Which Windows laptop could replace a MacBook Pro? | Hacker News Reader

Which Windows laptop could replace a MacBook Pro?

theguardian.com

15 pointsjsingleton13 comments

A good tip for anyone considering a Windows laptop to replace a MacBook is to look for a Signature Edition [1]. The easiest place to do that is a Microsoft Store (online or retail), but you can also ask your local Staples, Best Buy, and some of the other big box stores if they have Signature Edition machines for sale (often only through special orders, but you can sometimes still talk them into price matching or coupon specials in that case).

Microsoft requires a clean Windows install on Signature Edition machines, and that really makes a huge difference. In some cases you pay a small premium as the adware and bloatware do sometimes subsidize the hardware.

[1] https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/cat/categor...

I used Thinkpads before switching to Macs in 2008 or so. I still have my 2013 rMBP and don't plan on replacing it anytime soon.

The Thinkpads are/were great Windows computers. I'm not sure if that is still the case. I have one for work and the F2 key is already detaching and my nub mouse stopped working this morning. I suspect after being accustomed the MacBooks, any Windows machine will have irritating issues you will have to get over.

+1 for thinkpad.

Also running linux on it makes it even better :)

Thinkpad quality seems to vary greatly model to model.

I owned both X61 and T61. Great design, possibilities of modification, strong CPU, and good build quality that lasted for ages (I am still using the X61, now in its 8 year).

The model policies for the current models seems to have changed, though.

I bought a T460 to replace my desktop a couple of months ago, I'm very pleased with it so far.

A friend pointed me towards System 76's Oryx [1] laptop yesterday and it looks stunning.

Ships with ubuntu, nVidia 10 series gpu, matte 4K screen, upto 64GB RAM and space for 2* m.2 and 2* 2.5" drives.

Wired gigabit ethernet and AC wireless, HDMI + 2DP and 3 USB 3-A, 2 * USB3-C ports.

On paper this seems to wipe the floor with a MBP - and I'm sure you could also install Windows should you wish.

https://system76.com/laptops/oryx

For a developer? None. but you can try with a Linux laptop

Which Notebook is a "good" linux machine? All my "linux on NB" experiences so far have been kind of compromised with lack or quality of drivers - resulting in poor overall performance. E.g.: no/poor/intermittend wifi/BT, excessive battery drain, loud fans.

Anything that's a pre-Skylake CPU with intel GPU shouldn't suffer from these issues. Skylake has been kinda a nightmare for power management and discrete GPU's (nvidia/amd) are a mixed bag, would avoid for a notebook.

It's been a long time since I hit a <10 year old model with wifi issues aside from crappy broadcom (in my mbp) that still works fine just occasionally needs patching. Intel, atheros, ralink, realtek... should all be vendors that work fairly well.

"For a developer? None."

Do you really think there are no developers running Windows?

Annoying that I probably have to switch back to Windows just a few years after switching to Mac. Most Windows laptops are awful these days. When my MacBook dies, I'll probably build a desktop PC and pair with either a Chromebook or Surface device.

Surface book

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