4 ms·

Ask HN: What is the best non-Mac laptop for development today?

I'm thinking about jumping ship and using Ubuntu. Anyone have something they're in love with?

kasperset 9y ago
No personal experience but I have read good things about Dell XPS developer edition. Other choices include Dell Precision laptop brand. I guess any laptop lines that are made for businesses rather than consumers should be fine. Other options include System76 (search keyword).
LeviEster 9y ago
Used ThinkPads.
jdowner 9y ago
I have used and like Dell XPS, ThinkPads, and System76.
imhoguy 9y ago
I still use maxed out spec HP EliteBook 8560W workstation notebook from 2012 for most of my work, love the keyboard and solid magnesium case. Runs Xubuntu and 2 VMs fine. I also use Ubuntu on clients' Dell Latitude from time to time, they have very good battery life. For mobility I would try Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga - got older Yoga 13 and it was very comfortable, haven't tried Ubuntu there though.
dzonga 9y ago
Lenovo X1 carbon!
- abusoufiyan 9y ago
  I use Ubuntu on an X1 Carbon at work and it's been a delight! Long long battery life (I can leave my charger at home any day and it's not a problem). All important development software works on it. You're closer to the environment your servers run on, which is a plus if you are doing web dev.
  - andrei_says_ 9y ago
    Which generation? And, what about graphics/adobe suite?
xstartup 9y ago
None. I am using linux for a long time yet font sucks on vscode. I'll buying a macbook pro soon. (when i get some time)
dabockster 9y ago
Probably a used IT laptop (Thinkpad, Elitebook, etc) from eBay. OS is pretty much up to you either way (Windows and Linux like usual, with Hackintosh installs being possible on a variety of models).
O_H_E 9y ago
Thinkpads X or T series System76, especially the Galago pro
codegladiator 9y ago
lenovo yoga thinkpads are great !
nukeop 9y ago
Thinkpads. Macs are horrible for development.
chatmasta 9y ago
You’ll be able to develop everything except iOS apps. What if you want to build one at some point?
qubex 9y ago
Definitely the Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition. My sister has had two (one of 2014 vintage, the second one purchased just weeks ago) and they are rock solid, svelte, impressive machines with flawless Linux support.
- anzoxe 9y ago
  Looking at the dell website I can't find any difference between the new xps 13 and xps 13 developer edition. Besides the regular edition having 8gb RAM instead of 4gb. If they're the same price, why would anyone pay the same for less RAM and pre-installed Ubuntu? Legitmetly curious what other differences there are.
  - godot 9y ago
    My guess is the convenience of having Linux pre-installed instead of having to go through a new installation yourself? I don't own either, so I wouldn't know for sure, but I think it's somewhat valid that not every high level developer nowadays want to deal with installing Linux OSes. Having Ubuntu preinstalled is welcoming for a lot of the dev userbase who comes from a Macbook world expecting things to be plug and play.

I'm thinking about jumping ship and using Ubuntu. Anyone have something they're in love with?

No personal experience but I have read good things about Dell XPS developer edition. Other choices include Dell Precision laptop brand. I guess any laptop lines that are made for businesses rather than consumers should be fine. Other options include System76 (search keyword).

LeviEster 9y ago

Used ThinkPads.

jdowner 9y ago

I have used and like Dell XPS, ThinkPads, and System76.

imhoguy 9y ago

I still use maxed out spec HP EliteBook 8560W workstation notebook from 2012 for most of my work, love the keyboard and solid magnesium case. Runs Xubuntu and 2 VMs fine. I also use Ubuntu on clients' Dell Latitude from time to time, they have very good battery life. For mobility I would try Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga - got older Yoga 13 and it was very comfortable, haven't tried Ubuntu there though.

dzonga 9y ago

Lenovo X1 carbon!

abusoufiyan 9y ago
I use Ubuntu on an X1 Carbon at work and it's been a delight! Long long battery life (I can leave my charger at home any day and it's not a problem). All important development software works on it. You're closer to the environment your servers run on, which is a plus if you are doing web dev.
- andrei_says_ 9y ago
  Which generation? And, what about graphics/adobe suite?

xstartup 9y ago

None. I am using linux for a long time yet font sucks on vscode. I'll buying a macbook pro soon. (when i get some time)

dabockster 9y ago

Probably a used IT laptop (Thinkpad, Elitebook, etc) from eBay. OS is pretty much up to you either way (Windows and Linux like usual, with Hackintosh installs being possible on a variety of models).

O_H_E 9y ago

Thinkpads X or T series System76, especially the Galago pro

codegladiator 9y ago

lenovo yoga thinkpads are great !

nukeop 9y ago

Thinkpads. Macs are horrible for development.

chatmasta 9y ago

You’ll be able to develop everything except iOS apps. What if you want to build one at some point?

qubex 9y ago

Definitely the Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition. My sister has had two (one of 2014 vintage, the second one purchased just weeks ago) and they are rock solid, svelte, impressive machines with flawless Linux support.

anzoxe 9y ago
Looking at the dell website I can't find any difference between the new xps 13 and xps 13 developer edition. Besides the regular edition having 8gb RAM instead of 4gb. If they're the same price, why would anyone pay the same for less RAM and pre-installed Ubuntu? Legitmetly curious what other differences there are.
- godot 9y ago
  My guess is the convenience of having Linux pre-installed instead of having to go through a new installation yourself? I don't own either, so I wouldn't know for sure, but I think it's somewhat valid that not every high level developer nowadays want to deal with installing Linux OSes. Having Ubuntu preinstalled is welcoming for a lot of the dev userbase who comes from a Macbook world expecting things to be plug and play.