Ask HN: What is a good laptop to put linux on for development

I'm looking for a new decent laptop which I plan to put linux on.

I'm currently looking for something 15 inch that has reasonably high specifications and doesn't use anything that will cause any firmware issues.

I excluded a new macbook[0] for it's touchbar (can't believe they don't have the option for a 15" version without one).

I've excluded the librem 15[1] as the usb type c doesn't support display (would be nice to have two display outputs).

Does anyone have any recommendations?

[0] https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/15-inch

[1] https://puri.sm/products/librem-15/

6 comments

[ 4.5 ms ] story [ 23.9 ms ] thread

slack3r 8y ago ↗

Dell XPS 15. Dell laptops have by far the best support for Linux.

sz4kerto 8y ago ↗

Well, no. XPS 15 has NVidia Optimus :(

mattbillenstein 8y ago ↗

Dell specifically makes a developer line of laptops they distribute with Ubuntu on -- probably a pretty good bet that all the hardware works.

svennek 8y ago ↗

I have a first gen Lenovo X1 Yoga, and it is hands down the best machine, I ever owned.

If you don't need the touchscreen/stylus (which both work flawlessy under my Arch linux btw), the X1 Carbon is the same machine sans touch/stylus.

So I would always go for an X1. Btw. remember to upgrade the on-site warranty to 5 years from start!

jjgreen 8y ago ↗

X1 Carbon work laptop here, best machine I've ever worked on. Saving up to buy one of my own :-)

drallison 8y ago ↗

Take a look at the machines available from System 76 in Colorado. They come with Linux installed. https://system76.com/laptops. I have an older model and have been very happy with it. And when it had a problem, they did quick repairs for reasonable prices.