Ask HN: What are current good Linux developer laptops?

16 points·manx··7 comments

I'm looking for a new laptop for my job. Any recommendations?

I am using a Thinkpad T495, with Manjaro(previously Ubuntu) and it works great. The only 1 issue I've had is that the trackpoint sensitivity is too low with the default configuration. I've been using thinkpads for years, and they always seem to work pretty well with most distros.

hows battery life?

Really depends on what I'm doing. under very heavy usage, it usually last 3 hours. If I'm trying to conserve power, and lower the brightness, I usually can get 5-6 hours.

I have X1 and battery is great.

The main issue I have is that it's almost impossible to have full screen video calls on external 4k displays: cpu starts frying and audio starts dropping. I think I've managed to get hw accel set up, but it's so confusing nowadays I am never sure (with Xv you knew where you stand :)).

For that reason only, I'd look for a Ryzen APU next (T14 has it as an option). Edit: T495 GP brings up is Ryzen too. The only drawback with them is no TB3/eGPU.

I've noticed that plugging a 4k monitor to the HDMI port doesn't work so well (bad refresh rate). I think it's a limitation of HDMI, not sure.

I use the Thunderbolt dock and plug the monitor there. It works great.

Oh yeah, it has HDMI that can only do 4k30p, I use TB3 cable to a TB3-enabled monitor (though there are passive DP-over-TB3 cables in the DP-passthrough mode which can work with regular USB-C too).

ThinkPad X1 Carbon works pretty well (with Fedora, at least).

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