Every generation of Thinkpad T and X has it (via the Thunderbolt ports on the newest). Plus HPs, upper business Dells, MS Surface devices, all Macs. So yeah, pretty common.
Problem is not soldered RAM, problem is only 8GB max... Maybe it's prices that are still too high, but I recently see too often great laptops that don't go over 8GB (which is a deal breaker for me, and probably for a good deal of people spending $1000+ on a laptop...). Stiking to my notebook 9, which has a similar weight (and ports, except the ethernet, but it's too thin for that) as the G5-6 but 16GB of soldered RAM...
One SODIMM slot can accept 32GB and despite no official support, Intel Kaby Lake and higher can take up to 40GB (1x 8GB + 1x 32GB) from my experience. Soldering that down to either 8 or 16GB is crossing the line.
Just because everybody's doing it doesn't mean it's right. See also: Thinness race to the bottom.
I take the same approach to soldered RAM as I do to cell phones without SD slots. If you're not going to give me a way to upgrade, you'd better give me enough that I'll never want to.
The entire concept of a laptop with 4GB of non-upgradable RAM in 2019 is absurd. Everyone involved in approving those models should be fired. Out of a cannon. In to the Sun. 8GB is a bare minimum for a budget model, anything with an i7 or a price over $1000 should have at least 16GB and should offer at least a 32GB factory upgrade option.
To me this looks like a notebook from 2016 or so - looks fat and has USB type A ports and event Ethernet bugging on case. Just not as modern as most notebooks.
Of course it has keyboard and display - may have keyboard if Tablet - but I have a computer that does not have keyboard or display - a Intel compute stick - but then again the soon to be obsolete desktop - but that would like be in a decade - still x86 based and all mobile.
I was referring to ports on the laptop. COM port -> USB - and now USB C/Thunderbolt - likely all wireless in the future - with docking station for external components.
It's strikingly similar in configuration, chassis and layout to a Dell Latitude 7390, down to the IGZO display (Dell has long used Sharp LCD's, most famously in the XPS 13's)
But everything is fairly similar, even the port layout. The obvious exception being weight and battery. The Dell is slightly thicker, 200 grams heavier, and has a smaller 30whr battery.
The Dell is, however, substantially cheaper and more upgradable (a single SODIMM slot accepts 16GB - an m2 PCIe x2 port accepts an NVMe SSD)
A budget option for the same layout with a crappier screen would be the laptop I personally own, the 5290. It's a great machine but the 12" LCD is utter shit with its 1366x768 TN panel. It's usable, and worth the price if you can get the machine in i5-8350u configuration for under $600 like I did.
Ethernet is a bad thing? Hell no. I'm with you on USB-C, but a proper computer always has an Ethernet port. WiFi is environment-dependent and in an absolute best case scenario barely manages to beat the performance of gigabit ethernet, which is basically the entry level for wired networking these days outside of low-bandwidth appliances. Multi-gig technologies are expanding fast too.
If all you do is browse the internet, then sure WiFi is fine, but if you actually care about reliable performance you always want a wire.
This a laptop for corporate and governmental Japan (also applicable to most companies and countries to be fair). Users are going to be running into lots of USB A plugs, ethernet plugs, etc. A microSD card slot is a little surprising, but then microSD to SD card adapters aren't that intrusive compared to say USB A to USB C or other dongles.
Deal-breakers: - last gen processors - absent dGPU and screen options - soldered RAM and Wi-Fi - 2x USB-A 2.0, 1x USB-C 3.0, 1x microSD, 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x proprietary charging, no USB-PD - no disclosure on battery capacity - what looks like terrible inputs and speakers - $1,300-1,900 USD
What it should look like: - Whiskey Lake or Ryzen 3rd gen - MX150 / Vega 10 class dGPU and better screen options - socketed, expandable RAM and Wi-Fi - 2x USB-A 3.0, 2x USB-C 3.1 TB3, 1x UHS-II full SD, 1x HDMI 2.0b, all USB-PD - 130 Wh battery (because 19 hours) - excellent keyboard, touchpad and speakers - starts at $800 USD with i3 / R3
I totally understand that it doesn't find friends in an enthusiast crowd here, but IMHO these things are designed to last a long business trip and to take a beating without complaining for a couple of years.
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The_Assimilator - Wednesday, January 23, 2019 - link
Soldered RAM and no DisplayPort, ugh.stanleyipkiss - Wednesday, January 23, 2019 - link
Displayport on a 13" ultrabook?Also, most ultrabooks have soldered ram nowadays.
dontlistentome - Wednesday, January 23, 2019 - link
Every generation of Thinkpad T and X has it (via the Thunderbolt ports on the newest). Plus HPs, upper business Dells, MS Surface devices, all Macs. So yeah, pretty common.digiguy - Wednesday, January 23, 2019 - link
Problem is not soldered RAM, problem is only 8GB max... Maybe it's prices that are still too high, but I recently see too often great laptops that don't go over 8GB (which is a deal breaker for me, and probably for a good deal of people spending $1000+ on a laptop...). Stiking to my notebook 9, which has a similar weight (and ports, except the ethernet, but it's too thin for that) as the G5-6 but 16GB of soldered RAM...piroroadkill - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
Just because soldered RAM is the norm, doesn't mean we shouldn't stop complaining about it.Prestissimo - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
One SODIMM slot can accept 32GB and despite no official support, Intel Kaby Lake and higher can take up to 40GB (1x 8GB + 1x 32GB) from my experience. Soldering that down to either 8 or 16GB is crossing the line.wolrah - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
Just because everybody's doing it doesn't mean it's right. See also: Thinness race to the bottom.I take the same approach to soldered RAM as I do to cell phones without SD slots. If you're not going to give me a way to upgrade, you'd better give me enough that I'll never want to.
The entire concept of a laptop with 4GB of non-upgradable RAM in 2019 is absurd. Everyone involved in approving those models should be fired. Out of a cannon. In to the Sun. 8GB is a bare minimum for a budget model, anything with an i7 or a price over $1000 should have at least 16GB and should offer at least a 32GB factory upgrade option.
sleepeeg3 - Sunday, February 3, 2019 - link
Agreed.Valantar - Wednesday, January 23, 2019 - link
It has USB-C, likely supports DP alt mode.Prestissimo - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
But no mention of USB-PD and USB 3.1 10Gbps, thus probably no DP support.HStewart - Wednesday, January 23, 2019 - link
I guess you have no experience with usb-chttps://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-DisplayPort-U...
zamroni - Wednesday, January 23, 2019 - link
No track point. Bye byeSamus - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
LOL I still have clients that won't let me order them laptops without a TrackPoint. So basically HP EliteBook 800's and Lenovo Thinkpad T-series...patel21 - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
Or a Dell 7490 ?HStewart - Wednesday, January 23, 2019 - link
To me this looks like a notebook from 2016 or so - looks fat and has USB type A ports and event Ethernet bugging on case. Just not as modern as most notebooks.heffeque - Wednesday, January 23, 2019 - link
It even has a display and keyboard! That's so 2016! Who wants all those things in 2019!HStewart - Wednesday, January 23, 2019 - link
Of course it has keyboard and display - may have keyboard if Tablet - but I have a computer that does not have keyboard or display - a Intel compute stick - but then again the soon to be obsolete desktop - but that would like be in a decade - still x86 based and all mobile.I was referring to ports on the laptop. COM port -> USB - and now USB C/Thunderbolt - likely all wireless in the future - with docking station for external components.
Samus - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
It's strikingly similar in configuration, chassis and layout to a Dell Latitude 7390, down to the IGZO display (Dell has long used Sharp LCD's, most famously in the XPS 13's)But everything is fairly similar, even the port layout. The obvious exception being weight and battery. The Dell is slightly thicker, 200 grams heavier, and has a smaller 30whr battery.
The Dell is, however, substantially cheaper and more upgradable (a single SODIMM slot accepts 16GB - an m2 PCIe x2 port accepts an NVMe SSD)
A budget option for the same layout with a crappier screen would be the laptop I personally own, the 5290. It's a great machine but the 12" LCD is utter shit with its 1366x768 TN panel. It's usable, and worth the price if you can get the machine in i5-8350u configuration for under $600 like I did.
wolrah - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
Ethernet is a bad thing? Hell no. I'm with you on USB-C, but a proper computer always has an Ethernet port. WiFi is environment-dependent and in an absolute best case scenario barely manages to beat the performance of gigabit ethernet, which is basically the entry level for wired networking these days outside of low-bandwidth appliances. Multi-gig technologies are expanding fast too.If all you do is browse the internet, then sure WiFi is fine, but if you actually care about reliable performance you always want a wire.
Tams80 - Saturday, January 26, 2019 - link
This a laptop for corporate and governmental Japan (also applicable to most companies and countries to be fair).Users are going to be running into lots of USB A plugs, ethernet plugs, etc. A microSD card slot is a little surprising, but then microSD to SD card adapters aren't that intrusive compared to say USB A to USB C or other dongles.
c4v3man - Wednesday, January 23, 2019 - link
802.11AC wifi isn't enough info... what chipset?Otherwise, looks like a decent box, but at $1500+ I'd expect 16GB, not 8GB.
Prestissimo - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link
The Good:- GbE port on Ultrabook
Deal-breakers:
- last gen processors
- absent dGPU and screen options
- soldered RAM and Wi-Fi
- 2x USB-A 2.0, 1x USB-C 3.0, 1x microSD, 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x proprietary charging, no USB-PD
- no disclosure on battery capacity
- what looks like terrible inputs and speakers
- $1,300-1,900 USD
What it should look like:
- Whiskey Lake or Ryzen 3rd gen
- MX150 / Vega 10 class dGPU and better screen options
- socketed, expandable RAM and Wi-Fi
- 2x USB-A 3.0, 2x USB-C 3.1 TB3, 1x UHS-II full SD, 1x HDMI 2.0b, all USB-PD
- 130 Wh battery (because 19 hours)
- excellent keyboard, touchpad and speakers
- starts at $800 USD with i3 / R3
Better alternative: Thinkpad T480s
MamiyaOtaru - Saturday, January 26, 2019 - link
wtf is that space bar? that's almost just a space keyabufrejoval - Tuesday, January 29, 2019 - link
This one has "Excel machine" written all over it.I totally understand that it doesn't find friends in an enthusiast crowd here, but IMHO these things are designed to last a long business trip and to take a beating without complaining for a couple of years.
Enjoy the diversity!