Ask HN: Linux Laptop Options for 2020?

#1

Post by movedx » Thu, Mar 05, 2020, 9:40 AM UTC

I have a 2014 MacBook Pro 15". It's starting to show signs of internal problems (WiFi keeps failing to see my iPhone when other devices don't; the keyboard stops working when I plugin a USB device, but randomly and not in a consistent manner... software problems have been ruled out) and so I want to replace it.

I could just buy a MBP 16" but honestly, I think if I can get comparable (or beyond) hardware I'd prefer a Linux system.

Key requirements: excellent keyboard; 4+ fast cores; 32GB of RAM; 15" screen that's very high quality, if not exdeeds what I can get on a MBP; 1TB SSD NVMe

Use cases include: DevOps/CloudOps daily; Go and Python programming; lots of VMs, Docker containers, a K8s "cluster"; travel/Conference use.

I'm very familiar with Linux but I'd likely just throw Ubuntu on it for the sake of ease of use.

What options would you recommend? What are you currently using?

Re: Ask HN: Linux Laptop Options for 2020?

#2

Post by i_am_proteus » Thu, Mar 05, 2020, 10:05 AM UTC

I run Linux on a ThinkPad P51: powerful hardware, good 4K screen, excellent keyboard, all the ports. Not small. You could also just put Linux on a Mac, alright you'd be paying the Mac premium for sort of not a Mac, and you'd be stuck in dongle land.

Re: Ask HN: Linux Laptop Options for 2020?

#3

Post by movedx » Thu, Mar 05, 2020, 10:21 AM UTC

i_am_proteus wrote: post #2

I run Linux on a ThinkPad P51: powerful hardware, good 4K screen, excellent keyboard, all the ports. Not small. You could also just put Linux on a Mac, alright you'd be paying the Mac premium for sort of not a Mac, and you'd be stuck in dongle land.

I've never found 4K screens to be all that good/useful. Maybe my experience of them is aged, but even Windows 10 fails to scale the UI all that well on a 4K screen.

Ideally I'd want the a 1440p screen.

Re: Ask HN: Linux Laptop Options for 2020?

#4

Post by actionowl » Thu, Mar 05, 2020, 12:13 PM UTC

I'm in a similar position with my 2018 13" MacBook Pro. I want a working keyboard again and I have no interest in a 16" (13" is the perfect size for me) but that doesn't seem to be possible.

I'm also a little more out of luck because I'm looking at switching over full time to BSD which I've used on-and-off over the years for a desktop and consistently on servers.

Thinkpads seem to consistently be the go-to and currently that's where I'm at, looking at a few different models. Also came across System76 and Purism and haven't totally ruled them out yet but probably won't go with those for different reasons.

Re: Ask HN: Linux Laptop Options for 2020?

#5

Post by ohples » Thu, Mar 05, 2020, 12:30 PM UTC

movedx wrote: post #3

i_am_proteus wrote: post #2

I run Linux on a ThinkPad P51: powerful hardware, good 4K screen, excellent keyboard, all the ports. Not small. You could also just put Linux on a Mac, alright you'd be paying the Mac premium for sort of not a Mac, and you'd be stuck in dongle land.

I've never found 4K screens to be all that good/useful. Maybe my experience of them is aged, but even Windows 10 fails to scale the UI all that well on a 4K screen. Ideally I'd want the a 1440p screen.

IMHO On a laptop there isn't' much benefit . But on a monitor >= 32 inch it's great

Re: Ask HN: Linux Laptop Options for 2020?

#6

Post by bluedino » Thu, Mar 05, 2020, 12:56 PM UTC

ThinkPad, namely the P53s or X1 Extreme. You could go with the P1 if don't mind something a little heftier.

I'm still using second-hand a T450S since you can buy them all day long on eBay for $150.

Re: Ask HN: Linux Laptop Options for 2020?

#7

Post by bluedino » Thu, Mar 05, 2020, 12:56 PM UTC

i_am_proteus wrote: post #2

I run Linux on a ThinkPad P51: powerful hardware, good 4K screen, excellent keyboard, all the ports. Not small. You could also just put Linux on a Mac, alright you'd be paying the Mac premium for sort of not a Mac, and you'd be stuck in dongle land.

The best part of the P50 line - you can stick 64-128GB of RAM in there (depending on which model) as well as dual SATA, or single SATA plus dual M.2 drives.

Re: Ask HN: Linux Laptop Options for 2020?

#8

Post by fractal618 » Thu, Mar 05, 2020, 1:34 PM UTC

System 76 seems like the best option to me if you've got the dough.

If you like mac, there's a great site called Backmarket.com

Re: Ask HN: Linux Laptop Options for 2020?

#9

Post by jirdperson » Thu, Mar 05, 2020, 1:36 PM UTC

What about the XPS 15 or its enterprise counterpart (Precision 5500 series)? I ran Ubuntu on an older XPS 15 for years with few issues.

Re: Ask HN: Linux Laptop Options for 2020?

#10

Post by kevinherron » Thu, Mar 05, 2020, 1:53 PM UTC

The only comparable machines in quality and spec are probably the Dell XPS 15 / Precision whatever or the Thinkpad X1 Extreme series.

And these are only "comparable" in quality if you're being generous. Keyboard preference is subjective but nobody would argue the rest if they used these side by side with a 16" MBP.