As the title says, I am currently learning to be a programmer, and my tablet does not suffice for the job.
I have already finished a small MEAN-Stack application for learning Typescript, learned some Java syntax (I expect nothing more exciting than a sorting algorithm, but exam language is Java, so…) and the next stop will most likely be plain vanilla C to learn about handling hardware.
Windows I hate with a passion, and I don’t know squat about Macs, so I am thinking of getting myself a decently sized laptop for a sensible Linux install.
History (I started my Liux journey with SuSE Linux 4.4.1, way back when) taught me to be very wary of driver issues on laptops, so I thought I could ask you for recommendations that play fair with Linux.
(as an aside, if I could play GuildWars2 on it in the evening and attach my two big monitors when at home, that would be super cool)
Thinkpads are absolute tanks and support Linux quite well. Would shy away from the T470 and T480 though. The touchpad on those isn’t really well implemented. If you don’t care about reliability my Surface Laptop Go does Fedora Silverblue 38 really well.
As someone that has to support a fleet of various ThinkPad models… just don’t get anything made in the last 5 or so years. They’re still built well, but the internal hardware is HORRIBLE - trackpads will ghost click, random keys will stop working or just fall out, thr USBC controller WILL break, and the hinges get loose and wobbly. I personally wouldn’t get one at all anymore to be honest with what I’ve had to deal with.
Personally I would try to get a ThinkPad from a bankruptcy auction or similar, I got my T15 for around $600.
Consider the Framework laptops!
You can never go wrong with a thinkpad (T or X series). They are durable computers for general use (In this example, software development).
I can not recommend the framework laptop enough. Love their mission of producing a reparable and user-friendly laptop. You can even buy it without windows, to install your own OS from the get go.
I’ve only heard great things about Framework (https://frame.work/) however their laptops are not cheap. I wouldn’t necessarily assume that they fit a student budget. OP didn’t say what their budget is but you can definitely get a laptop that is adequate for programming for less than half of the price. That being said if the budget is there the upgradability and repairability may make it an economical option over the long-term.
Yeah, Framework seems like a premium product for sure. I want one but I definitely can’t afford it anytime soon. Also worth noting that a new framework mainboard rivals the price of some entire laptops. So while it is definitely upgradable and one of the most repairable laptops in the world, it is still a pricy ecosystem to be in.
I had been holding off on a laptop purchase waiting for framework to ship an AMD board, but they took so long that I had to buy another laptop instead. The new models they were showing off at Computex look so cool though. I am really excited about their swappable GPUs.
Laptops these days do much better with Linux than before. But if you really want ~0% chance of dealing with driver issues, I’d go with System76 laptops. They’re made for Linux, and with Linux pre-installed.
Dell and Lenovo also offer laptops with Ubuntu pre-installed and supported.
old thinkpad FTW!
got a T430s for 115Euros one year ago
An old thinkpad (or new). Looking for laptops made with linux (Tuxedo, system76). Or maybe a framework. As far as I know any laptop with a good screen, RAM, and storage. And at least for me a lackibg I/O (ethernet, headphone jack, mutliple USBs) is a dealbreaker
You pretty much can’t go wrong with a Thinkpad, the T series are solid choices and extremely upgradable (T440 and T480 being the most beloved from my perspective).
If you are a vintage dude you may want to take a look at the X series (I’ve heard good things from the X220).
For a bit more power you may check the X1 Carbon series, these are more modern, but as a consequence they area bit more enshittified, I really like my X1 carbon gen 7 but man, the usb-c charging port and no ethernet kinda suck.
https://www.bobble.tech/free-stuff/used-thinkpad-buyers-guide
My usual suggestion: Get a generation-old business or workstation class machine from one of the major manufacturers, as a refurb. Mostly meaning keep an eye on Dell Refurbished or Lenovo Outlet - sometimes you can also get a deal on a refurb via woot - for something that appeals to you. The stock is always changing at those, and there are almost always sales/coupons for around 40% off at the first-party refurb stores, so +/- a week of patience can save you a bunch of money.
Business or workstation class machines (think Dell Latitude or Precision, especially the ones with models that start with a 7, or Thinkpad) are typically mechanically much better built than their consumer counterparts, and usually full of reputable components that are connected in standard ways - low end consumer stuff sometimes has issues where they got weird less-common components or connected things in stupid ways to save a few cents per unit that will cause driver issues.
Waiting a generation gives time for mainline kernel driver support to fully mature to minimize driver problems, and drastically cuts the price.
I’ve had several machines following that advice, and I think the only driver trouble I’ve had with them has been with unsupported fingerprint/smartcard readers, which I …don’t care about anyway.
Or, if you want a way cheap beater and don’t mind some hackin’, grab a used/refurbished AUE Chromebook that is on the Mr. Chromebox Supported List. AUE means they no longer receive ChromeOS updates, so their price craters to like $50, and you can flash a normal UEFI payload and use them as a (feeble, storage starved, low resolution) computer. Not a good main machine, but they make fun beaters for experimenting. There are often batches of them being dumped via woot.
…also, don’t buy anything with an Nvidia GPU unless you have a specific compelling reason, it’ll be a pain in your ass for the life of the machine.
Go for Framework, you can upgrade components in a few years instead of buying a whole new laptop.
even better if you can stick it out for a few months and get their new one when it releases
Thinkpad T480 or HP Dev One for the cheapest you can find. If they’re not powerful enough, use them until System76 releases their Virgo. It will have an open source (Coreboot) bios, trackpoint and hot-swappable mechanical keyboard.
don’t go expensive, a 500-700$ laptop is perfect for programming. don’t buy thin, mac-like laptops. go with beefier workstation laptops. I highly suggest buying a good refurbished laptop. if it has a dedicated GPU, AMD is highly preferable over NVIDIA, but both work.
almost all hardware works really fine with linux nowadays. I have a lenovo legion y540, works great, but if I didn’t want to game on it, I would go with a workstation laptop.
slimbook seems to make good laptops made for linux.
Check eBay for ThinkPads from 2-3 years ago. They are usually from offices, in good shape and reasonably priced. I used a W500 for 10 years with Debian and it was awesome, then I used an X220 for 5 years with no issues at all.
Thinkpads are popular and well respected among linux users, and the trackpoint is dope as well. If you want a gpu workstation that also works for gaming, check out the P series.
