Switch from clamshell to detachable keyboard laptop?
May 24, 2018 9:14 AM Subscribe
I'm considering switching from a clamshell laptop to a convertible type with a detachable keyboard. If you've done this, what led you to switch, what new ways of working did it open up for you, and how do you like it? Come beanplate this decision with me.
I use a reasonably high performance laptop because my work includes memory- and processor-intensive things like programming, scientific computing, spreadsheet work, writing and editing, movie-heavy presentations, and graphics drawing/editing. I travel frequently, meaning both getting on planes and taking trips and taking my computer to 4 different buildings in a day for meetings. I currently use a Lenovo X1 carbon and like it because it performs well and is light.
I've been in the old-school non-touchscreen laptop camp for many years, and don't own a tablet. Lately though I'm wondering if I would like one of the tablet-ish laptops with a detachable keyboard, like the Microsoft Surface Pro or the Lenovo X1 tablet. Thoughts:
- An increasing amount of my work involves graphics/drawing and reading/giving feedback on others' writing, both of which might work better with a pen on a tablet. For writing feedback I often print out a paper copy and write on it with a pen because I get so annoyed with the commenting features in Word or PDF readers, but then I'm also annoyed with writing out long comments by hand. Being able to write on the screen to cross something out quickly but also able to type long comments sounds good.
- When I'm in my office I use external monitors, keyboard, and mouse, so the traditional clamshell shape doesn't seem as important to me as it used to. When I'm out I'm usually not using the keyboard/mouse extensively, but showing images/presentations to people or reading/editing. Having the tablet mode seems like it would be useful, particularly being able to read and take notes in portrait mode when I'm out of the office. Still, there are times when I'm traveling and need to write something long, so the keyboard needs to be not completely crappy.
- These computers are light (2.4 - 2.8 lb with keyboard, sub 2 lb without the keyboard), which would give me less weight to haul around.
- Long battery life is good.
- I am fine with an expensive computer. I am not fine with spending a lot of money for something that I would wind up using like a clamshell.
- Possibly the lack of ports on these small devices would drive me nuts? Or I just get a dock for my office and don't worry about it.
- Must be a windows machine, I hate macs.
If you've tried this, what made you switch and do you like it?
I use a reasonably high performance laptop because my work includes memory- and processor-intensive things like programming, scientific computing, spreadsheet work, writing and editing, movie-heavy presentations, and graphics drawing/editing. I travel frequently, meaning both getting on planes and taking trips and taking my computer to 4 different buildings in a day for meetings. I currently use a Lenovo X1 carbon and like it because it performs well and is light.
I've been in the old-school non-touchscreen laptop camp for many years, and don't own a tablet. Lately though I'm wondering if I would like one of the tablet-ish laptops with a detachable keyboard, like the Microsoft Surface Pro or the Lenovo X1 tablet. Thoughts:
- An increasing amount of my work involves graphics/drawing and reading/giving feedback on others' writing, both of which might work better with a pen on a tablet. For writing feedback I often print out a paper copy and write on it with a pen because I get so annoyed with the commenting features in Word or PDF readers, but then I'm also annoyed with writing out long comments by hand. Being able to write on the screen to cross something out quickly but also able to type long comments sounds good.
- When I'm in my office I use external monitors, keyboard, and mouse, so the traditional clamshell shape doesn't seem as important to me as it used to. When I'm out I'm usually not using the keyboard/mouse extensively, but showing images/presentations to people or reading/editing. Having the tablet mode seems like it would be useful, particularly being able to read and take notes in portrait mode when I'm out of the office. Still, there are times when I'm traveling and need to write something long, so the keyboard needs to be not completely crappy.
- These computers are light (2.4 - 2.8 lb with keyboard, sub 2 lb without the keyboard), which would give me less weight to haul around.
- Long battery life is good.
- I am fine with an expensive computer. I am not fine with spending a lot of money for something that I would wind up using like a clamshell.
- Possibly the lack of ports on these small devices would drive me nuts? Or I just get a dock for my office and don't worry about it.
- Must be a windows machine, I hate macs.
If you've tried this, what made you switch and do you like it?
Best answer: I love the hell out of my tablet with a keyboard (Asus Transformer Mini). I use it most often like a clam-shell laptop, but it's sturdier and I'm not worried about stressing the hinges (which are cloth) - which is a problem I've had in the past with traditional laptops. It has INSANELY AWESOME battery life. It's so light I don't even notice I'm carrying it. I've found the screen more robust than traditional laptops (being thick glass rather than liquid crystal). It's brilliant for reading PDFs.
That said, I don't do a lot of processor intensive stuff on mine, so you may wish to research that.
posted by jb at 10:23 AM on May 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
That said, I don't do a lot of processor intensive stuff on mine, so you may wish to research that.
posted by jb at 10:23 AM on May 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Just to clarify: I do word-processing, large spreadsheets, presentations and image manipulation on my tablet, as well as movies - medium stuff that would be to much for a typical android tablet. But I don't do statistical analyses, or run GIS.
posted by jb at 11:29 AM on May 24, 2018
posted by jb at 11:29 AM on May 24, 2018
Best answer: I do run statistical analyses and some coding, and I have a surface pro 4. The battery isn’t great, but the new one should be better. I got the top of the line at the time specs, so it’s just as powerful as my old Lenovo. I got it because I carry it with me all day, and commute with transit. At my desk I have an HDMI to external moniter, and I use a USB hub to use all my peripherals. Unlike my old laptop, I take off the keyboard and raise it, and use an external keyboard. It’s much nicer than my old docking station. For annotating PDFs, invest in software, the basic adobe version isn’t that great.
So, I’d recommend. Particularly if your back hurts from carrying a full size laptop in a shoulder bag!
posted by Valancy Rachel at 4:30 PM on May 24, 2018
So, I’d recommend. Particularly if your back hurts from carrying a full size laptop in a shoulder bag!
posted by Valancy Rachel at 4:30 PM on May 24, 2018
Best answer: Another surface pro convert here. In my home office, I plug into a dock to use it with a big monitor and a clacky keyboard. On the road, down the street, around the house I use the keyboard cover thing and a small usb travel mouse. Battery life as others have said is not great. I’m really happy with it.
My partner uses the Surface book, which is a bit more substantial, but has longer battery life, a bit more grunt under the hood, and a sturdier keyboard. Not sure if I’d make the leap to it, even if I could afford it.
posted by notyou at 4:53 PM on May 24, 2018
My partner uses the Surface book, which is a bit more substantial, but has longer battery life, a bit more grunt under the hood, and a sturdier keyboard. Not sure if I’d make the leap to it, even if I could afford it.
posted by notyou at 4:53 PM on May 24, 2018
Best answer: the only complaint i hear about detachable keyboards from coworkers is that you need to find a surface to put the laptop/keyboard on if you want to type- your lap just doesn't work.
posted by noloveforned at 8:43 PM on May 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by noloveforned at 8:43 PM on May 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I'm extremely happy with my Lenovo X1 Yoga, but I really do make use of the tablet capabilities. (Note this keyboard doesn't detach; different model than you seem to have in mind. It's not totally clear how attached you are to the removeable keyboard, so I'm going to answer anyway. The Yoga hinge lets you put the screen at any angle you want.) This is my third X-series convertible (previously X61T and X201T), upgrading every 4-5 years.
To be honest, I don't use tablet mode as much as I thought I would before I first purchased one of these. But the things I do use it for are important enough to me that I don't expect to ever go back to a regular laptop without touchscreen and good stylus capabilities.
I give lectures in large lecture halls using my computer, with a hybrid of typing and handwriting. The hinge on the X1 Yoga is strong enough that I can leave it open (clamshell style, let's say) and write on the screen, but still have the keyboard right in front of me for anything that's faster to type than write. (Basically, I have a scaffolding of the lecture notes ready before class, and then I fill in details and computations throughout the lecture.)
It is also great for sending people quick notes where it's easiest to just handwrite some computation or whatnot. When I was in grad school, I transitioned to keeping all my notes (for both classes and research projects) on my laptop, which meant I never again had the problem of not having the correct paper notebook of examples and conjectures and whatnot with me when I needed it.
posted by ktkt at 11:43 PM on May 24, 2018
To be honest, I don't use tablet mode as much as I thought I would before I first purchased one of these. But the things I do use it for are important enough to me that I don't expect to ever go back to a regular laptop without touchscreen and good stylus capabilities.
I give lectures in large lecture halls using my computer, with a hybrid of typing and handwriting. The hinge on the X1 Yoga is strong enough that I can leave it open (clamshell style, let's say) and write on the screen, but still have the keyboard right in front of me for anything that's faster to type than write. (Basically, I have a scaffolding of the lecture notes ready before class, and then I fill in details and computations throughout the lecture.)
It is also great for sending people quick notes where it's easiest to just handwrite some computation or whatnot. When I was in grad school, I transitioned to keeping all my notes (for both classes and research projects) on my laptop, which meant I never again had the problem of not having the correct paper notebook of examples and conjectures and whatnot with me when I needed it.
posted by ktkt at 11:43 PM on May 24, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
I was almost entirely motivated by weight/portability -- I take my computer home most evenings, and travel with it occasionally, so lightness was important to me. I rarely use the tablet mode or the pen -- my job just doesn't really make those utilities useful. I use a dock at work and have an HDMI adapter on hand for meetings... otherwise, the lack of ports doesn't phase me at all. The battery life is pretty good.
The one downside is that the screen is less protected than in a clamshell set-up (the keyboard/cover just isn't very thick/cushioned). I did bust the screen by (I think) dropping my backpack while the Pro was inside. So definitely, definitely invest in a case!
posted by schroedingersgirl at 9:21 AM on May 24, 2018