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Ask HN: Best development laptop?

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Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#11

Post by lostlogin »

otalp wrote: post #6
atmosx wrote: post #5

If you can live with 8GB RAM and a dual-core i5 at 1.8Ghz, I'd argue that the MBA is one of the best laptops to work with. The selling points for me are: * OSX - still the best all around OS to work with. * Lightweight, it is a laptop that weights ~ 3 pounds * Battery life is decent * Build quality is above average I believe that it's an excellent choice for web development.

I second this. If you're not into intensive video editing etc. it's probably the best laptop for the price. Battery life being "decent" is underselling it - it has the best battery life of any mainstream laptop, easily lasts 19-20 hours under light workload and 12-13 under intensive work. And for a laptop imo battery life is a very crucial factor.

I have 2 in the house, an 11 and a 13. Both have a weird issue where a few minutes after waking, they go to sleep. Happens probably 1 time in 10 or 20. That aside, they are great.

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#12

Post by jniles »

vzaliva wrote: post #8

Thinkpad X260.

I really wanted to like the x260, but we equipped a team of 6 programmers with the x260 and not one was without fault. The build construction or QA must have been on the fritz with our batch because half of them would crash when even the slightest pressure was applied to the bottom left corner of the laptop. I cannot recommend it in good faith.

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#13

Post by pimeys »

I bought the 25th anniversary ThinkPad when they still had them and this, for sure, is the best laptop I've ever used in my life. And I've had several Macbooks, Zenbooks and ThinkPads, but this here has a few things that make it stand out:

* The perfect keyboard. Seven rows, feels perfect when writing code.

* 14" FHD screen is just the optimal size and resolution for a laptop.

* Works perfectly with Linux.

* Two batteries, both replaceable. With the larger battery you get about 13-14 hours of work before a need to recharge. And of course you can replace the other battery to a charged one easily.

* Enormously extendable. Two free memory slots. Easy to open and service. Lenovo gives video instructions on their service site. Almost everything is replaceable.

* Sturdy quality design.

Now this laptop is not available anymore, but the T470 and soon the upcoming T480 still have the same chassis and all the other bullet points. The new six row chiclet keyboard is still the best keyboard of its kind and if you to use the trackpoint, you don't need to move your hands off from the keyboard.

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#15

Post by estomagordo »

atmosx wrote: post #5

If you can live with 8GB RAM and a dual-core i5 at 1.8Ghz, I'd argue that the MBA is one of the best laptops to work with. The selling points for me are: * OSX - still the best all around OS to work with. * Lightweight, it is a laptop that weights ~ 3 pounds * Battery life is decent * Build quality is above average I believe that it's an excellent choice for web development.

Unless your development work entails ever computing something, including building a project?

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#16

Post by saagarjha »

estomagordo wrote: post #15
atmosx wrote: post #5

If you can live with 8GB RAM and a dual-core i5 at 1.8Ghz, I'd argue that the MBA is one of the best laptops to work with. The selling points for me are: * OSX - still the best all around OS to work with. * Lightweight, it is a laptop that weights ~ 3 pounds * Battery life is decent * Build quality is above average I believe that it's an excellent choice for web development.

Unless your development work entails ever computing something, including building a project?

There are a fair number of people who do most of their builds on a dedicated build machine…

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#17

Post by hw »

schappim wrote: post #3

Marco has an opinion on this: http://marco.org/2017/11/14/best-laptop-ever

still holding on and using my 2012 15" rMBP. Was tempted to upgrade to the new one, but the absence of USB ports on the new ones makes me think twice about letting go of my 2012.

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#18

Post by saagarjha »

schappim wrote: post #3

Marco has an opinion on this: http://marco.org/2017/11/14/best-laptop-ever

Typing from a Early 2015 MacBook Pro, I agree with him. I love this computer–it has everything I could want: macOS, a bunch of ports (including MagSafe), a great keyboard (I'm very partial to the inverted-T arrow key layout), and it's still reasonably thin, fast, and light.

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#19

Post by vzaliva »

jniles wrote: post #12
vzaliva wrote: post #8

Thinkpad X260.

I really wanted to like the x260, but we equipped a team of 6 programmers with the x260 and not one was without fault. The build construction or QA must have been on the fritz with our batch because half of them would crash when even the slightest pressure was applied to the bottom left corner of the laptop. I cannot recommend it in good faith.

Sounds weird. Applying pressure to plastics case covering aluminum frame should not crash anything. Have you tried calling support?

Since we are sharing anecdotal evidence here's mine: I traveled 5 countries with my Thinkpad in last year. Carried it thought and worked on it in airports, hotels, cafes. I also bike with it year long in any weather in my backpack. Works great.

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#20

Post by amriksohata »

atmosx wrote: post #5

If you can live with 8GB RAM and a dual-core i5 at 1.8Ghz, I'd argue that the MBA is one of the best laptops to work with. The selling points for me are: * OSX - still the best all around OS to work with. * Lightweight, it is a laptop that weights ~ 3 pounds * Battery life is decent * Build quality is above average I believe that it's an excellent choice for web development.

.net/vs developer here, 8gb at that speed would frustrate me
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