Top choice for coding tasks is a modern operating system that supports development tools and performance.
Top choice for coding tasks is a modern operating system that supports development tools and performance.
I'm a Computer Science sophomore who began with a chromebook (Toshiba Chromebook 2) running Ubuntu. It worked great for coding in C, C++, Java, and Python. As I moved into Machine Learning and image processing, the device lacked sufficient power, so I had to handle all tasks on my PC. Now I’m thinking about upgrading to an XPS 13 or a Razer Blade stealth. The choice really depends on your coding needs. Certain projects aren’t feasible on Mac OS or Windows, but Linux seems to be the most adaptable OS for developers in my opinion. You can fully utilize your machine’s processing power with Linux. If you plan to work on lightweight applications, opt for a laptop with long battery life—carrying a power adapter daily is inconvenient. Consider dual booting Ubuntu or using a virtual machine; note that running Windows as a client on a Linux host runs better. For intensive tasks like image processing, machine learning, or data mining, invest in a powerful laptop with a strong GPU (Nvidia) and run either Windows or Linux.
The 400-dollar used thinkpad is likely to fail soon, though it won’t be brand new.
I’d choose a MacBook because it tends to last longer than a Windows laptop. I regularly work on coding with an A1342 MacBook and it performs very well. I think a version of Visual Studio is available for Mac. Reflecting on the MacBook challenges again, I own 10-11 year old A1181 models that are mainly used for battery and thermal paste changes. MacBooks are quite durable, and older ones are much easier to source parts for compared to Windows laptops. Plus, once you decide on a MacBook, its value stays strong over time.
The Macbook features just one USB-C connection and its RAM is integrated into the motherboard, which may not be ideal for a developer laptop. The Mac version of Visual Studio isn't the standard Visual Studio but rather a rebranded Xamarin Studio. In reality, Xamarin Studio functions as MonoDevelop enhanced with mobile-specific tools. You can run MonoDevelop on Linux, Mac, or Windows.