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Discussion on: Just bought a new laptop for coding!

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_garybell profile image
Gary Bell

It's got a 256GB SSD as part of it. RAM is soldered so cannot be upgraded.

RAM usage is high at the moment because I am trying something out on GitLab, and their GDK is a memory abuser (node alone using 2.2GB). I've only got 10 chromium tabs open, which is a huge reduction on normal.

I do need to back my files up to my NAS and go through a reinstall. Contemplating going straight Debian, as that's what Ubuntu is under the hood, but doesn't rely on Snap which is depressingly slow (and I use JetBrains IDEs which are snap packages now).

I'm waiting for Lenovo Ubuntu laptops to come to the UK to see what specs can be had. Hoping for a 32GB RAM one as I don't really want to pay £3k for a MacBook Pro which I might not even like.

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joelbonetr profile image
JoelBonetR 🥇 • Edited

I had a MacBook Pro 13 touchbar 2017 and I got tired of this bullshit on less than a year, better pick a workstation. Check the MSI GE66 Raider, it comes with an i7 10750H, 32Gb RAM and 1Tb SSD (and an RTX2070 8Gb which is not important for coding but... Well you can try machine learning without issues with that), on Amazon Spain it's around 1.799€ if it fits into you.

I've myself a desktop with an R5 3600X, 32Gb RAM and an RX 5700 XT so my expectations of a laptop are sightly lower than if i was with laptop only.

I'm used to jetbrains IDEs too but I'm trying to switch to VS Code, I found a plugin to use same keymappings than jetbrains so it is making the job easier

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_garybell profile image
Gary Bell

I had an MSI GS70 stealth for years before going Asus Zenbook. It was great for the most part, but wouldn't always power off. Had some other divers issues too.

I know Lenovo laptops do a pretty good job with Linux, so that's likely my next stop. I'd go Dell, but they top out at 16GB RAM for the Ubuntu XPS devices, and are only available in 13" variants. I have one as my spare for work and it's mostly good, but wants to report errors after every boot.

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joelbonetr profile image
JoelBonetR 🥇

The never powering off thing happened to me but was some kinda misconfiguration on the OS or distro related, I had FerenOS when it wasn't that Frankenstein and it was solved after clean install of Elementary. If you want to avoid most issues on linux try to find some AMD laptop with a 4800H or better, then upgrade the RAM by your own if can't find any 32Gb model. If it comes with AMD GPU better. Don't know the reason exactly but each time i pick an intel I've some issue and on AMD is more stable 🤷 at least it's my experience with that

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_garybell profile image
Gary Bell

Thanks. I'll look at that and see what I can find. Anything to let me work on stuff I want to in my free time is good for me.

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joelbonetr profile image
JoelBonetR 🥇

I found that which seems a good deal if you want to check it out: amzn.to/30985bI

the link is from amazon spain but sure you'll be able to find the same on UK :)

Hope it helps