Use a developer desktop setup instead of a laptop • Hacker News Board

Re: Use a developer desktop setup instead of a laptop

#21

Post by adamparsons » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 12:40 AM UTC

Meanwhile, I’ve not owned a desktop for about 5-6 years now. I invested heavily into a good docking station setup that eventually evolved into an eGPU setup. Means I own one macbook for dev work, and play games on boot camp with the GPU. Not as cheap but the convenience has been really nice.

Work computers I’ve been given over the years plug into that same docking station when I WFH and my ergonomics don’t change. I have one cable that goes into the work or personal machine depending on time of day.

I’m saddened by the fact that I’ll have to downgrade to a dumb dock when I receive an apple silicon Mac, as these don’t support eGPUs

Re: Use a developer desktop setup instead of a laptop

#22

Post by adamparsons » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 12:43 AM UTC

CPLX wrote: post #10

loloquwowndueo wrote: post #2

While the article makes some good points I still prefer having a laptop with a decent desktop setup (docking station with external monitor and wired networking, mouse, keyboard; the laptop sits on a stand and doubles as a second display) my two main reasons are : I only need to manage a single machine (I have little time or patience to look after a flock of computers) and when I do need to travel I just unplug the la…

Any docking station recommendations? I have a current model maxed out MBP 16” and have been meaning to merge it with my aging Mac Mini dual monitor setup.

If you can afford the caldigit, it’s a premium unit but seriously good and quite popular.

Re: Use a developer desktop setup instead of a laptop

#23

Post by adamparsons » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 12:45 AM UTC

solraph wrote: post #18

I think this was true ten years ago when laptops could not effectively drive two monitors, and had some serious deficiencies in the processor/ram/HDD space. I would put up with the duplicate desktop/portable system so that I had sufficient power when writing code. These days, my work laptop happily drives a pair of QuadHD monitors, and even suffices for light gaming. I have yet to max out all the cores and ram. On to…

Yeah exactly. My fairly basic MacBook Pro back in 2014 was capable of driving 2 4K displays on the intel GPU. It was not going to win benchmarks but it never slowed me down in day-to-day work until it aged beyond its useful life.

Re: Use a developer desktop setup instead of a laptop

#24

Post by w4rh4wk5 » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 12:47 AM UTC

adamparsons wrote: post #21

Meanwhile, I’ve not owned a desktop for about 5-6 years now. I invested heavily into a good docking station setup that eventually evolved into an eGPU setup. Means I own one macbook for dev work, and play games on boot camp with the GPU. Not as cheap but the convenience has been really nice. Work computers I’ve been given over the years plug into that same docking station when I WFH and my ergonomics don’t change. I…

Even if they'd support eGPUs, you can't run Windows to play games anymore, can you?

Re: Use a developer desktop setup instead of a laptop

#25

Post by fian » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 12:47 AM UTC

Leimi wrote: post #19

kbelder wrote: post #15

I'm surprised most of the comments here are in favor of laptops. I find them deficient in almost every way outside of portability (which, admittedly, is a huge positive). The best laptop keyboards are worse than a cheap desktop keyboard, the trackpads are always worse than a mouse, the monitor is deficient, they have no expandability, the ergonomics are horrible, and so on. I've always felt my productivity was way do…

I'd agree with you if the argument was "full desktop setup" vs "just a laptop". I sometimes envy people who can spend all day using only their laptop. After a few hours bent to look at my 12 inch screen, my neck and back scream. But when using a laptop with a dock, a big external monitor, external keyboard, mouse etc, I don't see the point in using a desktop machine anymore.

Agree with you on laptops not being ergonomic by themselves for long term use.

Perhaps not an issue for many development activities, but anything involving lots of calculations (CPU or GPU) will inevitably generate a lot of heat.

Desktops tend to be better at dissipating heat.

In a previous job, our desktops massively out performed our similar spec laptops for long running simulations.

Also you can typically attach more storage and GPUs to a desktop than a laptop if you need to.

Re: Use a developer desktop setup instead of a laptop

#26

Post by loloquwowndueo » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 12:54 AM UTC

CPLX wrote: post #10

loloquwowndueo wrote: post #2

While the article makes some good points I still prefer having a laptop with a decent desktop setup (docking station with external monitor and wired networking, mouse, keyboard; the laptop sits on a stand and doubles as a second display) my two main reasons are : I only need to manage a single machine (I have little time or patience to look after a flock of computers) and when I do need to travel I just unplug the la…

Any docking station recommendations? I have a current model maxed out MBP 16” and have been meaning to merge it with my aging Mac Mini dual monitor setup.

I looked at the Caldigit but had some reservations based on online reviews. Ultimately a coworker recommended a Dell WD19S and specifically said to look for one on eBay - took about a week of hunting and bidding but I scored one for about half retail and have been quite happy with it, it just works all the time. The laptop in question is a Dell xps13 running Ubuntu 20.04.

Re: Use a developer desktop setup instead of a laptop

#27

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 12:55 AM UTC

CPLX wrote: post #10

loloquwowndueo wrote: post #2

While the article makes some good points I still prefer having a laptop with a decent desktop setup (docking station with external monitor and wired networking, mouse, keyboard; the laptop sits on a stand and doubles as a second display) my two main reasons are : I only need to manage a single machine (I have little time or patience to look after a flock of computers) and when I do need to travel I just unplug the la…

Any docking station recommendations? I have a current model maxed out MBP 16” and have been meaning to merge it with my aging Mac Mini dual monitor setup.

[deleted]

Re: Use a developer desktop setup instead of a laptop

#28

Post by alanwreath » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 1:43 AM UTC

I work at a remote (except for quarterly in person) company. The thought has entered my head more than once, especially given that when we are in a group setting, someone in management always says “close your laptops”.

I wonder if laptops were more appropriate when remote wasn’t so commonplace. You’d be lugging your laptop to work and then back home (to be available? Or do more work? Not sure what was wanted here but it’s a tangent for sure) now it makes more sense to prioritize an effective machine and not one that costs boatloads just for more RAM. Seriously, Apple could finally find more devs springing for their MacPros.

Re: Use a developer desktop setup instead of a laptop

#29

Post by layer8 » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 1:53 AM UTC

Leimi wrote: post #19

kbelder wrote: post #15

I'm surprised most of the comments here are in favor of laptops. I find them deficient in almost every way outside of portability (which, admittedly, is a huge positive). The best laptop keyboards are worse than a cheap desktop keyboard, the trackpads are always worse than a mouse, the monitor is deficient, they have no expandability, the ergonomics are horrible, and so on. I've always felt my productivity was way do…

I'd agree with you if the argument was "full desktop setup" vs "just a laptop". I sometimes envy people who can spend all day using only their laptop. After a few hours bent to look at my 12 inch screen, my neck and back scream. But when using a laptop with a dock, a big external monitor, external keyboard, mouse etc, I don't see the point in using a desktop machine anymore.

Unless you really need the mobility, a desktop is just the simpler setup, and (at least for PCs) can run more quietly under heavier load, because of better thermals due to the larger case. It’s also simpler to just add another SSD or more RAM when you need it, add/replace the GPU, etc.

Re: Use a developer desktop setup instead of a laptop

#30

Post by skrtskrt » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 1:56 AM UTC

adamparsons wrote: post #22

CPLX wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any docking station recommendations? I have a current model maxed out MBP 16” and have been meaning to merge it with my aging Mac Mini dual monitor setup.

If you can afford the caldigit, it’s a premium unit but seriously good and quite popular.

It gets REALLY hot though which sketches me out. Also the USB ports put out hardly any power if you’re hoping to charge from them, it can even keep up with light phone usage.