FiXato (fallback)Apr 30, 2020
Looks like tomorrow I might have a #laptop again.
A #used / #secondHand #HP645 with an #AMD #A84500 quadcore 1.9GHz processor from 2012, 8 gb ram, 128GB SSD and #Windows10 Pro license, for about 111 EUR / 122 USD.
Bit more than I'd like to spend on a dated used laptop, especially a #HewlettPackard, but it's been the best specs/price ratio I've seen in quite some time on the local second-hand market, and I really need *something* I can code on, so I don't need to rely on my SO's PC.
#personal
Show threadFiXato (fallback)Apr 30, 2020
I'll first run it with the Windows install that comes with it, to make sure all the hardware works without issues, and then I'll probably set it up to dual boot with #Linux to get a bit more power out of it.
I just hope this #HP645 model works out of the box without much issues under Linux (or #BSD if necessary?). Didn't see much worrisome on #LinuxProbe at least.
Show threadFiXato (fallback)Apr 30, 2020
it'll also mean I'll finally have something to put various #demoscene, #tech and #Ingress related #stickers on again, lol.
Might need to start looking for more of them even.
Show threadFiXato (fallback)May 1, 2020
The missus, @Siiw, was so kind to go out for a long walk this morning to pick up the #HP645 #laptop for me while I watched #BeardGrabber. :D
It definitely needed a bit of cleaning, especially on the outside, but so far it works quite well. :) Well enough at least that I can finally sit down on the sofa again, write some code and browse sites on a 14" screen rather than on my phone, with much less overheating issues.
I do think this one could do with some dust removal too, but I'll fix that later
Show threadFiXato (fallback)May 1, 2020

The #SSD helps a lot, and I'll probably sooner reboot it when needed as it won't take ages rebooting.
The 8GB of RAM should certainly help with my #browser habits as well. ;)

Keyboard feels decent, and after having used @Siiw's PC for several months, I guess I'm quite used to the #Norwegian #KeyboardLayout...

I'll probably still try switching to a #USInternational #keyboard for #coding though, with #RightKeyboard installed to hopefully automate the layout switching.

Show threadFiXato (fallback)May 1, 2020
I do have some minor issues with the built-in #trackpad though...
Sometimes it will get 'stuck' and not allow me to click on things anymore; neither with the trackpad itself, nor with an attached mouse, and I'll have to rapidly tap or hit its buttons to make it work again. Not sure if it is some 'drag-and-hold' software thing, or a hardware issue, but for now auto-disabling the trackpad when a real mouse is connected will suffice.
Show threadFiXato (fallback)May 1, 2020

Its built-in speakers are also rather... meh... Very shrill and tinny.
I'll have to start wearing headphones again, or find myself a cheap or at least affordable, but decent, #BluetoothSpeaker.

I look forward to putting the #laptop to the test though by properly #coding on it, but that'll have to wait a bit till I have everything set up again, and till I've had some more rest as I didn't get much high quality sleep.

Show threadFiXato (fallback)May 1, 2020

But ugh... setting up #Windows again is so tedious...
Uninstalling crap such as #Skype and #CandyCrush, reinstalling and setting up my browsers, and installing all the other software such as media players, #WSL, #CygWin, #SSH and #TextEditors.

I do eventually want to run #Linux on this, but for now I want to have something that works out of the box, and where there isn't a high chance I have to hunt down drivers to get f.e. WiFi or BlueTooth running.

Show threadš¯—”rtilectš¯—­edMay 1, 2020
@FiXato I switched to using WSL for SSH and linux'y type stuff on my most recent Windows 10 install. I'd rather have Linux running on this laptop again, but the last few UFI/BIOS updates from Dell completely broke Thunderbolt 3 for me :(
Show threadFiXato (fallback)
@artilectzed yeah, the risk of not having access to some of your hardware is making me hesitant about switching. I guess I could try a #LiveDistro, but for now I want something that just works right now. :)
I'm still planning on getting an #rPi4 once the local price drops again, and then that can be my #Linux desktop instead. :)
May 1, 2020 at 5:39pmWeb