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Ask HN: Is there a developer laptop that does not suck and is not a Mac in 2022?

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221–230 of 538 posts

Re: Ask HN: Is there a developer laptop that does not suck and is not a Mac in 2022?

#221

Please excuse the long-winded answer... I have also given up on Apple, but mostly because I can't see the value in it anymore, otherwise my experience with them has been satisfactory (Intel CPU models). For the past few years I used a Microsoft Surface Pro because it seemed to have good build quality and high screen resolution, but despite this I have had to replace it as part of a recall due to a graphics hardware i…

> For 2022 I decided to buy a "gaming" laptop and switch to 100% Linux. I researched this option before opting for an LG gram. I might research it again soon. Would you care to share exactly what gaming laptop you picked?

Not OP but if I were to buy a laptop right now, it'd be the Inspiron 16 plus.

Last gen i7, 3050/3060, up to 32GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, 3k 16:10 screen, good battery. And i think they sell it without dedicated graphics card too.

Now I have an Inspiron 7677 which works great on linux except for the fingerprint and the webcam.

Oh, I forgot.

The Tuxedo Pulse 15 gen2 is also a great laptop I think. It's not a gaming laptop, it's more like a Macbook. Ryzen 7 5700U, up to 64GB of RAM, 2k screen, huuuuuuge battery, good connectivity, etc. And you can put your own logo on the lid.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a developer laptop that does not suck and is not a Mac in 2022?

#222

What country is this? People are suggesting Frame Work laptops but if you don’t have official Apple support, it’s even less likely Frame Work ships to this country and if you managed to get one you’d have no support. I imagine you need to go the Dell XPS or Lenovo route.

Dell isn't what it used to be. Strong avoid. My latest XPS had a swollen battery in less than a year and support said it's my problem. Then the keyboard started getting the pretty common sticky key problem with several different keys. I've forgotten the other problems but I won't even give this laptop away it's so useless. I've switched to gaming laptops and am happy so far with the build quality and performance. Not sure about support though.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a developer laptop that does not suck and is not a Mac in 2022?

#223
I'm running a Thinkpad P1 Gen 3. It's built for workstation purposes (has a dedicated NVIDIA GPU branded as "Quadro" though VRAM is limited). It's got a 10th gen Intel CPU and so far it's been working great with Manjaro. I especially like the upgradeability of the RAM (added 16GB to make it 32GB, can switch to 32+32 in the future) and the ability to use two (replaceable) M.2 SSDs, which is something fewer and fewer "professional" laptops come with. The built-in fingerprint reader (which works well with Linux!) is a nice bonus. The trackpad is nice, the keyboard is good, the screen is 1080p with 4k as an option for more expensive models. GNOME's performance switcher (power saving/balanced/performance) works with the motherboard as of a year or so ago.

One thing I had to fix manually was the use of the special function keys (Fn+F9/10/11). I had to map them manually by adding some config to /lib/udev/hwdb.d/60-keyboard.hwdb mapping the scan codes I found by running evtest to the right key codes manually. Not a problem if you never use Fn+F9/10/11 to answer calls or open chat, but I just wanted them to work.

I have some issues, though I suspect my setup is to blame. Sometimes Linux doesn't boot when GDM takes control of the display. Haven't bothered figuring that one out yet. Nvidia's hardware is also a problem child as always; the external display runs through the Nvidia GPU, massively increasing heat and power draw the moment I hook up an external display. If you don't plan on doing simulations or playing games, I'd recommend staying clear of models with an Nvidia GPU, if you can.

Fan noise is very annoying in Windows, where it'll spin up for no good reason unless you put it in the slowest power saving mode. In Linux this isn't an issue, though your experience may differ depending on your choice of distro and power configuration.

I imagine the 12th gen Intel chips will blow this thing out of the water in terms of performance, but I plan on sticking with this laptop for a few years at least. It's more than fast enough.

As a bonus, I've heard good things about their extended warranty. Over here, they'll send parts ahead and then send a tech out to replace them for you. Someone I know had a touchpad that stopped working well and although it was probably a five minute fix with a standard screwdriver, they still sent a tech over to do the fix for him. Took maybe two or three days for everything to be done here but I've heard varying stories about their timeliness from different countries.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a developer laptop that does not suck and is not a Mac in 2022?

#224
I got work to buy me the SKU with the 3080 plus 3 year on-site warranty.

https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/p/laptops/legion-laptops/legion...

It runs about six copies of Rider without issue. Maybe I will take it out of low power mode if I have to run a seventh.

The backlighting sparks joy.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a developer laptop that does not suck and is not a Mac in 2022?

#225
Laptop, desktop, chromebook, hardware support, doesn’t mean anything to me.

For the past 8 years I’ve used nothing but virtual desktops.

I connect to it from anywhere in the world on just about any device and I have my entire development environment available to me. I can spin up copies of it to try something out and then revert to a previous image. I can create full fidelity copies of it in minutes anytime I want to.

I cannot imagine going back to using physical hardware directly on the desktop anymore than I could a server.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a developer laptop that does not suck and is not a Mac in 2022?

#226
post #70

I absolutely love my Framework laptop for dev. I feel the software support is also quite good, at least for Fedora which is explicitly supported. I got the DIY edition and put everything together, including installing Fedora, in under 1 hour. And I'm a really slow guy, haven't build a computer in 10 years - its too easy with framework. This laptop is really build to be repairable and modular and it does not suck at a…

I can see why people idealistically want the device but mine is really not up to being a usable production device. The wonky design of the “modules” means they’re practically useless, the hardware has almost endlessly has stability and issues with bricking, it has never once given me confidence in almost any respect. I want to love the thing and there’s nice features about the product, but I’d hesitate to suggest any…

I'm writing this with buyer's remorse on my Framework.

It's a huge step down from my previous Thinkpads. The battery life is atrocious - a night in modern standby drains the battery from 80% to 35%. Outside the office battery life is a constant worry, I mostly use it docked these days.

The display hinge is wobbly - when I lift my Framework from my lap on a table it often folds back 180 degrees. Very annoying.

In general it feels less durable than my old Thinkpad X1.

Linux support is better than on most laptops and worse than on Thinkpads, e.g. no BIOS upgrades out of the box (only beta firmwares for months). Additionally, I experience rare kernel loops, sometimes the laptop doesn't shut off properly etc. Overall Thinkpads seem to be more stable.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a developer laptop that does not suck and is not a Mac in 2022?

#227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Serious dev work is not done mostly on a small screen. Your laptop is a moveable computer that will be connected to your workstation monitor. I own a 14 inch macbook and rarely use it without a display.

If you use it hitched to a monitor, then why not have a proper workstation? The whole point of having a laptop is being able to use it on the go. I travel by train and plane extensively and I write code on it during the trips. 14 inches is unusable.

Very narrow minded attitude. Might be unusable for you but great for others. Try to keep the tone a bit more friendly.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a developer laptop that does not suck and is not a Mac in 2022?

#228
post #70

I absolutely love my Framework laptop for dev. I feel the software support is also quite good, at least for Fedora which is explicitly supported. I got the DIY edition and put everything together, including installing Fedora, in under 1 hour. And I'm a really slow guy, haven't build a computer in 10 years - its too easy with framework. This laptop is really build to be repairable and modular and it does not suck at a…

It’s on my shopping list but I’ve heard they have heat issues depending on your workload.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a developer laptop that does not suck and is not a Mac in 2022?

#229
My last laptop purchase was a comparatively cheap £300 HP something-or-other back in 2018, to avoid using my work laptop for personal projects. It only has 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD and an 8x core i5, but I find it perfectly adequate for my development needs.

I'm running the latest Ubuntu on it, and it works nicely for running simultaneously an instance of VS Code, and a Windows VM in VirtualBox, and Firefox.

I mostly do reverse engineering projects, and development in node and C++. It's been reliably fine for this, and I'm not worried about it being damaged or lost as it was relatively inexpensive.

The camera is awful and the sound isn't great. And I can't run anything that requires massive computational power like AI models, but that's not what I'm really interested in.

I would advise just getting the cheapest laptop that does what you need. The expensive Apple kit is unnecessary in my opinion.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a developer laptop that does not suck and is not a Mac in 2022?

#230

I'm a happy owner of a Dell Precision 5520 that is already 5 years old. It shipped with a Ubuntu LTS by default and I took a 3-year next day repair warranty that I used once for a swollen battery. I cannot express how happy I was to have my laptop repaired in less than an hour in my kitchen by a Dell certified technician. Given how dependent I am on my computer for work, if I had to send it I would have lost at least…

I am also the happy owner of a Dell Precision, but an even older model, 7510, so 6-years old. It has never had any HW problem, despite intensive use, including during many business trips. It was also bought with Ubuntu, but I have wiped that and I have installed Gentoo, as this is what I prefer. Support for Linux has been perfect, for all included peripherals, e.g. Thunderbolt, video camera, WiFi, Bluetooth, card rea…

My Precision 7710 has been great and is about the same age. All of the ports on the left side just died. Display port, HDMI, USB-A, USB-C.

I’m glad it lasted as long as it did, but they don’t even have parts for it anymore so I can’t get it repaired.

It still hasn’t completely died so I’m still using it as a laptop but ended up getting a little System76 Meerkat for my desk and I love it. I just use the laptop as a 3rd screen with Barrier.

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