Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

321–330 of 813 posts

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

#321

Post by aquaticsunset »

Freaken wrote: post #276

I can vouch for the Framework. It doesn't feel beta at all. I'm running Xubuntu 21.10 on it an it rocks. Someone created a repo with salt scripts which works all the kinks of the laptop under Ubuntu. The only thing I needed it for was to fix the touchpad issue after resume from sleep (it would be at max acceleration) and to enable hibernate (just note that you must disable secure boot first). https://github.com/light…

+1 to the Framework as well. My only issue is the aforementioned sleep power draw, but they're a pretty smart group of folks. I'm pretty sure they'll figure this out in time.

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

#322

Post by hknapp »

avel wrote: post #228
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.

I think they are 1200p now also.

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

#323

Post by martibravo »

geekifier wrote: post #182
martibravo wrote: post #176

Asus TUF Dash Gaming 15 user here: I cannot recommend it enough. - Intel i7 H series processor (best mobile Intel chips) - Upgradeable RAM (currently at 24GB) - Intel Wifi 6 - Nvidia RTX 3060 - FullHD Screen with 144Hz - Comfortable keyboard with backlight - Two M.2 slots, laptop came with 500GB but added an extra 2TB. - Good connecticity: HDMI, Ethernet, 3 full-size USBA 3.1 ports, 1 Thunderbolt port. - Laptop runs…

That 1080p screen would be hard to get used to after working on crisp MBP screens. Especially when staring at text all day. The rest of the laptop does look great for the price.

AFAIK there are/were some 1440p versions available in the US. I'm from Europe so I didn't see them.

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

#324

Post by tsak »

ajb wrote: post #117
lhl wrote: post #112

There was a recent discussion on the StarBook: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31034024 - in the comments I mention a few other laptops I've been looking at that may be of interest as well as my own review/experience w/ a laptop w/ the same chassis as the KDE Slimbook 15/Tuxedo Pulse 15.

Tuxedo pulse15 is great. Only issue I have so far is that I have a crumb stuck under the shift key and haven't figured out how to get it out without damaging the key. It's a very flat keyboard which may not be for everyone.

Have you tried compressed air? I had a similar problem with an old 12" MacBook with the old super shallow keyboard and compressed air helped me blow crumbs out.

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

#325

Post by icharters »

horsawlarway wrote: post #230
icharters wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

I write Go for a fintech company. I'll take a Macbook running MacOS over Linux or Windows every day of the week. It's simple and easy to set up and maintain my local dev environment. I don't understand why using Linux or hating a Mac is like a religious calling to some people. In my experience I jump few far fewer hoops managing my dev environment in MacOS than Linux for the work I do.

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

#326

Post by rmbyrro »

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…

Why Mac seems to attract so fanatic behavior?

They seem to want to push everyone to use Mac, like religious fanatics try to push everyone to their "truth".

I think this is a result of some marketing tactics Apple employed for decades, and it only pushes me away from this brand.

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

#327

Post by Nathanael_M »

cercatrova wrote: post #242
tacker2000 wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looks good but the deal breaker here is the screen. 1920x1080 is just not enough these days.

Laptops with greater than 1080p screens just take up battery for no discernable benefit at those screen sizes.

Both of these comments are ditches alongside the road of truth. 4k on a laptop is not necessary, but it is noticeable and sometimes valuable. I have a 4K laptop screen and I like it a lot. I have a 1080p monitor and I notice the resolution (mostly on text), but I’m plenty productive with it.

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

#328

Post by brimble »

kibwen wrote: post #284
oauea wrote: post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's interesting how cult-like mac users are.

Apple is a luxury fashion company and Apple hardware is a way for people to express social status, which means convincing as many other people as possible that Apple is desirable in order to elevate the effectiveness of their social status signaling. It's the same as any other luxury fashion brand, e.g. Louis Vuitton. The value is not in the function of the product itself, but in the perception of status that it enge…

I felt the way you do for the entire decade of the '00s.

Then I started a job that issued me a MacBook Pro. And got to see, use, and develop for, a shitload of Android and iOS devices, both phones and tablets.

Turns out I'd just never given them a chance.

But yes, I'm sure Apple users are just dumber than you, and that's all it is.

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

#329

Post by martibravo »

tacker2000 wrote: post #183
martibravo wrote: post #176

Asus TUF Dash Gaming 15 user here: I cannot recommend it enough. - Intel i7 H series processor (best mobile Intel chips) - Upgradeable RAM (currently at 24GB) - Intel Wifi 6 - Nvidia RTX 3060 - FullHD Screen with 144Hz - Comfortable keyboard with backlight - Two M.2 slots, laptop came with 500GB but added an extra 2TB. - Good connecticity: HDMI, Ethernet, 3 full-size USBA 3.1 ports, 1 Thunderbolt port. - Laptop runs…

Looks good but the deal breaker here is the screen. 1920x1080 is just not enough these days.

I'm had a Retina 2015 MBP before, and with Windows/Gnome set to 100% Scaling I get the same screen real estate as an MBP with default settings. Screen has a high sRGB percentage and colors look vibrant and crisp.

To be honest, I would trade 2K for 144Hz again. It's so good.

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

#330

Post by octagons »

linza wrote: post #252
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…

How does the display work for you in bright daylight? I couldn't find any definitive information about the OLED option if it's more glossy or more matte.

I believe the OLED version has a glossy, glass screen. I ended up going with the matte 1080p screen for both of my X1 generations. It works quite well in bright daylight from my experience, but will still have some glare.
Post reply on HN