8 lbs? One of the many
reasons I love my new MacBook Pro is precisely because it is lighter &
thinner. Anything that reduces the weight I have to tote around is a good
thing.

6. I got 16 GB of RAM precisely because that was the most I could get.
Because that is the case, no Mac developer would release software that
"required 32 GB of RAM". If such software did exist, that would be aimed at
desktops like the Mac Pro, which does support such a thing. But in any
case, if such a thing did happen, I would do what I always do: wait until
my lease is up & then upgrade. This seems like a bit of a red herring to me
too.

7. As for bringing up poor people, eventually non-user-servicable devices
will be so cheap that it wont matter that they cant upgrade it. Further,
are you really saying that a poor person would turn their nose up at an
iPad because they cant change anything? A few may care about user
servicability in computers, but again, just like everyone else, most poor
people wont care.

Hey, Im not attacking you either. Just countering. :)

Scott
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Full list of publications @ http://www.granneman.com/publications
My latest book: Mac OS X for Power Users @ http://www.granneman.com/books

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---Oscar Wilde

Post by tms

Post by Scott Granneman
I still find it funny how people complain about RAM soldered to the
motherboard.

Why funny? After decades of being able to modify/upgrade hardware, it's
now a non-issue? And it's also generating even more e-waste? Sorry but
that strikes me as sad, not funny.

Post by Scott Granneman
Thats the way its gonna be by & large going forwards. Optical drives
are going to go bye-bye too. And user-replacable hard drives.

Thinner machines is the goal? Why is that the be-all, end-all? And I
still, personally, don't see what that model is "better" than the old
(curmudgeonly?) model where the user can upgrade the components over
time, thus using the device for far longer than a throw-away one.
Not to mention all those people who don't have the money to buy shiny
new ultrabooks.

Post by Scott Granneman
I have 16 GB of RAM in my MacBook Pro. Its soldered. I cant replace
it. Thats why I got 16 GB.

Post by Scott Granneman
My hard drive cant be replaced. Its a 512 GB SSD. Thats why I got
512 GB.

ditto.

Sadly, I think electronics may be heading the way of automobiles ...
becoming too complex, or not possible, for the end user to support or
tinker with. And I find that a great shame.

Or folks who have less disposable income? I've volunteered working with
inner city kids for the best part of the last decade, and very few, if
any of them, could afford a new computer. Once they got an old one,
they definitely appreciated learning how to upgrade it themselves, so
they could extend its lifetime.
Not picking on you, Scott -- I appreciate your comments and feedback.
And yes, I think "road warriors" like yourself are a great target market
for a top-end, shiny, throw-away computer. I just wish that the
manufacturers wouldn't forget about the rest of the people out there,
who would happily be another niche market for them, if they would only
provide.
<stepping off soapbox now>
Theresa
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tms

2013-04-24 16:49:40 UTC

Permalink

Hey Scott,

love the point/counterpoint! Don't have time for a long message,
but ...

Post by Scott Granneman
4. Who says "not user-servicable" means "throwaway"? You keep saying
that. What evidence do you have? I don’t throw away my old machines. I
take them back to the leasing company, who re-sells them. In fact,
I’ve never thrown a computer into the trash in my life. Other people
will donate them to schools or family or friends. Why would a
non-user-servicable computer stop that behavior?

Personal experience ... and a quick search on Google. According to the
EPA, in 2007, an estimated 29.9 MILLION desktops and 12 MILLION laptops
were discarded. Also an estimated 31.9 MILLION monitors, including flat
panel and CRTs. In 2008, we generated 3.16 MILLION TONS of e-waste in
the US alone.

I'm glad you've never thrown a computer away (nor have I) ... but we're
not the only folks in the world, and not everybody is as diligent as we
are. I'd say those numbers indicate that e-waste is more than just a
red herring.

Oh, and you'd laugh your tushy off if you saw my cell phone ... it makes
phone calls. That's all. Yes, it's a big ole brick by modern
standards. However, it meets my needs so I feel no need to replace it.

And no, I'm not saying poor folks would turn up their noses at shiny new
electronics, but the fact they are poor means those shinies are probably
not in their budget.

Yay for exchanges of ideas!

Theresa
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Scott Granneman

2013-04-24 16:56:55 UTC

Permalink

Post by tms
Hey Scott,
love the point/counterpoint! Don't have time for a long message,
but ...

Post by Scott Granneman
4. Who says "not user-servicable" means "throwaway"? You keep saying
that. What evidence do you have? I dont throw away my old machines. I
take them back to the leasing company, who re-sells them. In fact,
Ive never thrown a computer into the trash in my life. Other people
will donate them to schools or family or friends. Why would a
non-user-servicable computer stop that behavior?

Right, and that actually SUPPORTS my argument. In 2007 & 2008, virtually
all computers were user-serviceable, so much of that e-waste could very
well be people throwing out RAM, batteries, & hard drives that they had
replaced! As we move to fewer user-servicable devices, we could see that
e-waste get REDUCED.

And anyway, we still cant say for certainty that non-user-serviceable
devices will lead to more or less e-waste. It might be the same. People who
throw out computers callously will do the same regardless of whether or not
the devices are serviceable or not.

My point is, I dont yet see any PROOF that non-user-serviceable computers
will lead to MORE e-waste. At best, its just conjecture.

OK, back to work for me too!

Scott
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Full list of publications @ http://www.granneman.com/publications
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Robert & Janet Bennett

2013-04-24 04:08:18 UTC

Permalink

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=windows-1252"
http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
<br>
The XPS 14 sure seems like a better deal to me:<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.extremetech.com/deals/153963-et-deals-739-for-dell-xps-14-premium-ultrabook">http://www.extremetech.com/deals/153963-et-deals-739-for-dell-xps-14-premium-ultrabook</a><br>
<br>
It has GIGABIT ethernet (try that with an adapter), a 32 SSD + 500 HDD,
and an SD Card Reader.<br>
<br>
and it is $739.00 (4 GB RAM is enough for me -- I would really like to
see benchmarks on to what extent performance is increased with 8 GB, or
16 GB.)<br>
<br>
Ubuntu does not come pre-installed on it but it reportedly does run
well on it.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Robert Bennett<br>
<br>
<br>
Scott Granneman wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAAVxPdKawr4iv526z9ahwci-JOWif4P3nugQ-***@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">I still find it funny how people complain about RAM
soldered to the motherboard.
<div><br>
</div>
<div style="">That’s the way it’s gonna be by & large going
forwards. Optical drives are going to go bye-bye too. And
user-replacable hard drives. </div>
<div style=""><br>
</div>
<div style="">Oh sure, there will be a few laptops with
user-replaceable stuff like RAM. But over time, there will be fewer
& fewer, because most people won’t care at all. And it enables
manufacturers to make thinner machines.</div>
<div style=""><br>
</div>
<div style="">I have 16 GB of RAM in my MacBook Pro. It’s soldered.
I can’t replace it. That’s why I got 16 GB. </div>
<div style=""><br>
</div>
<div style="">My hard drive can’t be replaced. It’s a 512 GB SSD.
That’s why I got 512 GB. </div>
<div style=""><br>
</div>
<div style="">I do wonder about the pricing of those
"user-customizable" machines. Will they get more
expensive because they’ll have a smaller & smaller market, or will
they get cheaper & cheaper because they’ll tend to be junk? Too
soon to tell.<br>
</div>
<div style=""><br>
</div>
<div style="">And to answer Theresa’s question, I lease my computers,
so I get a new one every two years. It works great for me & several
other friends who also lease their Macs where I do. But I can
understand why it certainly wouldn’t work for a lot of folks who don’t
need such a service.</div>
<div style=""><br>
</div>
<div style="">Scott</div>
<div style="">
<div>--</div>
<div>R. Scott Granneman</div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:***@granneman.com">***@granneman.com</a>
~ <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.granneman.com">www.granneman.com</a>
~ <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://granneman.tel">granneman.tel</a></div>
<div>Full list of publications @ <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.granneman.com/publications">http://www.granneman.com/publications</a></div>
<div> My latest book: Mac OS X for Power Users @ <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.granneman.com/books">http://www.granneman.com/books</a></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>“If a thing isn’t worth saying, you sing it.”</div>
<div> ---Pierre Beaumarchais</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Apr 22, 2013 at 10:25 PM, Robert
Citek <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:***@gmail.com" target="_blank">***@gmail.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div class="im">On Mon, Apr 22, 2013 at 8:40 PM, tms <<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:***@cablemo.net">***@cablemo.net</a>>
wrote:<br>
> It's just me, but $1500 is stupid-pricey, especially considering
it's<br>
> not really upgradable (RAM soldered to mobo, anyone?) ...<br>
</div>
...<br>
> TL;DR: ultrabooks meh<br>
<br>
Nope, you are just not the intended market audience for that<br>
ultrabook. Then again, I'm not sure who is. $1,500 exceeds MacBook<br>
Air prices.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
- Robert<br>
<div class="">
<div class="h5"><br>
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</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
</div>
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Scott Granneman

2013-04-24 05:30:31 UTC

Permalink

Moving from 4 to 8 to 16 GB of RAM made an enormous difference for me. But
I tend to have a lot of programs open, and a lot of tabs in my browser.

Id love to benchmark my 512 GB SSD against a 32 SSD + 500 HDD. Especially
given that the HDD is probably (but perhaps not, as I didnt look) 5400
rpm.

Once you go SSD, you never go back.

Heh - same thing with 16 GB of RAM. :)

Scott

On Tue, Apr 23, 2013 at 11:08 PM, Robert & Janet Bennett <

Post by Robert & Janet Bennett
**
http://www.extremetech.com/deals/153963-et-deals-739-for-dell-xps-14-premium-ultrabook
It has GIGABIT ethernet (try that with an adapter), a 32 SSD + 500 HDD,
and an SD Card Reader.
and it is $739.00 (4 GB RAM is enough for me -- I would really like to
see benchmarks on to what extent performance is increased with 8 GB, or 16
GB.)
Ubuntu does not come pre-installed on it but it reportedly does run well
on it.
Regards,
Robert Bennett
I still find it funny how people complain about RAM soldered to the
motherboard.
Thats the way its gonna be by & large going forwards. Optical drives
are going to go bye-bye too. And user-replacable hard drives.
Oh sure, there will be a few laptops with user-replaceable stuff like
RAM. But over time, there will be fewer & fewer, because most people wont
care at all. And it enables manufacturers to make thinner machines.
I have 16 GB of RAM in my MacBook Pro. Its soldered. I cant replace
it. Thats why I got 16 GB.
My hard drive cant be replaced. Its a 512 GB SSD. Thats why I got 512
GB.
I do wonder about the pricing of those "user-customizable" machines.
Will they get more expensive because theyll have a smaller & smaller
market, or will they get cheaper & cheaper because theyll tend to be junk?
Too soon to tell.
And to answer Theresas question, I lease my computers, so I get a new
one every two years. It works great for me & several other friends who also
lease their Macs where I do. But I can understand why it certainly wouldnt
work for a lot of folks who dont need such a service.
Scott
--
R. Scott Granneman
http://www.granneman.com/books
If a thing isnt worth saying, you sing it.
---Pierre Beaumarchais

Post by Robert Citek

Post by tms
It's just me, but $1500 is stupid-pricey, especially considering it's
not really upgradable (RAM soldered to mobo, anyone?) ...

...

Post by tms
TL;DR: ultrabooks meh

Nope, you are just not the intended market audience for that
ultrabook. Then again, I'm not sure who is. $1,500 exceeds MacBook
Air prices.
Regards,
- Robert
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