7 ms·

Thinkpads have an understated, timeless design, superior to almost all competition, Macs included. The only distinguishing quality of Macs is their built qualit

by hastur 14y ago

Thinkpads have an understated, timeless design, superior to almost all competition, Macs included. The only distinguishing quality of Macs is their built quality - but that's not exactly a good reason to buy an ugly laptop. Of course, most people have pretty childish tastes and prefer shiny things. But I guess de gustibus non est disputandum. [And yes, I do feel like I have a bit too much karma... ;]

chris_wot 14y ago
There's nothing quite like reading a post with the words de gustibus non est disputandum while the poster debates matters of taste.
- gbog 14y ago
  Right, but you may be aware that Friedrich Nietzsche would have said all discussions are about taste.
  - its_so_on 14y ago
    as just a reader on this thread, am I being asked to judge whether Nietzsche trumps a Latin proverb? This is a hard one, and I would need some more evidence. Don't you have a steve jobs quote?
    - gbog 14y ago
      I think Nietzsche meant that either you are talking about objective known facts and there is no discussion, facts just are (or not); or, in the most common case, you are talking about subjective ideas, feelings, opinions, etc, and these are just other names for taste. So both are right, we should not be discussing taste and we are deemed to only discuss about taste. I'll let some other HNmate complement with a Steve Jobs quote, if they wish.
mmariani 14y ago
Do thinkpads still have those terrible trackpointy things in the middle of the keyboard? That's not timeless design. That's a timeless pice of crap! Now the MacBook Pro trackpad... Fingers fly on that glass.
- justincormack 14y ago
  Most have a nipple and a pad.
- hammersend 14y ago
  That "terrible track pointy thing" keeps your fingers on the home row. It might not be for you but I for one like not having to constantly move from keyboard to trackpad while using my computer.
  - mmariani 14y ago
    Well, that's not for me. I have RSI and track points give me terrible cramps. On the other hand, with a properly configured (tap to click) glass trackpad that problem goes away.
- Of_Prometheus 14y ago
  "Terrible"? I understand that you're meaning to be hyperbolic, but "timeless pice (sic) of crap" is rather silly. For me, it is like switching to a mechanical keyboard. A Filco is heavy, ugly, and loud - until you actually start using one. As much as one's fingers "fly on that glass", it doesn't eliminate the problem of removing your fingers from the keyboard. For many people, the ability to keep their fingers where they want them and still navigate a page smoothly makes the best trackpad in the world a wasted rectangle that clutters the bottom of their laptop.
- ciupicri 14y ago
  If both a trackpad and a trackpoint are available, I always use the trackpoint. I feel like I have better control with it while the trakpad makes me sloppy.
AlisdairO 14y ago
'People who have different taste to me are childish'. Downvoted.
ciupicri 14y ago
That timeless design isn't exactly timeless since they messed with the keyboard [1] [2]. [1] http://blog.laptopmag.com/thinkpad-type-off-is-lenovos-new-island-style-keyboard-better-or-worse http://blog.laptopmag.com/thinkpad-type-off-is-lenovos-new-i... [2] http://blog.lenovo.com/products/why-you-should-give-in-to-the-new-thinkpad-keyboard http://blog.lenovo.com/products/why-you-should-give-in-to-th...
batista 14y ago
>Thinkpads have an understated, timeless design, superior to almost all competition, Macs included. The only distinguishing quality of Macs is their built quality - but that's not exactly a good reason to buy an ugly laptop A Mac is an ugly laptop? Compared to a Lenovo? In what universe? Is there a parallel universe in which Apple laptops do not win all the design awards and are generally and widely considered the best looking by plain folks and designers alike? >But I guess de gustibus non est disputandum. Oh, the irony.
sbuk 14y ago
"Of course, most people have pretty childish tastes and prefer shiny things." Not to feed the troll, but that is a pretty childish thing to say.
spitfire 14y ago
That's a little unfair. Mac's have absolutely fantastic design, so do Thinkpads. Thinkspads have that no-nonsense business aesthetic down pat, no argument about it. But they are an equal footing in the same way a Jaguar E-Type and a Jeep are both iconic designs.
arrrg 14y ago
I'm not disagreeing. ThinkPads are awesome machines. But Macs have a second mouse button. Had for ages, now. Their mice still suck, though – but the trackpads are great. That was the topic of discussion, I think. I certainly didn't mean to imply that Macs are better than ThinkPads.

by hastur 14y ago

chris_wot 14y ago

There's nothing quite like reading a post with the words de gustibus non est disputandum while the poster debates matters of taste.

gbog 14y ago
Right, but you may be aware that Friedrich Nietzsche would have said all discussions are about taste.
- its_so_on 14y ago
  as just a reader on this thread, am I being asked to judge whether Nietzsche trumps a Latin proverb? This is a hard one, and I would need some more evidence. Don't you have a steve jobs quote?
  - gbog 14y ago
    I think Nietzsche meant that either you are talking about objective known facts and there is no discussion, facts just are (or not); or, in the most common case, you are talking about subjective ideas, feelings, opinions, etc, and these are just other names for taste. So both are right, we should not be discussing taste and we are deemed to only discuss about taste. I'll let some other HNmate complement with a Steve Jobs quote, if they wish.

mmariani 14y ago

Do thinkpads still have those terrible trackpointy things in the middle of the keyboard? That's not timeless design. That's a timeless pice of crap! Now the MacBook Pro trackpad... Fingers fly on that glass.

justincormack 14y ago
Most have a nipple and a pad.
hammersend 14y ago
That "terrible track pointy thing" keeps your fingers on the home row. It might not be for you but I for one like not having to constantly move from keyboard to trackpad while using my computer.
- mmariani 14y ago
  Well, that's not for me. I have RSI and track points give me terrible cramps. On the other hand, with a properly configured (tap to click) glass trackpad that problem goes away.
Of_Prometheus 14y ago
"Terrible"? I understand that you're meaning to be hyperbolic, but "timeless pice (sic) of crap" is rather silly. For me, it is like switching to a mechanical keyboard. A Filco is heavy, ugly, and loud - until you actually start using one. As much as one's fingers "fly on that glass", it doesn't eliminate the problem of removing your fingers from the keyboard. For many people, the ability to keep their fingers where they want them and still navigate a page smoothly makes the best trackpad in the world a wasted rectangle that clutters the bottom of their laptop.
ciupicri 14y ago
If both a trackpad and a trackpoint are available, I always use the trackpoint. I feel like I have better control with it while the trakpad makes me sloppy.

AlisdairO 14y ago

'People who have different taste to me are childish'. Downvoted.

ciupicri 14y ago

That timeless design isn't exactly timeless since they messed with the keyboard [1] [2]. [1] http://blog.laptopmag.com/thinkpad-type-off-is-lenovos-new-island-style-keyboard-better-or-worse http://blog.laptopmag.com/thinkpad-type-off-is-lenovos-new-i... [2] http://blog.lenovo.com/products/why-you-should-give-in-to-the-new-thinkpad-keyboard http://blog.lenovo.com/products/why-you-should-give-in-to-th...

batista 14y ago

>Thinkpads have an understated, timeless design, superior to almost all competition, Macs included. The only distinguishing quality of Macs is their built quality - but that's not exactly a good reason to buy an ugly laptop A Mac is an ugly laptop? Compared to a Lenovo? In what universe? Is there a parallel universe in which Apple laptops do not win all the design awards and are generally and widely considered the best looking by plain folks and designers alike? >But I guess de gustibus non est disputandum. Oh, the irony.

sbuk 14y ago

"Of course, most people have pretty childish tastes and prefer shiny things." Not to feed the troll, but that is a pretty childish thing to say.

spitfire 14y ago

That's a little unfair. Mac's have absolutely fantastic design, so do Thinkpads. Thinkspads have that no-nonsense business aesthetic down pat, no argument about it. But they are an equal footing in the same way a Jaguar E-Type and a Jeep are both iconic designs.

arrrg 14y ago

I'm not disagreeing. ThinkPads are awesome machines. But Macs have a second mouse button. Had for ages, now. Their mice still suck, though – but the trackpads are great. That was the topic of discussion, I think. I certainly didn't mean to imply that Macs are better than ThinkPads.