Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#1

Post by niclo » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 9:45 PM UTC

As title, I recently got a new laptop I'd like to keep exclusively for studying and personal stuff, while anything job-related is on a different machine.

What are some must-have applications you install immediately ?

Have you got some settings you absolutely need ?

Do you set it up to match your workflow or do you experiment something new given the chance to start from scratch ?

I'm on Linux, precisely Pop Os, if it matters.

Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#2

Post by telchior » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 9:55 PM UTC

Google "how to uninstall crapware for I also like to install a temperature monitor (I've used Core Temp and Speedfan, both are fine) then run benchmarking software. Besides reassuring me that I've actually gotten what was advertised, this shows me the maximum heat the laptop is likely to reach and, with some guesswork, whether anything needs to be repasted.

Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#3

Post by rolph » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 10:07 PM UTC

i replace the harddrive by default and begin installing linux from there

Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#4

Post by simonblack » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 10:15 PM UTC

I either wipe Windows completely or, more often, will reduce the Windows partition(s) down to about 50 gig.

The rest of the 5 terabytes is allocated to Linux Mint.

I then remove all extraneous crap (Microsoft 'starters', various garbage apps, 'news' apps, etc) from the Windows system, leaving just Windows itself and the laptop manufacturer's system utilities on there. I only use Windows when absolutely necessary, mainly for things like HP scanning software for my MFP, or a dash-cam app; so probably about 10 hours a year.

Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#5

Post by BlameKaneda » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 10:24 PM UTC

Laptop:

- Uninstall software that I don't want (i.e. McAfee)

- Install software (e.g. antivirus and anti-malware programs)

Browser:

- Install extensions (uBlock Origin is usually first)

- Run an internet speed test

Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#6

Post by uberman » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 10:26 PM UTC

In no particular order, Docker, Visual Studio Code, Git, Gimp, Chrome, Build Essentials, Go, R all come to mind immediately. Most dev work I do now though is container based thanks to vsc.

Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#7

Post by Nextgrid » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 11:30 PM UTC

Wipe the storage drive from scratch (using the ATA Secure Erase command) and then installing my OS(es?) of choice.

Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#8

Post by 0ldskool » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 11:36 PM UTC

Clonezilla backup before i even bootup the laptop. This way if I need to return the laptop or i screw something up later i have a 100% factory copy of the HDD.

Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#9

Post by egberts1 » Tue, Feb 15, 2022, 12:04 AM UTC

delete Windows, short and sweet first step.

Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#10

Post by faisalhackshah » Tue, Feb 15, 2022, 12:32 AM UTC

Extract windows product key just in case. Install Kubuntu. Pull dotfiles from GitHub, and run installenv.sh . Done, I'm home.