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Ask HN: Are there any reasonable alternatives to MacBook Pro for developer?

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Re: Ask HN: Are there any reasonable alternatives to MacBook Pro for developer?

#11

Post by Giako »

I suggest looking into the Dell XPS line (both 13 or 15 models, depending on your screen size tastes). I own a 2015 Dell XPS 13 and Linux support is amazing (long battery life, the laptop does not overheat and everything works out of the box on Ubuntu). The only weak spot is the webcam location in the lower part of the screen.

Another good alternative could be the Thinkpad Carbon X line, but I don't have any direct experience.

At work I use a mid-2015 Macbook Pro, if you stick to MacOs it's a very good machine. I also have an Ubuntu 17.10 partition on this machine that I use as main daily driver, but there are a few catches with this particular model (slight overheating, battery life is good but not great, I had to manually install drivers for backlight control and webcam).

Re: Ask HN: Are there any reasonable alternatives to MacBook Pro for developer?

#12

Post by pseudometa »

blackdivine wrote: post #2

I'd say buy a new mid 2015 Macbook 15inches, some vendors might have it in stock. I recently got it for around $2000 USD in Pakistan. It's Core i7, 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD.

They have been around so long you could likely get an Apple refurbished one for a few hundred less than new.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any reasonable alternatives to MacBook Pro for developer?

#14

Post by kayoone »

If you want Linux, Dell XPS and Thinkpads have the best out of the box support, you shouldn't have issues with them, but you should probably get the last gen to be on the safe side.

MBP with good performance around 2000$ leaves only the 2015 15" model i guess, that is still a very capable machine though and Apple still sells it.

One thing to note is, that Intels new CPU generation enables 6/12 Cores/Threads for machines that previously had 4/8 and 4/8 for those that had 2/4 before. They are already in the latest Dells and should come to MBPs this year, but you'd have to wait a couple of years until they come down to 2k$

Re: Ask HN: Are there any reasonable alternatives to MacBook Pro for developer?

#15

Post by meschi »

SlowBro wrote: post #5

Lots of people love the Lenovo X220, which can be upgraded with simple screwdrivers to the latest and greatest processors and motherboards using fan-made motherboards. (That’s how popular they are, fans are making newer motherboards for them. I don’t know the experience, I’m using a very old Toughbook to devel since my needs aren’t great.) What’s with the hinges? I’ve never had one fail. Granted, I’m no road warrior.

Whoa, that sounds amazing. Do you have any links to the new mainboards?

Re: Ask HN: Are there any reasonable alternatives to MacBook Pro for developer?

#16

Post by csomar »

You are probably priced out of the MacbookPro. I also need to make that decision (mine is from 2014) and a high spec macbook pro will cost in the tune of 3.200usd for a non-taxed jurisdiction (ie: HongKong or Airport Tax Refund)

If you are willing to put that money, I'd recommend you wait a bit to see the release of the new mac, the prices and the specs.

Otherwise, you'll have to start shopping on other brands and move to Linux.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any reasonable alternatives to MacBook Pro for developer?

#17

Post by robotmay »

Giako wrote: post #11

I suggest looking into the Dell XPS line (both 13 or 15 models, depending on your screen size tastes). I own a 2015 Dell XPS 13 and Linux support is amazing (long battery life, the laptop does not overheat and everything works out of the box on Ubuntu). The only weak spot is the webcam location in the lower part of the screen. Another good alternative could be the Thinkpad Carbon X line, but I don't have any direct e…

At the moment I think there are a few bugs with Linux support on the XPS 15 but they shouldn't last long. A friend of mine was having quite a lot of trackpad issues that don't appear to affect the 13" model.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any reasonable alternatives to MacBook Pro for developer?

#18

Post by xab9 »

Thinkpad X230 here, IPS version, used ones are laughably cheap (Central/Eastern Europe).

Battery, ram (two slots), keyboard, hdd are very easy to replace, everything works perfectly with linux (except bluetooth, but that's always problematic).

On the downside the speaker and the touchpad are crap, so it's your call. I got a Macbook Air in case I gotta work on a project where osx is a must, but fortunately I haven't touched that fancy paper weight for two years now.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any reasonable alternatives to MacBook Pro for developer?

#19

Post by dawnerd »

robotmay wrote: post #17
Giako wrote: post #11

I suggest looking into the Dell XPS line (both 13 or 15 models, depending on your screen size tastes). I own a 2015 Dell XPS 13 and Linux support is amazing (long battery life, the laptop does not overheat and everything works out of the box on Ubuntu). The only weak spot is the webcam location in the lower part of the screen. Another good alternative could be the Thinkpad Carbon X line, but I don't have any direct e…

At the moment I think there are a few bugs with Linux support on the XPS 15 but they shouldn't last long. A friend of mine was having quite a lot of trackpad issues that don't appear to affect the 13" model.

Did they ever fix the sleep issue? That was a dealbreaker for me last year.
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