I’m considering picking up a cheapish laptop for development, with the intent of installing Linux on it. Typically it’ll be Java development or other stuff in docket containers. Is there a best chipset to pick for Linux or are they pretty much identical these days?

  • delendum@lemdit.com
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    1 year ago

    I have a Lenovo ThinkPad T430 that is by now almost 10 years old, it runs perfectly on Linux and is a fantastic choice even today. It’s built like a tank and that Intel i5 powering it is immortal. DDR3 RAM is dirt cheap now and it takes up to 16Gb, you can swap its HDD to a SATA SSD (if not done already) and batteries for it are still cheap and plentiful.

    If you’re looking for something affordable for software dev, I can’t think of a better choice for $200-$300

    https://www.lenovo.com/lt/lt/laptops/thinkpad/t-series/t430/

    They really built this one right, they don’t make them like this anymore.

    • circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org
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      1 year ago

      I have a T440p, and it’s worth noting that on many of these Thinkpads, not only can you replace the HDD with an SSD, but you can also install a 2nd or 3rd drive.

      You can get a replacement tray that allows an SSD in the optical bay. You can also install a small cache drive in the m.2 port under the keyboard (again, only with certain ones – T440p has it).

    • Papamousse@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      About the same, I have a Dell latitude E5470 with a i5 6th gen, 8GB, SSD, 14" IPS, less than $200, it’s a superb laptop that was like $1500 new. MX Linux runs everything 100%

    • SALT@lemmy.my.id
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      1 year ago

      X220, 300 Dollars in 2021, with i7-2640m, never look back for now. I’m thinking buying L380, as I need Waydroid to debugs app. My Phone become shitty. I think I will buy new phone, but not now I guess? Thinkpad X220 expected to work til 2027