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Root
5y

!!good news
!!great news
!!linux dev lappy recommendations?

So, @Root might finally have a job! Woo!
(Pending a background check, drug test, cavity search, ...)

I'm excited, and kind of giddy. It's an open-office setup, but the devs are chill, the boss is chill (reminds me a bit of myself thus far, just... nice), pay is decent too. Drive is hell, but everything else feels kinda cushy. The parent company is super-stuffy corporate and has an HR and red tape fetish, but supposedly I won't have to interact with them at all. I start as soon as all of the background check nonsense comes through. (Don't get me started on that, please.)

One of the questions that came up, however, is what type of system I wanted to use. I requested a Linux lappy, and that's sadly a bit beyond the parent company's nontechnical IT department. They asked me for links to a few specific machines on amazon for options. (MacBook Pro or equivalent)

That's where this question comes in: Which lappys make great dev machines and also have decent linux (Debian/Mint/Ubuntu) support? The role is backend Rails development + some devops, so I don't need super-fancy graphics, though I will be attaching a 4k (hopefully IPS) display because space and pretty colors.

Recommendations welcome, as I should get back to them today!

question

root gets a job

recomendations please!

work lappy

linux lappy

happy lappy
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Comments
  • 7
    5y
    Just use Windows, it's better anyways 😋

    Congrats though!
  • 7
    5y
    If you have unlimited money, maybe consider a ThinkPad X1 Carbon?

    You didn't really describe what you needed so I'm assuming you don't need a dedicated GPU.

    I have a Lenovo Ideapad 720S 13.3" and it had some issues with the lid closing detection on Linux but that got fixed with a BIOS update.

    Edit: Dell Latitude 7490 is another REALLY popular business laptop.
  • 4
    5y
    X1 extreme or a p52s
  • 10
    5y
    Dell Xps 15
  • 6
    5y
    @olback Fixed.

    @Humanoid- @Stuxnet Thanks!
  • 7
    5y
    I second both the dell xps developer editions (specifically those bscause dell will keep pushing new drivers upstream) and think pads. I have a T470, the fingerprint reader doesn't work great u der Linux but I couldn't care less, if you want a 4g modem, don't get the fibocom one (drivers hang the entire system) the Huawei modem should be fine.

    Excuse me for wall of text
  • 4
    5y
    @irene somewhat, but the more powerful models always have a touch bar and regardless of your opinions about the lack of escape, that bugger don't work great under Linux
  • 3
    5y
    @irene I agree! I just want my escape key and fkeys.. Guess why I'm a lenovo fanboy
  • 6
    5y
    Don't think you have my limited budget issue.

    So go with any brand with good service center. Suggested must have specs are min 16GB RAM, SSD, HDMI port and min 3 USB ports ☝️

    And why look for Linux installed laptop. Just format and install your preferred distro :3
  • 2
    5y
    Cavity search 😆
  • 4
    5y
    If the problem for the IT department is that they don't configure anything but can buy it for you I would check out something like system76 laptops. Seems really good and they work hard optimising their Ubuntu-based Pop_OS for their hardware.

    https://system76.com/laptops
  • 4
    5y
    @Thizizmyname system76 is kinda pricey for that specs

    Thinkpad P series is made for workstation. I would get X1 series personally as it’s small and thin making it mobile. If there’s a budget, then any small decent cpu laptop with SSD will work.
  • 2
    5y
    Congrats
  • 4
    5y
    Get a Macbook pro with latest specs: SSD, 16gb ram, etc. And just throw a Linux VM on there. The one I got from work has 4 USB type c ports. So you'll need adapters for the other ports
  • 4
    5y
    @uroboros Extra pricey and I don't want to run a VM. Also, I already specifically asked for a Linux machine.
  • 3
    5y
    I think Dell just release couple high-end Ubuntu lappy, you might wanna check it out.
    https://glassdoor.com/Reviews/...
  • 4
    5y
    I had a Dell inspiron and used mint on it had absolutely no problems with it. A colleague got this one https://dell.com/de-de/shop/...

    works perfect and isn't very pricey. If they are up for the investment I would go with a xps 15 for the upgrade in power
  • 5
    5y
    @lymenlee Thanks, I'll look into it. But what's with the glassdoor link?
  • 5
    5y
    @Root @lymenlee

    🤣🤣🤣 Hope it's a careless copy-paste and not an ambitious advertiser
  • 4
    5y
    @cursee Sorry, it was a copy/paste error. What I want to post is this:
    https://zdnet.com/article/...
  • 5
    5y
    I'm debating between a Thinkpad X1 Carbon and a Dell XPS 9570.

    The latter's specs are amazing. 😮
  • 1
    5y
    @hash-table Broken link. 🙁

    Also: why would I not like Lenovo? I'm definitely leaning towards the Dell anyway
  • 1
    5y
    I'd go for a System76
  • 1
    5y
    Congrats @root, wish you the best on the new job. Protest the cavity search until they buy you dinner
  • 3
    5y
    @Wack I strongly considered it, but I settled on a Dell XPS 15. A comparable System76 would have cost $1000 more.
  • 1
    5y
    @adegbengaagoro I will 😂
    And thanks!
  • 0
    5y
    Congrats @Root, I would go for MBP 2019
  • 1
    5y
    Dell XPS Ftw 👌🏼
  • 0
    5y
    Lenovo T580/T590 is my recommendation, just as some extra ram and I does the job 🙂
  • 0
    5y
    Little late but I really wouldn’t worry about the pre-installed Linux OS as far as being your #1 priority. I would focus on minimum 16gb RAM, 8th or 9th gen intel CPU, ~500GB SSD storage minimum (hard to find more than that pre-installed honestly), the weight of it (ultrabooks are so nice, can pick mine up with 2 fingers), battery length, and 4K resolution (I cant go back now that I’ve been using 4K).

    After that, just install your personal favorite Linux distribution of choice. You can dual boot if need be. Personally, I purchased an external 500GB SSD and installed Arch Linux on that and can take it anywhere with me. Much nicer than worrying about Microsoft Updates messing with my Linux boot or BIOS updates messing with my Linux Boot, or the annoyance of switching back and forth through UEFI menu (cause eventually some update or another will screw up your dual boot manager), and finally the annoyance of wanting to use some exclusive Microsoft software and really preferring not to use a slow VM so just having default Windows installed and then plug in SSD when I want to Linux. Personally, I love my Lenovo Yoga 920 4k. I hear the Dell XPS is great as well.

    Apologies for the wall of text.
  • 0
    5y
    @KushagraKarira seconded
  • 1
    5y
    @Root I would not recommend Lenovo.
    3 of my friends had a lot of problems with Linux on Thinkpad. Windows works fine. There is something wrong with the bootloader in Lenovo. Also for some reason, Thinkpads seem slower to me than other lappys with similar specs.

    Edit: Ah.. didn't see you already fixed.
    Just curious: which distro do u use?
  • 2
    5y
    And one more reason against Lenovo:
    I can't trust a company, that auto updates the bios via their updater.
  • 0
    5y
    @ShotgunSurgeon Yup.
  • 1
    5y
    @Konsole Debian; its given me the fewest issues of all distros besides Mint, and I like it a little but more.

    Here's the lappy I settled on: https://amazon.com/Dell-InfinityEdg...
  • 1
    5y
    @MrCush @hash-table I was planning on installing Linux myself from the beginning 😋 sorry that wasn't clearer.
  • 0
    5y
    @Root Very good choice :) hope you are (or will be) happy with it. So am I right to assume you got the job?
  • 1
    5y
    @ShotgunSurgeon Yep! 😊

    and I've been fighting with nvidia drivers on and off all week. The rest has been great, however. I think I'll actually enjoy my job this time.
  • 1
    5y
    Congratulations :-) Hope you realy can enjoy your new job
  • 1
    5y
    @Root exactly the same as I’m using @ work, awesome laptop. 😉

    Anyway, good luck!
  • 1
    5y
    Congrats! Been using xps13 for a while and I’m happy with it. No issues running arch on it.

    If I were to buy something today would be either another xps13 or an x1 carbon to use with a SIM card.
  • 1
    5y
    @Bcd23 If I continue having issues, I'll try Arch. I don't have any experience with it, though.
  • 0
    5y
    @Root I’m sure other distros would work fine. It depends on what you’re used to but if you’re up for trying something new you can give Manjaro a chance.. get the benefits from the AUR and having a rolling distro without the craziness that comes with the bleeding edge updates.
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