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Ask HN: Lightweight 17-inch laptop for programming?

7 points by JBiserkov ↗ HN
I'm looking for a portable 17-inch laptop for programming. The best candidate so far is the MSI GS73VR 6RF [1]. It's < 2.5 kg, quad-core 45 W CPU, Full HD @ 120Hz, ports, etc. are exactly what I'm looking for. No optical drive. Perfect.

The thing is I don't need a GeForce 1060, the Intel HD Graphics 530 is more than enough for a text editor. It has 3 fans that run all the time and battery life is much less than desired.

If I could swap the discrete GPU (and it's cooling) for a larger battery, I would buy this in an instant!

Are you aware of any 17-inch laptops that fit those requirements?

[1] http://www.notebookcheck.net/MSI-GS73VR-6RF-Notebook-Review.172138.0.html

20 comments

[ 5.6 ms ] story [ 63.7 ms ] thread
brudgers
I doubt that such a beast exists because 17" laptops are a niche product.

1. The sweet spot of that niche is games with CAD a somewhat distant second and both of those uses demand GPU's these days.

2. The size and weight and form factor of a modern mobile GPU probably does not make replacing it with a battery a viable option. If it were, putting in another battery would add significant weight.

3. Lightweight laptops will tend to run their fans more (or use lower power processors) because the mass and volume of the case is not available as a heat sink.

Personally, I'd look at Dell Precision 7000 series. They can be ordered online with Linux out of the box (at least in the US) and therefore enjoy long term support. In terms of processors, they come with just about whatever one's wallet can cover.

The current 17" model: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-Precision-7710-Workstation...

The older m6800 may also be available online in the US: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-Precision-M6800-Not...

wprapido
yeah the 7710 is just awesome
f_allwein
one thing to consider is that, because laptop screen resolutions are higher than they used to be, you may be fine with a smaller screen. Maybe take a look at a 15" one with high resolution?
cylinder714
A friend just bought a 15-inch LG gram notebook: 1080p screen, i7 CPU, 8 gigabytes of RAM, 512-gigabyte SSD, and it weighs 980 grams--just over two pounds. An i5/4G/256G version also exists.

It is not a super-fast machine, and definitely see reviews on the web and YouTube as it's not in the same league as a Thinkpad, but if an HD screen and light weight are priorities, it's worth investigating. Fry's Electronics has them on display.

A representative review: https://youtu.be/Aub6RCHmpHg

JBiserkov
Thanks, this is a very interesting machine. I didn't like the sound of "tablet-class performance" or the sight of the screen bending like a sail.

Good luck to your friend.

If we can have a 1 kg 15.6 inch,

why not 2 kg 17.3 inch?!?

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jads
Out of interest, why is 17" the requirement? While there are laptops that have screens that size, they're not as portable as one might think. Laptops with screens that size tend to be used by video editors, photographers, anything that involves manipulating photos and videos really, so a powerful graphics card is pretty much part and parcel of that.

I used to have a 17" PowerBook years ago and I can tell you, if you're wanting portability then a 17" machine is not it. Machines of these size tend to be used in the field when needed, so it's not typically expected you'll be carrying one around day to day–they're more a "need to head to a shoot, take the 17" and put it in the truck so I can edit video while we work" type of deals.

More importantly, you'll find that many places where you'd normally be able to use a laptop are no longer an option, simply because of the gargantuan machine you're carrying (coffee shops, airplanes - many places you would expect to use a laptop tend to be uncertainties with a 17" laptop). If you're going to be carrying this around for any length of time then your back is also going to let you know just how painful this is.

As pointed out on the thread, the rise of 15" hi-res screens provides many of the benefits of the real estate of the 17" without the drawback of the extra bulk - provided you're eyesight is pretty good.

shaynesweeney
Take a look at System76, especially if you're considering running Linux.

https://system76.com/laptops/kudu https://system76.com/laptops/oryx

witty_username
Why?

The laptops I know work mostly fine on Linux.

webmaven
Well, you said it: mostly fine.

Mostly shouldn't be good enough. With System76 (and for that matter, Zareason) you'll have zero worries during OS upgrades, and never ever have to think about drivers. The laptop will just work.

witty_username
I've never thought of drivers on my previous laptop and current desktop. And my brother's laptop too (these are all low to mid range though).
webmaven
Perhaps this is less of a problem today, but at the time I made my first purchase from System76 (2012), the sudden absence of video and sound issues after every other system update came as a welcome relief.
wprapido
i've got a 17in dell 7710 and am happy with it. it's not exactly lightweight though
brudgers
Was cleaning out recently and pitched my Satellite 1805-S203 I bought in '01. Out of the box, it weighed over seven pounds [1]. Back in the day, I threw it in the bag and thought nothing of it. The 7710 doesn't weigh much more...though the same cannot be said for the power brick, with the emphasis on 'brick'.

[1]: https://www.cnet.com/products/toshiba-satellite-1805-s203-13...

ericzawo
Portable 17 inch laptops seriously do not exist. It's just too girth-y a dimension to reconcile any semblance of portability. I would seriously look in to the rMBP 15" computers (especially now that new ones are imminent, you might snag one secondhand on the cheap!) or Dell XPS 15. Your back and shoulders will thank you!
flukus
They exist and they are usable as a portable machine. Luggable may be a more fitting category though.
pravula
Lenovo has brought back its 17" Thinkpad series (P70).
grok2
HP Spectre is great. The HP Envy line is cheaper, but also has the numpad.