XPS 13? Too expensive? They're *really nice*.

What's your response when people ask you why Windows wont let them turn on/off their machine?

I've never had that issue.

Main problems with the X220 are the poorer screen and the awful trackpad. I used one at work for a bit and I found the dimpled texture, integrated buttons and cheap feel of it to be really unpleasant. This is why I prefer the X201. It's a bit older, but has a more comfortable trackpad and a better screen.

That's a disingenuous avoidance.

People unfortunate enough to be on Windows 10 will have recently had (or soon will have) their machine out of action for upwards of half an hour, without any advanced warning of how long it'll take.

You think that's perfectly reasonable?

OK, windows 7 is my response.

With Windows Update and all security updates disabled?

Well it is an option I didn't expect to have (thought everything would be 8 or newer), but... why?

I don't want "ok, well I can't do that over the phone, so remind me to have a look at it when I'm next down".
I want "ok, well since I have the exact same hardware and OS I'll figure it out here then let you know what to do".

Remote desktop, VNC or Teamviewer. Login/connect and start having a look.

I know that running updates on a *nix based system with a package manager is a million times easier, less intrusive and less forceful, also especially easy remotely (ssh).

Yeah, too expensive unfortunately. If I'm going to bother I wouldn't really spend more than £500. My last two laptops have been from the Dell outlet and I think there's something there which could fit the bit - Inspiron 13- 5368 2-in-1, touchscreen doesn't interest me but I just won't use it.

If I could stick a 1920x1080 screen on my laptop I would!

I did indeed end up with a Inspiron 13- 5368 2-in-1.

My question to you is, HiDPI screens (well, not as high as the XPS 13) on Linux - know of a desktop environment that can handle it nicely?

Currently I've only seen 1x or 2x settings for some, rather than 1.1..1.2..1.3 etc.

I'm currently just having Chrome scale to 125% for everything.

I've read a few things about using the 2x DE scaling then using xrandr to downscale that (typical linux :D )