Who’s Using the Speakers!

I am in the market for a new laptop and currently in the ‘research’ phase; but knowing me, I’ll spin my wheels forever until one day, I’ll make an impulse buy and then worry about I am going to pay it off… but that is a story for another time.

Looking at all the laptops out there, I wonder about a few things; the speakers for instance. Who the hell is using these? I think laptop manufacturers should offer machines without speakers, just a single low-fi speaker like the ones in cell phones. No one can be serious about playing music on a laptop! At least in the work \ office segment. And put a damn volume \ on-off wheel on there for heaven’s sake!

Batteries and wall-warts! Integrate! Integrate! Integrate! I’ld rather have the battery and the transformer in one package, even if that means that the battery will only pump juice for about say 30 minutes. Think about it; these days one isn’t too far from a power outlet; airports, restaurants, etc. For instance, my laptop primarily runs off the mains. At most I might run it off the battery for maybe 10–15 minutes while I check email or something during a lay-over. Battery+transformer would be perfect! Hell, throw in a retractable cord too!

As an option, offer a “snap-on” battery pack, like those ugly things for iPods! So if you need the juice, there you go. If not snap-on, just a plug-in thingy; lets call it “strap-on” hee-hee.

And stop making those damn “notebook mice”. WTF! Just because you are using a notebook, does you hand get smaller? And is it really that much of a difference between the smaller notebook mouse and the regular ones? Instead, a notebook mouse should be a wired mouse (no batteries, no hassles, get it!) with a retractable cord or a short cord just about a foot and a half or so.

And now that you have a regular sized mouse, build a little storage compartment in there for the ear buds. Or not; who wants to have to stuff a pair in there, I’ld just throw them into the bag and be done with it. You use those for music and stuff while you are working, connected to an outlet – note, not while on the go – that is what mp3 players are for!

So without the big battery how do you enjoy movies on the flight while seated in coach? You don’t! Whoever “enjoyed” watching a movie on a laptop? Fuck it, read a book or catch a nap instead. Do yourself and your neighbour a favour! But if you still need to watch a movie, get yourself an iPod or a PSP or something. Don’t be bothering everyone with your laptop; because then you will hog the arm-rests as well as figet all over the place getting you shit unpacked and packed again!

One last thing, manufacturers, please switch to those way-cool slot drive for discs – I hate that tray !