Ask HN: MBP or Thinkpad

This same question was asked 8 years ago - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=150530 - when the T61p was the new kid on the block. Are Thinkpads still the best choice for programmers using Linux? Or does a MacBook Pro running virtual machines make for a better development environment? I don't use OS X much so I'm probably biased, but just from a hardware perspective, I feel the new range of 2015 Thinkpads with high resolution screens, 19-20hr battery life and the restoration of 3 physical buttons by the trackpoint are hard to beat. What are people in start-ups using these days?

I run Linux on my MBP. Because of Docker, I could never use OS X as my everyday dev OS anymore. I need native support.

That said, I think you're paying an Apple premium for the MBP that isn't really worth it.

Sounds like you really like the new ThinkPads. Linux will run on either machine.

One thing to consider (countering my point elsewhere in the thread) while I don't believe Apple products are more expensive when all the features are considered, Apple sure does overcharge for one thing, and that is memory. So, depending on how much memory you want to get, that could make your decision.

Linux runs fine in VMs for me on the laptops I've done this on, a 4GB MBP, 8GB air, and now 16GB MBP. I've met people running Linux directly on the metal as well and they seemed happy with it. How is Lenovo's driver support for features like power management and the trackpoint buttons you mention, is one thing I would want to ask if I were you.

I attempted to install Ubuntu 14.10 x86_64 on the new X1 Carbon this weekend, and so far it has not worked straight out of the box. I am guessing it has to do with the i5500 gfx adapter, but it's all a guess until i figured out what went wrong.

My lab uses mostly thinkpads with a few people having macbooks instead. I have have a thinkpad at work but bought a MB with my own money. So you know my choice.

What I can say is that thinkpad hardware quality varies wildly with some having huge overheating problems (processors to max = system shutdown) while every macbook i have owned (including the air) being absolutely ok with 12h straight of having their cores to the max.

Build quality of thinkpads is low-ish when compared to macbooks and they require more attention to cleaning and not being dropped.

On the other hand MBs only offer up to 16GB memory which feels arcane and makes it impossible to do a lot of stuff. Apple being stingy with memory is typical across their product ranges.

Generally having to run a VM is not something I like to do - unnecessary friction/user time overhead. But the MB is ok for running both native linux and running typical dev stuff on osx (though recent default compiler change to clang is anoying).