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When we were reviewing new laptops for the dev team, our CTO said that he wanted light laptops for when going through airports. I looked at him and asked why. I said that I've been on 3 business trips in 10 years of employment here. I don't care about airports, I want performance. In addition, many of us could use a workout.
The airport argument seems to be the most American thing I've ever heard. We want bigger everything until we have to carry it.
Hogan
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So the CTO really meant because it would be too 'heavy'? Rather than perhaps bulky? Or some idea about weirdness with airports?
If so how odd.
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yep, he was serious.
Hogan
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Before covid everyone wanted a laptop so they could 'work from home' and management wanted people in the office (so they could ensure they were working). Covid meant people had to work from home (and did work) now you have to make a case for not having a lappy. I remember my Covid employer saying 'no laptops with out a reason, no VPNs' Covid have a Laptop we don't have a VPN... I ended up using my home PC to remote into my desktop PC at work (VPNs no we don't need them, oh we have been hacked but...).
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I have a large lenovo laptop with an i9. I bought it because I needed a secondary portable desktop. I'd never use the thing for work while traveling. It's too bulky, and the battery life stinks.
I'd probably gone for a Thinkpad slim of some sort. Lighter, smaller, better battery life.
Check out my IoT graphics library here:
https://honeythecodewitch.com/gfx
And my IoT UI/User Experience library here:
https://honeythecodewitch.com/uix
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I've been a road warrior for many years and that argument carries a lot of weight with me. Pun accidental.
Mircea
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That's because he was worried that the slightest IT person would injure themselves. It's all about exposure. If they go with the lightest devices, no one can hold them accountable for staff having to carry all that weight and injure themselves.
IMHO, the best way to get around that would be to have three different models on the catalogue and let staff pick the one that suits them best. Then they choose. They make the choice around what they are comfortable enough to carry.
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Hmmm, interesting link, Do you remember the Amstrad PPC512 & PPC640 'laptops' I am sure I charged one in the early 80's and it's still going!
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I beg to differ: the PPC range used standard alkaline C cells - not even NiCad rechargeables!
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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I stand corrected . C cells, probably still has charge as I remember not much used C cells!
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As I read this you have a device that has the same alkaline batteries in it from 40 years ago?
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I stuck a set in PPC512 many years ago, last I heard it was still working.
Got replaced a couple of years ago, the company Involved couldn"t change a lightbulb.
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I have laptops with old batteries that do exactly what you're describing. Batteries only last so many years, after that, they can hardly keep a charge. There's no solution to that but to replace it.
I don't think you mentioned how old your battery is...?
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The entire laptop is 18 months old (warranty?)
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Then I wouldn't describe that as "normal" after just 18 months. But then, good luck making that argument with the manufacturer.
On the other hand, you're right, it might be covered by the warranty. Assuming it covers the first 18 months. I wouldn't be entirely surprised if the warranty it came with was barely 12 months.
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Not generally known but for more expensive items one can often make a case to the manufacturer when there is an extreme failure reasonably outside of the warranty window.
After all they don't really want you going around posting that your battery failed after only 18 months.
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Your battery is defective. Good idea to replace it before it catches fire.
Check out my IoT graphics library here:
https://honeythecodewitch.com/gfx
And my IoT UI/User Experience library here:
https://honeythecodewitch.com/uix
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<<beavis&buttheadmode>> Fire, fire, huh, huh <>
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Oooh I know I'm guessing the TP1408 on the battery charger board has popped (common) and it's the sort of thing I enjoy fixing.
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If something were draining the battery that fast then some things in the computer would be getting very warm very fast.
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Well it was getting warm or hot around the area of the interface. Hence me getting a little worried.
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Back in the day I lugged around a Dell 17-inch XPS system whose weight was a real factor in airports. I downsized from that to an Asus 15.6-inch Core-i7 and had to buy an extended-life battery that only added to the weight. I used a wheeled laptop case to deal with all the crap you need -- it's not just the weight of the laptop, but the power block, the cables, and whatever. Now I use an LG Gram-16 12thGen Core-i7 that has amazing battery life and weighs less than a kilo. It's fast, light, has a great screen, and was a reasonable price. VStudio runs in a flash so I can realistically do on-site development when needed.
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Lithium batteries really don't like being kept at 100% state of charge (it degrades them). The way most people use a laptop ensures premature battery failure. My laptop spends 99.9% of its time plugged into a docking station (constantly charging the battery). I doubt if my battery will last any longer than yours.
Laptop makers should add an on-line battery mode that charges (or discharges if needed) the battery to 30% state of charge. At this level of charge a lithium battery has a greatly extended shelf life. When you need to travel, you charge the battery to 100% and off you go.
They wouldn't be able to sell as many replacement batteries if they did this so I don't ever expect to see anything like this.
Phil Ouellette, BSEE
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Battey's in general don't like 100% or anyother value for long periods. You try to tell non-EE people (marketing!) that they look at you like you are selling snake oil.
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They last longest when stored at 40% of capacity. That is why everything you buy with lithium batteries comes charged to about that. Avoid storying batteries at elevated temperatures too. It is ok to freeze them, just warm them up before charging. Charging a frozen battery can destroy it.
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