I’m in the market for a Linux friendly ultralight laptop to check web apps and run terminal, nothing fancier then that. Do any cheap systems exits these days? I was looking at a chrome book but apparently the mediatek chip doesn’t play nicely with FOSS.
Any thoughts?
With a terminal being a core use for the machine?
Terminal app for iOS
Terminal app for Android
Expensive premium Windows tablet to use PowerShell
Cheap Windows tablet to use PowerShell
Expensive linux tablet
Cheap linux tablet
Cheap Chromebook tablet to use CroSH chrome terminal
Problem?
Yeah, trying to use either a soft keyboard for that, or a tablet keyboard while lounging on the couch.
I bet you money that you statistically use the touch screen keyboard on your phone significantly more than you ever are to your hardware keyboard for your PC.
You would be very very wrong, since I hardly use my phone.
But to your point, a soft keyboard is very different for conversational input that autocorrect and predictive typing excels at, and command entry and scripting where syntax is critical and you aren’t really typing in English or some other language.
I write and run plenty of small to medium Python scripts on my iPhone. It’s an adjustment, but it’s absolutely manageable.
Is that your preference?
Not particularly. I use it because it’s always available.
But the limiting factor is way more the lack of real estate than it is typing.
I’d much rather have something with a dedicated keyboard and sturdy hinge.