However, it has been many years since I paid attention to Linux on laptops. How do things stand there now? What are the best options for developers?
I really liked some parts of Windows' desktop and window management, so I went with Debian linux and chose KDE Plasma so I could enable ClearType-like text antialiasing like Windows and a Windows 2000s like Task bar.
Most people will recommend Ubuntu or pop_OS to new linux users, but I found Gnome to be bad for text rendering and overall not natural for me to use after having used other systems for so long.
Since Debian underpins Ubuntu, and Ubuntu underpins so many other OS... I just went to the source. It has been rock stable and very fast. Old hardware is given new life, especially if you have an SSD.
I'll be keeping my 2019 MacBook on Sequoia and use it for my personal web browsing, iMessage, etc. Its nice to keep work and personal separate in my opinion, so linux on desktop and keeping my wallet green and the planet green by using my 2019 longer is my plan.
However, newer hardware features like exceedingly-good displays (talking about XDR displays) and amazing touchpad support can sometimes be tricky to get working perfectly under Linux—these are areas where compatibility might still lag, so if such features are critical for you, Linux might not yet be the ideal fit.
System76 is still going strong. If money isnt a factor, you can get a 24GB RTX 5090 in one of their laptops. POPos is nice.
Come on in, the water is nice. I've never found myself longing for anything else.
Also, check out Tuxedo if you're in the EU