After chatting with a Lenovo rep, I found out my credit card had triggered an alert and their system automatically canceled the order for the ThinkPad Carbon X1, with no verification or anything else happening after the fact. It might be because the card is new and I think I only used it once before this purchase, which may have made the order look a bit shady. The rep pushed the order through again, so if everything doesn’t get nuked a second time, I should have my first full-blown Windows laptop in anywhere from a few weeks to a month (the shipping is free, not fast).
In the next few weeks I’ll do the follow-up task of logging out all appropriate accounts on my MacBook Pro, wiping its SSD, then selling it (to a buyer or back to Apple for a gift card/credit) as I have no real use for multiple laptops. I will miss typing on the MacBook Pro the same way I might miss bapping my fingers against a hard plastic surface.
Today I finally made a decision on a laptop, after Lenovo put a bunch of their models on sale again for Father’s Day.
I went with the ThinkPad Carbon X1, with the following specs:
8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U Processor (1.60GHz, up to 3.40GHz with Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)
Windows 10 Home 64
14″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS anti-glare multi-touch, 300 nits
8 GB LPDDR3 2133MHz (Onboard)
Integrated Intel® UHD Graphics 620
Black
720p HD Camera with ThinkShutter and microphone
Fingerprint Reader
UltraNav (TrackPoint and ClickPad)
256GB Solid State Drive PCIe-NVME OPAL2.0 M.2
3 cell Li-Ion 57Wh
65W AC Adapter (2pin) – USB Type C
Intel Dual Band 8265 Wireless AC (2 x 2) & Bluetooth 4.1 with vPro
I’ve highlighted the most relevant specs. The one not shown is the keyboard, which has 1.8 mm of travel, an absurdly luxurious amount compared to many laptops these days (my MacBook Pro has a measly 0.8 mm of travel, which explains why it is so clicky, loud and awful). It was the primary deciding factor.
Well, that and the 25% discount making the price reasonable. Without that discount it would have cost even more than the MacBook Pro I bought in late 2016 and at that premium I would have considered other options.
In terms of what I’m trading into, the MBP comes with a faster processor (2GHz vs. 1.6GHz), but it’s also a generation behind and the 8th gen Intel CPUs have gone quad core, seeing the first significant speed boosts in awhile. And while I could have gotten a 2K display to again match the MBP, I stepped down a bit to a 1920×1080 in order to get a touchscreen. I won’t use it a lot, but it will be handy to have when I do.
The battery life should be even better and the ThinkPad is about a half pound lighter.
It includes Thunderbolt 3 ports, as well as USB 3.0, HDMI and mini-SD, so it works with both current peripherals and is still equipped for when USB-C really hits the mainstream.
It even includes a fingerprint reader for logins, something that Apple only offers on models that cost a whopping $670 more (granted these models also offer faster CPUs and more TB3 ports, but come on).
What I’m looking forward to the most, though, is that keyboard. In the weeks since I’ve semi-retired the MacBook Pro I’ve been using my Surface Pro 3 instead and its keyboard is so much nicer to type on. And I don’t have to worry about footing a $700 out-of-warranty repair if one of its keys stops working.
As for the MacBook Pro, I’ll miss the trackpad, but really that’s all. macOS is nice but it doesn’t make my socks roll up and down anymore than Windows 10 does. It has things I like, things that bug me, just like Windows 10. I’ll be happy to get away from the horrible (for me) typing experience, the need for adapters and the lack of touch. I’ll probably be taking the MBP to the Apple store and trading it in for a gift card that will likely go to a new Watch, iPad or phone. Basically anything except another Mac.
And unless Apple abandons its butterfly keyboard design–and I don’t think they will–I will never buy another Mac laptop again. I’m not sure why anyone would these days. There are better options available, no matter what your criteria is–price, port selection, display options, battery life. About the only area where the MacBook Pro is ahead now is in class action lawsuits.
UPDATE: I just received an email informing me that the order for my ThinkPad Carbon X1 has been cancelled, with no explanation as to why. I’ll try using Lenovo’s chat on their site on Monday or call their 1-800 number, but this is a bit puzzling, to say the least. I guess my laptop quest may continue after all.
Fix the Surface line-up. Here’s how (you can find other posts similar to this around the internet–I don’t claim to be original, but this is my take). It’s mostly about adding Thunderbolt 3 ports and current processors, nothing too demanding. And then a few “I’m feeling a smidgen entitled” requests for good measure.
Surface Pro
round the corners a bit. It’s not ugly, exactly, but it’s not handsome, either
add a Thunderbolt 3 port
8th generation Intel CPU
INCLUDE THE TYPE COVER AT NO ADDITIONAL COST
Microsoft has actually advertised the Surface Pro as a laptop, the first to apparently not include a keyboard. It’s time they make it standard with every model and eat the cost in doing so.
Surface Laptop
add two Thunderbolt 3 ports and keep the USB 3.0 port
8th generation Intel CPU
faster SSD
offer a version that acts as a 2-in-1, with a 360 degree hinge
Surface Studio
lower the price by $1000. It’s stupidly overpriced.
give it a proper desktop CPU (Intel 8th generation)
Thunderbolt 3 ports
offer a smaller 24″ model
include the pen and dial
Surface Book
find a way to make the hinge gap smaller
this is one laptop where making it thinner is not about sacrificing functionality, it’s pretty bulky compared to most
better battery for tablet mode
Thunderbolt 3 ports
include a stronger power supply–it can’t do some tasks while plugged in without the battery being hit due to how weak the included power adapter is
This is an excerpt from a Forbes opinion piece posted shortly before Apple’s WWDC event on June 4th. I can’t actually verify that it was written on an iOS device, but the crazy autocorrect suggests…a definite possibility.
Maybe iOS 12 will support a Siri command to run a grammar check on a document.
Two months since my last post and I have…not yet purchased a new laptop.
I have been using my MacBook Pro a lot less. I’ve updated my Surface Pro 3 and have used it a few times. I like having the touchscreen for certain tasks and the keyboard is so much quieter and weirdly nicer than the MBP.
A few updates on my previous picks, which I ranked thusly:
Surface Laptop – best all-around mix of features
HP Spectre x360 – same as above, but dimmer display, less battery life–but 2-in-1 versatility
Lenovo Yoga 920 – keyboard might be an issue, heavier, bulkier
Dell XPS 13 – no touchscreen option but solid otherwise (webcam is a non-factor for me)
Surface Book 2 – powerful and strong in most respects, but big, heavy and expensive
Yep, I’ve eliminated the Yoga 920. It gets a lot right, but after using the keyboard for a bit in a Microsoft store, I don’t think I would be happy with it. It has more travel and spring than the MacBook Pro’s keyboard, but it still feels shallow and too light. The Surface Pro 3’s detachable Type Cover’s keys feel better. So it’s off the list.
Oddly, though, another Lenovo laptop has come onto the list, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. I hadn’t considered it before because it’s a business laptop and normally quite expensive, but it’s discounted on Lenovo’s site until the end of May.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Pros:
best in class keyboard
long battery life
excellent 2560×1440 display, especially the HDR version
touch is an option
includes USB-A and USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) ports
includes an HDMI port (!)
includes standard fingerprint reader
some configurations support Windows Hello with the camera
fast SSD
quite light at 2.5 pounds
rugged
Cons:
small trackpad
the weird TrackPoint nub still weirds me out (this isn’t really a con)
so-so audio
mediocre webcam
normally quite expensive
For writing, this machine hits several of my critical requirements, with an excellent keyboard, display and long battery life. I’m almost at the point where I’m going to go for this, I’m just mulling configuration options and seeing if anything else catches my eye in the next week.
I’d put the revised list like so:
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon – excellent keyboard, display and battery life
Surface Laptop – best all-around mix of features
HP Spectre x360 – same as above, but dimmer display, less battery life–but 2-in-1 versatility
Dell XPS 13 – no touchscreen option but solid otherwise (webcam is a non-factor for me)
Surface Book 2 – powerful and strong in most respects, but big, heavy and expensive
Actually, I did it to put sound-dampening o-rings under each key cap. I think it was 88 keys total and yeah, it took a good long while. I don’t recommend it as a hobby, unless you’re trying to learn patience and plenty of it.
I did this on the Cooler Master Masterkeys S keyboard I recently bought. It has red switches, which are allegedly quiet, but they are more “quiet” in practise, because while they don’t have the loud (and strangely satisfying CLACK) of blue switches, they definitely do make a distinct click when bottomed out. And my typing involves a lot of bottoming out. And the clicking has a vaguely unpleasant hollowness to it. I experienced some regret over the purchase, but decided to order a full set of o-rings after some testing with a set of six and now that I’ve cushioned all the keys, I can state a few things:
the o-rings definitely have a significant effect on sound. The keys still click, but it’s much more quiet
the o-rings also eliminate most of the hollow feel of the keys
it’s still a mechanical keyboard and the keys feel very solid, though the 8 key is curiously shifted slightly up from the others:
As you can see, the F5 through F8 keys adjust the speed of the keyboard, allowing the user to type at dangerously high velocities.
I like it, but I’m still adjusting to it and honestly, I think I may prefer the CLACK of blue switches. The feel is just so weirdly nice.
So my keyboard kaos has settled down for the moment, but there may be one more keyboard in my future…
Looking at the Tech Specs for the Mac mini on apple.com yields this under storage:
On the one hand you have a guide to building a PC published in May 2018 that acknowledges the ascendancy of the Solid State Drive (SSD) over the traditional spinning platters of a hard disk. It refers to slower 5400-rpm drives as hideous. Then, hopping over to Apple’s web store, you find the base model of the Mac mini and lo, just like those scurrilous OEM vendors, the Mac mini comes with a 5400-rpm hard disk. This is perhaps not surprising when you consider the Mac mini listed has not seen a change in price or specification since October 2014 (as macrumors.com notes, that was 1297 days ago).
This isn’t even Apple’s most outdated computer. The Mac Pro (which the company has promised will see an update in 2019) was launched in December 2013. Even if the new model ships in January 2019 it amounts to a minimum of just over five years between hardware updates. They did it at least cut prices in April 2017. The base model for this vintage machine is now a mere $3499 Canadian.
The MacBook Air, the “affordable” Mac laptop, received a minor processor speed bump in 2017 that was likely due to the slower processor no longer being available in bulk anymore. Other than this–and that CPU bump did not change the actual model of CPU–the Air has not been updated since March 2015, when it was updated to a 5th generation Intel processor (they are on the 8th generation now).
These three models represent distinct segments in the market:
Mac mini: affordable, entry-level Mac
MacBook Air: affordable, entry-level Mac laptop
Mac Pro: high-end professional workstation
By refusing to update any of these machines, Apple has demonstrated it doesn’t care about these segments. By continuing to sell them for years without updates is both an embarrassment for the world’s richest company and a sign that leadership is not managing the product line in a healthy manner. It also shows a certain level of contempt for the customer. I mean, they could at least drop the prices. They did for the Mac Pro, but even at the reduced prices, it’s a poor value for a pro workstation, given design issues and now obsolete expansion (Thunderbolt 2, etc.). But a semi-obsolete Mac mini at half its current price would at least seem palatable.
But even when you look at the product that makes over half the revenue for Apple–the iPhone–you see the same creeping inability to cull older products. Apple might argue that they are covering different price segments, but other companies actually build products for each segment instead of just continuing to sell old hardware. Even Apple has done this–the new iPad is only $329 U.S. because Apple reverted back to the cheaper iPad Air for much of its design and hardware. But the iPhone line is an array of eight models going back to 2015.
What I’m saying is Apple is doing very well for being so indifferent, sloppy and lazy with so many of its products. I’m kind of jealous.
I am typing this on a Logitech K750 wireless solar-powered keyboard. It’s got low travel, laptop-style keys, but they still have more travel than, for example, the keyboard on the current-gen MacBook Pro. It’s pretty quiet to type on. My main complaint is that there’s no tenkeyless version. I’d prefer that so I can move the mouse closer to the keyboard, as I don’t use the numeric keypad all that often. Also, it’s got a glossy surface around the keys, which is reflective and mildly annoying. Still, it’s pretty good.
But I miss the mechanical keyboard I was using previously, a Das with blue switches–the noisiest ones you can get, pretty much. But it felt very nice to type on. I’d thought about getting a tenkeyless version (not from Das, they don’t make one), but after trying out the WASD six-key tester that includes all six popular switch types, I finally decided a tenkeyless with red switches would be a better choice. The red switches would offer the benefits of mechanical keys, but without the loud clicking and with less force required for actuation. Win-win.
I ordered the Cooler Master Masterkeys S with red switches and it arrived today from Amazon.
The keyboard works fine, but I was immediately surprised at how much noise it still makes despite having “quiet” keys. There’s no distinctive blue switch CLACK but it still definitely makes a distinctly unquiet click when keys are pressed. Also, the sound makes the keys seem weirdly hollow. I’m not sure I like it.
I’m thinking a tenkeyless with blue switches may be the best choice after all.
BUT…I just tried testing the six red o-rings that came with the WASD tester on the Cooler Master keyboard and I like the results enough in terms of noise reduction that I’ve ordered a full set of o-rings. I should have them in a few days and I’ll see if they do the job. If not I’ll consider exchanging it for the blue switch version or maybe go for a custom-designed WASD keyboard, which, while pricey, would definitely say ME. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.
Anyway, I now have a whole pile of keyboards:
Das mechanical with blue switches
Filco mechanical with brown switches (tenkeyless)
Cooler Master mechanical with red switches (tenkeyless)
Logitech K750 scissor switch keyboard
Another solar-powered Logitech designed for Macs/iOS devices (no keypad but not tenkeyless, either)
Yet another Logitech low travel keyboard, the K380–but not solar-powered!
A Corsair gaming keyboard with mechanical switches that I hated so much I don’t remember the details, but it disabled the Windows key by default and you had to run a macro to enable it. It also weighed 100 pounds.
Probably a few others I’m forgetting
I may need professional help. Or maybe another keyboard.
The Fitbit One is a step tracker that, unlike most, does not strap onto your wrist. It comes with a clip but I always kept it in the watch pocket of my jeans where it tracked faithfully.
I am using the past tense because my Fitbit One is now dead, murdered by washing. To be more precise, when I did my last load of laundry this past Friday I forgot to take the Fitbit out of that watch pocket and realized this with five minutes left in the wash cycle. It came out dead and remains dead. It is tracking in technology Heaven now.
I’ve actually done this once before and the Fitbit One not only survived, it gave me a bonus 1400 steps from tumbling around inside the washer for 45 minutes. The difference this time is the button on it had collapsed into the unit and while it still worked fine after the button collapse, tracking just as it always has, I suspect that this created a gap for water to get in and zap everything to heck and back.
I looked into replacing my deceased device, but apparently Fitbit quietly stopped making the One awhile back. Local stores don’t stock it. The closest replacement is the Fitbit Zip, which only tracks steps and is shaped a bit like a watch, sans strap. But I have my Apple watch now for tracking and it’s on my wrist where it more easily guilts me into meeting my goals (see here for more), so I think I’ll just stick to the one device.
I feel a bit silly killing the Fitbit One like this, but I appreciate the slight de-cluttering of the technology in my life.
After realizing I am not ready to spend $1,000 on a new computer/office chair but am ready to spend $200, Jeff and I went out tonight to grab a MARKUS from IKEA, the budget pick in The Wirecutter’s guide to The Best Office Chair. I went for the Vissle dark gray as I prefer fabric over black leather and as a bonus, it’s $60 cheaper. After discount it was even less, only $129. It was so cheap I was tempted to spend $29 on the optional KOLON floor mat. Actually, I wasn’t, I just wanted to work KOLON into this post. I can’t help it, I still think half of the names at IKEA are sly Swedish in-jokes on the rest of the world.
After assembling the chair with the mandatory Allen wrench, Jeff wheeled it over and I’m sitting in it now. My back is a tiny bit sore because it is unaccustomed to being straight instead of slouching. The chair has lumbar support so I expect things to improve quickly. It is already a treat to have a chair that can be adjusted to the right height without requiring a pillow on the seat.
The arms are not adjustable, but if the chair is at the correct height it shouldn’t matter and hasn’t so far. In fact, when I’m typing my arms aren’t touching the armrests at all. I will likely lean an elbow on them from time to time, using the armrests to help support my chin under my hand as I think deep thoughts about my writing. Was that sentence awkward? Let me lean back and contemplate this.
Anyway, there’s not much else to say yet at this early point in the chair’s new life under my butt. Plus it’s a chair, it just sits there. It doesn’t really do much else.
Based on my previously discussed criteria, here are some candidates I’m considering. It’s deja vu all over again, as I did this back in 2016 before buying the non-touch bar version of the 13″ MacBook Pro (which I’m now replacing because I just plain don’t like the keyboard and also I’m kind of afraid of getting stuck keys now that it’s past warranty).
Unless otherwise noted, these laptops all come with the following:
touchscreen
quad core Core i5 CPU (8th generation)
256 GB SSD
IPS FHD display running at least 1920 x 1080
Microsoft Surface Laptop
Pros:
lightweight at 2.76 pounds
among the best Windows laptop trackpads
solid keyboard
long battery life
slightly better than HD resolution at 2256 x 1504 and large 13.5″ display
3:2 display ratio means less vertical scrolling
Windows Hello support
Alcantara fabric on keyboard (possibly also a Con)
four colors!
Cons:
few ports. Really only one USB 3 and mini-DisplayPort
no USB-C ports
screen wobbles a bit when using touchscreen
uses 7th generation CPU
doesn’t include a pen
The main selling point of the Surface Laptop is it does everything decently. You might find laptops that offer better individual features but none that offer all of them at the same consistent level as the Surface. Still, the design has always struck me as being very conservative. When you look at it closely it appears to be a Surface Pro with a permanent keyboard attached, down to the same deficiencies that the Pro has, with few ports, no USB-C and so on.
That said, because it gets all the basics right, it’s a strong contender.
Dell XPS 13
Pros:
even lighter with the 2018 redesign at 2.70 pounds
sexy slim bezels
excellent if slightly glossy display
excellent keyboard
good touchpad
good battery life
USB-C ports
Windows 10 Pro is an option
optional fingerprint reader
Windows Hello support
Cons:
still has that nosecam, just moved to the bottom center now
FHD (1920 x 1080) models do not include touchscreen
no legacy USB 3 ports
battery life not as good as previous Core 8th gen model
The Dell XPS 13 is often cited as the best Windows laptop (The Wirecutter calls it the best Windows Ultrabook) but the current version ditches all legacy ports, meaning you’re probably going to need dongles. It’s also a poor choice for those who need a webcam, though that’s a non-issue for me. Nearly everything about it is appealing or at least livable, but for some reason Dell is not offering the HD model in a touchscreen variant. This gives me serious pause, as I’ve come to really like touchscreens on Windows laptops.
HP Spectre x360
Pros:
light at 2.75 pounds
fairly compact design
includes both USB-C and USB 3 ports
2-in-1 design, so screen can be folded around to use for drawing, watching video, etc.
Windows Hello support
includes pen
good keyboard
good display
great value for what it includes
Cons:
some persistent complaints in reviews about coil whine give pause
wobbly touchscreen
battery life is only average (but still good)
screen brightness is only average
The Spectre x360 comes close to hitting all the marks, with battery life, brightness and a wobbly touchscreen primarily holding it back. Plus the snazzy dark ash silver color is hard to find without ordering direct from HP (I prefer darker-colored keyboards to others, especially silver, which is the other color option here).
Lenovo Yoga 920
Pros:
Very good battery life
2-in-1 design
capacious 13.9″ display
sexy slim bezels
Windows Hello support
fingerprint reader
includes pen (when buying from MS)
Windows 10 Pro is an option
3 colors!
Cons:
a bit heavy at 3.1 pounds
not as compact as other ultrabooks
shallow keys “similar to a MacBook Pro keyboard” (The Verge review) – yikes!
screen brightness is only average
The main reasons to get the Yoga 920 are its large screen and battery life. Unfortunately the keyboard appears to be reminiscent of the 2016 MacBook Pro–and the MBP’s keyboard is the primary reason I’m looking for a replacement, which may prove to be the 920’s fatal flaw (I’d probably need to test it in person to make a final determination).
Microsoft Surface Book 2
Pros:
detachable screen doubles as a tablet and can be reversed to offer drawing/tent modes
among the best Windows laptop trackpads
solid keyboard
outstanding battery life
better than HD resolution at 3000 x 2000
Windows Hello support
comes with Windows 10 Pro
USB-C port
Cons:
USB-C port is limited by not including Thunderbolt 3
Core i5 version uses 7th gen CPU and is more expensive than comparable ultrabooks
Core i7 version is $600 (!) more (you also get an integrated Nvidia GTX 1050 at that price)
on the heavy side at 3.38 pounds
that weird fulcrum hinge with the big dust-collecting gap
pen is now a separate purchase
The Surface Book 2 is big, expensive and on the heavy side. On the plus side, it’s powerful, has a large, excellent display, and a very nice keyboard. It’s tempting but…expensive.
Beyond these laptops are plenty of others that get most but not all things right, sometimes by design (to keep price down, for example) and sometimes for no apparent reason.
If Apple revealed a MacBook Pro with a completely redesigned keyboard this year I’d probably consider sticking with it, but that seems very unlikely. They’ll just continue to tweak their existing butterfly design (which some people admittedly love) to make it more reliable, without fundamentally changing the feel of the typing experience.
The XPS 13’s baffling lack of a touchscreen in its FHD model almost puts it out of contention, but I’m keeping it in mind for now. My current ranking would probably look like this:
Surface Laptop – best all-around mix of features
HP Spectre x360 – same as above, but dimmer display, less battery life–but 2-in-1 versatility
Lenovo Yoga 920 – keyboard might be an issue, heavier, bulkier
Dell XPS 13 – no touchscreen option but solid otherwise (webcam is a non-factor for me)
Surface Book 2 – powerful and strong in most respects, but big, heavy and expensive
And now I ponder and, where possible, try some hands-on demos. Most of these are available to look at locally (heck, the Microsoft Store carries most of them), though the newer Yoga 920 appears to be not unlike hen’s teeth in the Lower Mainland currently.
