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Ask HN: Best development laptop?

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Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#41

Post by jblazevic »

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.

Seconded. I used it for Java/web development for a year after switching from Linux and was delighted with the ergonomics of use. The multi-desktop swiping easily compensates for multiple monitors. The light weight and huge battery life let me work anywhere, from cafes to park benches to various spots around the office, for an entire workday. The performance was more than enough for 99% of the time. I valued the comfort od use much more than that remaining 1%.

I only switched to a new MBP when 8GB RAM became too tight for my work.

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#42

Post by mjlee »

singularity2001 wrote: post #35

the best development laptop is NO development laptop. under all circumstances work at an ergonomic workplace whenever possible.

This is still achievable with a laptop. I have a good quality keyboard, monitor and mouse at home and at work, along with a proper desk and chair.

With a lightweight laptop that I don't mind carrying this means I have the exact same development environment when working from home or the office.

I'll agree I have to compromise on computing resources, but I find that to be less of a problem with a good internet connection and the existence of very cheap servers.

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#43

Post by tga »

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.

Are you serious about the 20 hours battery life? So far I haven't seen a laptop that would break 10+ hours on the login screen.

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#44

Post by hdhzy »

zcam wrote: post #26

Happy Dell XPS 13 user here. I have been using it for the past 3 years without any issue. In the same timespan many of my coworkers had to replace/return macbooks (kb glitches, screen issues, battery problems etc). I was a thinkpad only person before that, but the quality went downhill. I am tempted to buy a pixelbook and use linux on it next, the specs/price/quality seem just right.

Out of curiosity which version do you have?

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#45

Post by amelius »

geocar wrote: post #38

I'm happy with the 16GB i7 1.4ghz (turbo to 3.6ghz) Macbook. It's retina. It's less than 1kg (2 lbs.). It has between 7-10hrs battery; I can work the entire long haul London to NYC/PHL no problem. I can load a big data set into memory and crunch; I can work on a web app in all the different browsers that I need to (Parallels is brilliant). I have docker. I have Powerpoint. I close the laptop, it goes to sleep. I open…

> If I choose my phone from the WiFi menu, it turns on the tethering.

I wonder why we still can't put a Sim card into a laptop.

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#46

Post by tga »

diimdeep wrote: post #34
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.

After MBP retina screen, MBA 1440×900 will be like nightmare.

Just one opposing data point -- I frequently switch between a 13" MBP running at 1920×1200 and a 13" MBA running at 1440×900 and I can't really feel a difference, let alone feel it's a nightmare. I wouldn't enjoy squeezing back my IDE to the MBA screen, but that's about it.

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#47

Post by askvictor »

amelius wrote: post #45
geocar wrote: post #38

I'm happy with the 16GB i7 1.4ghz (turbo to 3.6ghz) Macbook. It's retina. It's less than 1kg (2 lbs.). It has between 7-10hrs battery; I can work the entire long haul London to NYC/PHL no problem. I can load a big data set into memory and crunch; I can work on a web app in all the different browsers that I need to (Parallels is brilliant). I have docker. I have Powerpoint. I close the laptop, it goes to sleep. I open…

> If I choose my phone from the WiFi menu, it turns on the tethering. I wonder why we still can't put a Sim card into a laptop.

You can, but got need to get the right laptop.

Re: Ask HN: Best development laptop?

#48

Post by tga »

singularity2001 wrote: post #35

the best development laptop is NO development laptop. under all circumstances work at an ergonomic workplace whenever possible.

A laptop doesn't have to be uncomfortable. With a portable stand + keyboard/mouse, and given a good chair and desk (flex desk, library, definitely not cafe stool), it feels very comfortable for long work sessions.
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