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Ask HN: What’s a good laptop for software development at around $2k?

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Re: Ask HN: What’s a good laptop for software development at around $2k?

#221

Post by blumomo »

rubyist5eva wrote: post #149

I would get a System76 Lemur Pro with whatever upgrades for your budget, or whatever other form factor that suits your tastes really.

Another Lemur Pro owner. Short essence: Casing quality is rather poor, if you like "used look" after 6 months, you may actually enjoy it. Wears off very fast. However being able to modify their firmware (I remapped quite some keys) and given that the battery can run up to 2 business days, I'd consider buying this device again. No hardware/software (using their Pop_OS!) issues since using for it 15 months now. Ah, and I like how slim and light weight it is (roughly 1kg).

Re: Ask HN: What’s a good laptop for software development at around $2k?

#222

Post by l30n4da5 »

noduerme wrote: post #192

This is probably an unpopular view, but I kind of use laptops as if they were terminals. If you want to spend $2k, I'd invest $1600 of that in a great desktop machine, and spend the other $400 on a cheap chromebook and tablets / keyboards / gizmos to log into it remotely.

i'd second this. i set up a Tailscale vpn account and now just RDP into my dev machine at home to do any coding on my spare time.

Re: Ask HN: What’s a good laptop for software development at around $2k?

#223

Post by jwalton »

Lenovo has some pretty good sales on thinkpad X1s (at least they do in Canada - didn't check the US site). But, if you're in Canada, I just bought this: https://www.newegg.ca/p/N82E16834233446?Description=gigabyte...

It's got a gorgeous 4K OLED screen, a quite decent CPU and GPU, and it's currently $350 off + a $300 mail in rebate (there was an additional $350 off over the easter weekend, too). The track pad is not my favorite, but it's good enough, and the keyboard is very decent. I haven't had it very long and mostly it's plugged in so I can't comment too much about battery life.

My biggest complaint is that the screen is too good. When I'm done with the laptop and come up to my desktop, my IPS screens look washed out and sad. :P

Edit: I didn't buy the X1, I bought a Gigabyte Aero 15.

Re: Ask HN: What’s a good laptop for software development at around $2k?

#224

Post by adam_arthur »

icharters wrote: post #127

Quoted post unavailable.

Controversial opinion: Windows is better for development now that WSL exists. Not a fan of using MacOS' proprietary flavor of it.

And windows computers will have 5nm processors soon enough with comparable performance to m1. Yes, the process/fab matters in perf, not just the design

Re: Ask HN: What’s a good laptop for software development at around $2k?

#225

Post by mvanbaak »

noduerme wrote: post #192

This is probably an unpopular view, but I kind of use laptops as if they were terminals. If you want to spend $2k, I'd invest $1600 of that in a great desktop machine, and spend the other $400 on a cheap chromebook and tablets / keyboards / gizmos to log into it remotely.

This only works if both the desktop and the notebook are always online and on a good connection. For the desktop, this is doable (although not everywhere, first world is pretty good connected but besides that it can be really hard). For the notebook, it all depends.

Re: Ask HN: What’s a good laptop for software development at around $2k?

#226

Post by c0mptonFP »

JabavuAdams wrote: post #200

** "I don't want to use a Mac" ** "I've had these problems with Mac" Reasonable response: Cool, use what works for you. EDIT> Here are some suggestions that match your constraints. Annoying response 1: You should reconsider because Mac works great for me. Annoying response 2: Your problems aren't real problems. Annoying response 3: Let's live debug your problems in this thread to see if they're real problems. Guys. I…

Dude, operating system is one of the most fundamental things to consider when getting a dev machine.

MacOS is literally useless for me, because I depend on the Linux kernel.

Re: Ask HN: What’s a good laptop for software development at around $2k?

#227

Post by controlledchaos »

I love my Lenovo Thinkpad (X1 Carbon). From the little things like hardware switches for the webcam and microphone to the big things like the excellent keyboard feel and Linux support (I use Manjaro). HOWEVER, get the premium screen, because WOW the 1080p screen isn’t great.

Re: Ask HN: What’s a good laptop for software development at around $2k?

#228

Post by avel »

jwalton wrote: post #223

Lenovo has some pretty good sales on thinkpad X1s (at least they do in Canada - didn't check the US site). But, if you're in Canada, I just bought this: https://www.newegg.ca/p/N82E16834233446?Description=gigabyte... It's got a gorgeous 4K OLED screen, a quite decent CPU and GPU, and it's currently $350 off + a $300 mail in rebate (there was an additional $350 off over the easter weekend, too). The track pad is not m…

I am happier with the 1080p screen on the X1. Better performance, less headaches with non-high-dpi-friendly apps, better symmetry when connecting to a non-4k external monitor.

Re: Ask HN: What’s a good laptop for software development at around $2k?

#230

Post by horsawlarway »

icharters wrote: post #139
usr1106 wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Motivation is important for your work. I would not be motivated by using some closed source, walled garden product from a company with business practices I don't like. Linux is absolutely good enough to get most development work done without issue. Even if Macs might be a slightly smoother experience in some areas. I used to spend a lot of time to fiddle with Linux and my desktop in the past. You can do that if you w…

As a professional software engineer I choose to use the best tools for the job. In my case that tool happens to be a a Mac.

Yup - the tool that will randomly prevent you from opening any 3rd party app if Apple's signature checking service goes down.

The tool that defaults to a case insensitive but confusingly case preserving fs.

The tool that has been issued in variations that literally can't be used while closed, or if you plug the charging cable into the wrong "all the same" usb-c port.

The tool that licenses away virtualization, making development slower and harder, in an attempt to force companies to buy them.

The tool that used have a nice little $500 dollar surcharge if you want to put an extra 8gb of ram in it. (Don't worry - it's only $800 to go from 16gb to 32gb today - much better...)

That tool?

That's the best tool for your use-case?

Guess you must develop iOS apps, because otherwise... ooof.

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