Eight inches ought to be enough for anyone!
I installed Linux on this 8-inch mini laptop, and it's my new favorite way of computing
Submitted 1 day ago by jandoenermann@feddit.org to technology@lemmy.world
Comments
spankmonkey@lemmy.world 1 day ago
floofloof@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
I can’t imagine many people would find this a pleasant device to do any actual work on. Maybe writers on the go, as the author says, though with a dubious keyboard layout even that is questionable.
iAmTheTot@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
I haaaate typing on a laptop, layout not withstanding.
lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 21 hours ago
My work-issued T15 G2 has a large keyboard with a separate 10-key. It’s glorious.
null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 day ago
Docks are pretty great now.
I have a dock at home and at work. Single cable to plug in and get proper peripherals, 2 + 1 monitors, and power.
It’s nice to be able to undock and go sit in a Cafe to read emails or do whatever you don’t need full regalia for.
I can see this working on a smaller form factor.
neon_nova@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 hours ago
Yeah, I’ve been pretty happy with my usb-c dock. Although randomly I stopped being able to use all the usb ports on it at the same time. I wonder if the cable is failing.
But it’s been super useful and I don’t mind buying a new one down the line.
SculptusPoe@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Well, I carry a keyboard with my 17" laptop. Carrying a keyboard with a 8" laptop is that much easier.
_haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
Same here, Meko Blink or GK64 are my usuals
jordanlund@lemmy.world 22 hours ago
If you have to carry a separate keyboard, it defeats the purpose of an 8" laptop…
drathvedro@lemm.ee 23 hours ago
It’s not. I carry one(mix 3s) as a pocket laptop for when Im going out but might need to do some work urgently and also as a lightweight backup in case something happens to my main laptop. For the former, it’s been great and saved me many times, but for the latter… this did once happen when I bonked the entire screen out. To say it was a painful week while waiting for the replacement would be an understatement. My back was killing me the entire time, and the thing is so underpowered it was easier to remote into that screenless pc rather than trying to launch stuff locally. And even with that, the thing whirred like crazy. It’s fine for a few minutes at a time but hearing it sll fay got annoying quick. And dont even get me started on the keyboard…
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 day ago
I remember my 9 inch netbook. That thing was dope.
Geodad@lemm.ee 1 day ago
ASUS still makes netbooks.
I bought a little $200 model a few years ago. It weighs 9 oz.
Olap@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Yeah, my favourite ever laptop. Would love to see the netbook return. Cheap and cheerful. Chromebooks just not the same
SplashJackson@lemmy.ca 21 hours ago
Chromebooks suck the nut, netbooks all the way
BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world 21 hours ago
My 11" netbook is my favorite portable PC I own. A bit slow but rock solid and about as heavy as a tablet.
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 20 hours ago
11 inch is a pretty nice form factor, too!
Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 19 hours ago
Still love my Acer Aspire v151, core i5. 11" is a great size, just big enough for a standard keyboard. I wish they would have updated models like that. A Ryzen 9 version would kick ass.
devfuuu@lemmy.world [bot] 21 hours ago
I’m strongly hoping that the framework 12’’ becomes widely successful so that the format keeps being relevant.
Ulrich@feddit.org 20 hours ago
Unfortunately I think most of this audience (if there ever was any) have switched to tablets.
StarlightDust@lemmy.blahaj.zone 20 hours ago
Urgh. Why do they always have to ramble about AI?
DJDarren@sopuli.xyz 1 hour ago
There was one paragraph about AI. Hardly a ramble.
01189998819991197253@infosec.pub 19 hours ago
I appreciated it, since he didn’t do a legit stress test. Running a local llm is intensive on the hardware, and if it performs well on that, it’ll likely perform well on most standard, non-useless tasks. So, I see that part as a makeshift stress test.
echodot@feddit.uk 13 hours ago
Right but all it’s testing is the hardware. The hardware would be the same if it was running Windows.
AlbertScoot@lemmynsfw.com 12 hours ago
I used to travel a lot and didn’t need a full sized laptop but did need something more powerful than a phone, this would have been perfect. I might get one anyways for transferring files on the go from my cameras.
Blackmist@feddit.uk 12 hours ago
It arguable it’s not more powerful than a phone, but the keyboard would certainly be useful.
Phones are capable of a lot, but even something basic like a network ping is buried and they prefer you to install some crappy app with adverts and in app purchases, rather than let you use the PC in your pocket.
Matriks404@lemmy.world 22 hours ago
I remember having 10 inch netbook. It was okay for a while, but I would never want to go back to 10 inch display on a laptop. It’s just horrible to use. 13 inches is ideal for me =)
toddestan@lemm.ee 19 hours ago
Well, at least it’s 1920x1200. The old 10" netbooks mostly had 1024x600 which was terrible even by standards from 15 years ago.
JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 22 hours ago
14 here. Lenovo T-series life.
lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 21 hours ago
AMD T14 G1 here, with LMDE. Definitely my most used computer.
captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 21 hours ago
I’ve got this little tablet…you know how so many people turn an iPad into a crappy laptop by adding a keyboard cover to it? Well Lenovo turned a laptop into a crappy iPad by making the hinge a floppy skin flap with a magnetic pogo pin connector. I intended it as a little computer I can use in the wood shop, I wanted something fanless and preferably with a removable keyboard so it wouldn’t be destroyed by sawdust that can run FreeCAD natively.
I’m not sure Linux is ready for tablets. FreeCAD is not ready for tablets or laptops, holy fuck it’s unusable without a 5 button mouse and a spaceball. I may have to distro hop a little on the thing because it likes to wake up with the keyboard attached, not recognize the keyboard, and stay permanently in portrait mode. So wake up the computer, rip the keyboard off, wait a second, reattach.
It’s kind of fuckpuke, tbh.
10 inch screen size isn’t a problem though.
lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 hours ago
I’ve got this little tablet…you know how so many people turn an iPad into a crappy laptop by adding a keyboard cover to it? Well Lenovo turned a laptop into a crappy iPad by making the hinge a floppy skin flap with a magnetic pogo pin connector. I intended it as a little computer I can use in the wood shop, I wanted something fanless and preferably with a removable keyboard so it wouldn’t be destroyed by sawdust that can run FreeCAD natively.
I have an 11" M1 iPad Pro with a Logitech keyboard case. It was intended to be my “laptop”. Clearly that didn’t work out, as Apple hath decreed that running full-blown VMs on hardware that’s more than capable of doing so is not allowed on the iPad, despite the fact that the same hardware runs Mac OS in the Macbook line.
I have a Thinkpad T14 G1 now.
echodot@feddit.uk 13 hours ago
The library near me has a bunch of 3D printers people can rent time on, or maybe it’s based on filament used I’m not sure I’ve never actually used them.
At one point they had some surface tablets connected up to them so people could review their 3D prints or something, (again not my area of expertise), but apparently it was enough of an issue they eventually got rid of them and just replaced them with some desktops. It seems that the 3D design software just isn’t built for touch screen primary interfaces. They’ll work up to a point but then you’ll come up against something that you have to use a mouse and keyboard for and be stuck, so then you have to go get a mouse and keyboard.
01189998819991197253@infosec.pub 19 hours ago
Well, you’re in luck. The Piccolo N150 netbook is an 8in screen lol
Vex_Detrause@lemmy.ca 21 hours ago
My eeePC still works. Installed a touch screen. The battery and power adapter is long gone but it keeps on chugging with a random 12V power supply.
echodot@feddit.uk 13 hours ago
I had one of those but the tiny keyboard used to drive me nuts it was literally unusable.
oatscoop@midwest.social 1 hour ago
I miss the form factor of the HP mini – it’s just a shame the build quality matched the price and they fell apart in short order.
Blackmist@feddit.uk 12 hours ago
Plus it was horrifically slow for everything. Even when new.
Toes@ani.social 14 hours ago
But can it play doom 3?
Vanilla_PuddinFudge@infosec.pub 11 hours ago
It can play 20 separate instances of Doom 2.
PenguinJazz@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 hours ago
It can play doom 40?
jordanlund@lemmy.world 22 hours ago
The use case seems pretty limited:
“when I’m on the go and I don’t have room in my bag for a full-sized laptop”
First, if you’re on the go, do you need a computer with you? Second, if you do, that’s what a dedicated laptop bag is for.
pycorax@lemmy.world 10 hours ago
Sometimes all I need a small compact SSH machine when I’m at a client’s site. This is a perfect use case for it.
lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 21 hours ago
First, if you’re on the go, do you need a computer with you?
That’s kinda the point of laptops
Second, if you do, that’s what a dedicated laptop bag is for.
Why should I have to carry a whole bag? This is the same argument as “you already have a bag for your mobile phone battery, why would you want to carry it everywhere with you anyway?”
The answer to that is “because they can”. You don’t have to like it, but others do, so if you can’t understand the potential applications, then it’s clearly not for you.
jordanlund@lemmy.world 21 hours ago
What I’m saying is, the use case is limited.
You can carry a bag for your laptop and have other things in it vs. fitting an 8" device into the bag you’re carrying.
Ulrich@feddit.org 20 hours ago
First, if you’re on the go, do you need a computer with you?
Is that a real question? LOL
jordanlund@lemmy.world 20 hours ago
Well, I’m technically “on the go” right now and my phones work fine.
dman87@sh.itjust.works 21 hours ago
I have a 10" Chuwi Minibook X. It’s basically my go to when I go to my kids activities. For me, it’s a better alternative than a phone or my tablet. It’s small when folded up and weighs very little. The luggability is surprisingly better than my Framework 13. Plus, I have a real keyboard instead of a touchscreen that is surprisingly much better than I expected . That’s handy for when I do want to do something more productive. And since it only cost me about $300 or so, I’m much less worried about it getting damaged.
I wouldn’t just carry it around with me randomly in public. But, I could if I wanted to. It’s a shame there are so few options like it. One of my biggest factors I was looking for was weight and overall footprint.
matdave@lemmy.ml 21 hours ago
Mad lad installed KDE Neon. Weird choice, but okay!
Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org 20 hours ago
Uses the calamares installer, comes with all neccessary tools and, above all, is the safest bet if you need all KDE components to work properly. Makes enough sense to me but I’m biased since it’s my daily driver too 😅 It’s my first distro where genuinely so far “everything just works”. I’ve had a much better experience than with stuff like Mint or Pop or whatever else people usually recommend.
raynethackery@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
What they kind of eyes do you people have? I mean, my phone screen is smaller but I’m not doing stuff I would normally do on a desktop or full size laptop.
ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world 15 hours ago
I had better than 20x20 vision when they gave us eye-tests in high school and I’ve often gotten, “Holy shit, you can read that from here?” I always chose screen space over font-size but I recently had to dial it back a notch for the first time. The optometrists come for us all, eventually.
My vision still seems fine but it takes longer to adjust and focus. Like I have a digital clock I used to glance at to check the time and now I have to squint for a few seconds and wait. It’s sort of like a phone camera auto-focus where it sorts things out but it used to be immediate.
eleitl@lemm.ee 13 hours ago
Yeah, lots of young people apparently. After the second 24" screen started dying I’ve ordered a
cygnus@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
That keyboard layout gave me a stroke.
Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 23 hours ago
“Upon picking it up, you can feel the metal chassis has a surprising amount of weight to it.”
A surprising amount of weight is exactly what I do not want to feel when picking up a micro laptop.
That being said, it’s just a little under the weight of the new 12“ surface pro. Pretty much any bag I have could easily fit a 12" laptop but I imagine it would be hard to get Linux to work well with the surface - especially the touch screen. Not to mention a pretty big price difference.
Either way, it’s nice to see more options for small laptops! Maybe in a few years someone will start making small phones again.
Sporkbomber@lemm.ee 4 hours ago
I ended up falling into using a surface for my travel and it’s been surprisingly good. I have surface pro 7+, and it’s small enough to use on an airplane seat, has good battery life, a great screen, and can do some limited gaming. With an upgraded drive (1TB for $100) for movies and low end games it’s a great little computer. They also run for 200-400 dollars on eBay.
Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 1 hour ago
I use a Lenovo nano and haven’t looked back to my surface days. Has a touch screen and I really like it. Sounds like used surface market is good, but prices for new ones tend to be quite high. The 12 inch sounds really interesting to me though
tomalley8342@lemmy.world 22 hours ago
but I imagine it would be hard to get Linux to work well with the surface - especially the touch screen.
There’s a dedicated Linux kernel for Surface devices. Surfaces are your best bet for installing Linux out of any of the Windows tablets.
Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 21 hours ago
Neat. Like the other poster said I also have an old surface 4 I think that could really use a new life.
ghost_towels@sh.itjust.works 22 hours ago
Thank you for this! My husband has an old surface and it’s getting slow as shit. Didn’t think there was a way to get Linux on it. Cheers!
naeap@sopuli.xyz 1 day ago
Thank you very much!
I need exactly something like that thing! :-D
Something I can just connect to a device to gather logs and don’t need to care, that it’s lying in the dirt for a few hours.
Currently I need to use my main laptop and I’m always anxious to get it destroyed. Either by dirt/dust or a careless worker in the warehouse.So this thing seems to be just perfect for such tasks
Can’t even express how happy and excited I am now, waiting for that sexy little thing to show up in my mail :-D
Gokul@lemy.lol 11 hours ago
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Gokul@lemy.lol 11 hours ago
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_haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
I like my T14 with touchscreen but I kind of wish I went a little smaller. Cost $300 refurbished with a 2 year warranty though, and it runs great!
JustARegularNerd@lemmy.dbzer0.com 23 hours ago
It’s a fair bit older than yours, but I’ve been so pleased with my X260. I originally got it as a side to my T480 but I find myself just taking the X260 when studying and leaving my T480 as a docked laptop because of the smaller form factor, battery life is way better (6 hours for my use) and for what I do (attending online classes, programming, and other studies) the performance is good enough (on LMDE, it probably wouldn’t take Windows well anymore)
The later X series like the X280 have options for quad core processors I believe if you wanted more performance. Given I only paid $120AUD for my X260 and I like the slight chunkiness of it (feels more rugged for on the go) that the X280 lost, I’m not upgrading anytime soon.
ramenshaman@lemmy.world 21 hours ago
Idk, seems really cool but I have big hands and I’d be reluctant to get anything smaller than a full size keyboard. Definitely looking for a small linux-only laptop that still has all the ports I would ever need.
Olgratin_Magmatoe@slrpnk.net 47 minutes ago
It looks pretty cute. But holy shit the mouse on that thing looks awful to use.