What's your favorite laptop brand/type?
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- By the end of 2026, how useful do you think agentic/multi-agent AI systems will actually be in your daily work or personal projects? Posted on March 11th, 2026 | 40 comments
NEC (Score:3)
Really nice, serious and will made laptops.
Fast enough to get FP too.
Re: NEC (Score:1)
Personally? (Score:2)
Razer
Though Lenovo makes great laptops too
Also... since when is Chromebook a brand? That is a type of laptop, based on the OS it runs. Poor choice to include here, based on the other options being actual manufacturers.
Re: (Score:2)
I can't tell you how many people come to me with Lenovo computers that are broken or don't work right, I really don't recommend them. Plus the guy I have to fix notebooks for me that I can't says he see's twice as many Lenovo's as any other brand in his shop.
Depends on usage. (Score:3)
I think for general purpose I really do like Apple laptops.
For general office use I like Dells. However, I think for workstation replacements I think HP's outperform Dell.
For gaming, none of the above. I'd probably go with MSI, Alienware, etc..but make sure the HDMI port are tied to the discrete video card! They often are tied to the onboard, even when a discrete card is installed from the factory.
I do like the Surface notebook/laptops however I think they are overpriced. HP has a new competitor for the surface that I think is slightly better, but still overpriced. (I guess we're still paying for miniaturization)
I like Samsung's designs, however in my experience I've had issues with their soft-buttons up top.
Re: (Score:2)
How about a the Chromebook Pixel? 4:3 screen, ultra thin and light, runs Linux well. Overpriced, but if you are recommending Apple I guess you don't care about that.
Apple laptops are nice in some ways but also deal breakers in others. The touch bar and missing F keys make those models useless for serious work. Lack of USB ports is also a major issue, as it lack of upgradeability. Other manufacturers manage to make laptops even thinner and lighter that you can upgrade the wifi or SSD in, so there is no excus
Re: (Score:2)
Mind you I'm talking from my own experience and history. I know a lot of people don't like latest macbooks because of the issues you described. Fair enough, but I'm not sure the average user will be bothered. I totally agree with you that they shouldn't be considered for actual work and I don't consider Apple laptops "work" laptops. hehe I know some design type people will disagree with us on that but this is, after all, like, my opinion man :D
the reason why I didn't include chromebooks is that its an o
Re: (Score:2)
a [...] laptop [...] that is compatible with linux.
That seems to be pretty much all laptops nowadays. I've been running Linux on laptops for 22 years now (starting with a DEC HiNote) and there was a time when it wasn't always so easy. In the past i've had problems with no Linux driver being available for components which were very recent and from uncooperative manufacturers, but there's always been a workaround.
Re: (Score:3)
I think for general purpose I really do like Apple laptops.
I used to. They had good build, a nice magnetic plug, a good keyboard, and no weird extraneous useless features. WELL. Now it has no magnetic power connector, it has a weird awesome bar, and the keyboard is really thin and annoying.
My next laptop will be a Dell, I guess.
No MacBooks??? (Score:2)
Interesting - I've had my MacBook Air for four years now without a seconds worth of trouble or any visible dings except for the keys becoming very shiny with use.
I know they're more expensive (and mostly incompatible) with Windows laptops and getting a bit long in the tooth, but I've had laptops for more than 30 years (my first was an IBM Convertible) and this MacBook is the best one hands down I've ever owned.
An important point is that the Mac is used for business and presentations/demonstrations only - I
Never mind - seemed to be added as I wrote Parent (Score:2)
Regardless, I'd still recommend a MacBook for any road warriors who just need it for business and can stomach the price.
Re: (Score:2)
MacBook (Air|Pro) would fall under "Apple", option number one on the poll, and the current leader.
macbook (Score:5, Interesting)
macbook — because you can run all three: i) macOS, ii) linux, and iii) windows — the hardware will boot all three natively. also — you get to run UNIX + have adobe and microsoft office at the same time — no need to install cygwin.
the combo of being able to boot every OS + native unix + adobe and microsoft apps — and decent hardware specs that take a beating makes the macbook pro a great machine — they stand up to abuse and keep on ticking, and are beautifully designed.
i just upgraded from a 2009 macbook pro to a 2016 macbook pro — they boosted the speed of the processor, went retina, and went with all usbC ports — yet, im still running the same monitor and usb hub + audio interface — the cables changed with usbC, but the hardware and peripherals didnt, so its not as big a deal as some make it. best machine ever made.
2cents from toronto island,
jp
Re: (Score:1)
Yep, you can run all three--for a price greater than buying all three separately.
Re: (Score:1)
Troll much? My 2800 USD MBP has outlasted 2 2500 USD HP laptops. Well worth the money and even after more than 5 years I have no plans to replace it. Aside from hardware failure this will be my laptop for at least a few years to come and if it does die then I'll be back off to the Apple store.
I wonder if you've even touched one to have any kind of valid opinion on or are you just another Slashtard goose stepper?
Re: (Score:1)
What is your point exactly? "You can lug three lappies around for less money?"
Re: (Score:3)
Fortunately, most of us don't need all three. Every Windows computer also comes with Ubuntu Linux these days, so no need for separate Windows and Linux machines.
But the point is, Apple is gouging their customers.
Re:macbook (Score:4, Interesting)
Are they really gouging? Seems they are offering what customers want and hardware comparisons I have read don't really point to massive gouging when the comparison is hardware to hardware in the newest iterations.
Same can be said for Surface. Some people consider those to be overpriced, but a friend of mine has one, uses it everyday and enjoys what it does every day. He has another laptop, but that is more ungainly so mostly it sits at home where the Surface does not.
I would say that Apple is pricing their machines properly based upon build quality, functionality and appeal to customers. It is not gouging customers if they pay for what they want and like to use every day.
I know several apple people who have had their laptops for 7 or more years. Not many windows users keep their laptops such a long time. I have gone through many windows laptops and they always seem to get fairly clunky 3-4 years in.... so I need to upgrade. Might be nice to not feel the need to upgrade as often.
Re: (Score:2)
Are they really gouging?
Yes.
And so is Microsoft with Surface.
Equivalent hardware and capabilities are available from other vendors at only a fraction of the price, without sacrificing capabilities or quality.
Clearly, you don't keep your Windows machines as long as others do. These days, a 5-year-old Windows computer is still quite usable. Maybe not 7. But when $400 buys a capable laptop and $1,000 buys a monster machine, while Mac Pros easily cost thousands, I'll gladly upgrade two years earlier.
Re: (Score:3)
"Equivalent hardware and capabilities are available from other vendors at only a fraction of the price, without sacrificing capabilities or quality."
The kids uncle got them a MacBook Pro as a gift.
If I remember correctly it was a new model that just had come out.
It cost about 1550 bucks and when I was checking it out at the time, a similarly spec'd Dell or HP was about 1450.
Seems to me that the fraction is not that great and darn close to 1. If you actually look at a newly released MacBook pro and a truly c
Re: (Score:2)
gouging only applies why you are forced to buy (e.g. there's only a single DLS provider in your area). As far as I know there is no law requiring me to buy apple, nor is there very little software around that does not have a win/lin alternative
Re: (Score:2)
Whole Foods got into trouble for gouging, and they clearly don't have a captive customer base.
http://blogs.findlaw.com/commo... [findlaw.com]
Gouging involves overcharging, whether forced or not.
Re:macbook (Score:4, Interesting)
To add to this, Parallels lets you boot a BootCamp drive with Windows within a VM.
So if you just need to pop in to Windows to run some $proprietary_bs for a minute or two, you don't have to reset. But you also gain the option of running it native, as the OP said.
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My upgrade from the 2009 MacBook Pro was an I7 2013 iMac plus an iPad, for better performance at lower total price. My mother is still using my old MacBook Pro.
Re: (Score:2)
Sorry, I could not find any official Mac disassembly and repair docs. I just don't buy anything without such a documentation. Without it any computer becomes a costly single use toy. I have lots of IBM and Lenovo equipment and it has such documentation.
Re: (Score:3)
People that like Apple hardware and want to run OSX might wish to run it even if they have windows and Linux.
Some people prefer OSX, but may need to run windows and linux for work.
It can be about options.
It isn't bad to have choices and in the end it is all about preferences.
Some people will never own a Mac. Some people only want to own a mac.
Nothing wrong with that.
Nothing wrong with running lots of OS's if one wants to as well.
Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition (Score:1)
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Was Apple, now Lenovo (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
When Apple decided to stop making their units maintainable then I had to move on.
Apple did not stop making their devices maintainable. That would be increasing their user gouging by inaction.
They took a positive action of making their devices un-maintainable to keep their users forking out.
MSI (Score:1)
I dislike laptops (Score:1)
I dislike laptops and resent it, when employers push everyone to use them — and expect us to lug them along.
For emergency access to servers, I have ssh-client on my "smart" phone. For everything else, there is a machine at work and one at home — with today's Internet speeds, data-transfers aren't an issue.
Re: (Score:2)
Work currently doesn’t permit personal systems on the network.
I don’t permit work shit on my personal gear. They went to BYOD for phones and wanted to install Good on my phone with admin access so they could wipe Good off. I bought a second phone for work only and deduct it from taxes.
[John]
Sony VAIO (Score:2)
Re: Sony VAIO (Score:2)
Yes, this.
I have had great luck with my vaios. They have both lasted an inordinately long time for laptops, even with constant travel and use in moving/dusty/hot conditions. When I bought my Pro 11, there was *no one* else making anything with an i7 in an 11" form factor.
I'm curious to check out the non-sony vaios when my current one fails.
Re: Sony VAIO (Score:2)
Seconded. I have a Vaio Pro 11, and there still isn't anything as light and powerful out there. Core i7, 8Gb ram and after I upgraded the SSD, 512Gb storage. In less than 2 pounds. Fantastic.
What does favorite mean? (Score:3)
In my office, limiting it to laptops or Notebooks, there are two ThinkPads (Is Lenovo still using the brand?), an Apple, and a Fujitsu. At home I have a Toshiba and my wife has a Lenovo and a really cranky old ASUS. Can't think why I would call any of them a "favorite", even in brand name terms. The dimensions are not comparable. For traveling, I usually take the Fujitsu or one of the ThinkPads. For video stuff I favor the Mac, but as a brand I hate Apple, especially their cheer-leading disguised as worthless support, and think they are one of the the favorites in the race to become the most EVIL company in the world. My experience with ASUS has been terrible, but it feels too anecdotal, which reminds me...
Most of my portable computing is on smartphones these days. Another moot poll, though still a step up from that last fiasco poll.
ASUS ROG (Score:3)
My gaming machine.
Re: (Score:1)
Unofficial ThinkPad X62 (Score:3)
IBM era X61 modified with SXGA+ screen and Broadwell i7
https://www.notebookcheck.net/... [notebookcheck.net]
Who is this poll for? (Score:2)
Price equals satifaction (Score:1)
I certainly feel any brand provides good experience if you spend enough on a laptop. Cheap equals many compromises and you cannot condemn a cheap laptop for not performing like one that costs twice as much. I also believe the more thin and light you get in a notebook the less that performance is a priority. You want performance buy a traditional laptop with a none ultra low voltage CPU, and maybe even a gaming laptop. Apple Mac's definitely are good choices for longevity and for their price rightly expected
Samsung (Score:2)
Unfortunately, they stopped producing. Maybe their tools lasted too long.
Re: (Score:1)
I too liked Samsung laptops. When they catch fire, you could see in the darkness for miles.
Tuxedo. Coming with Linux preinstalled... (Score:2)
mostly all is in the title... They are german, and the only one reasonably sized in Europe to feature Linux baselines. In the US you have more luck.
Other (Score:2)
ASUS ! (Score:2)
I have ROG G75VX with i7 FHD 16gb 2HD (1SSD+1HDD) BDburner, bought in 2012 for ±1200 for christmas in special on tigerdirect. It isn't the higger pricey laptop I bought, but it's the one that work longer, it's my main computer today. The worst one was a 17"MacBookPro bought in 2008 and die in 2010!
Sony Vaio svs15 (Score:2)
GPD (Score:1)
Right now, my GPD Pocket. Powerful, light, stable and runs well.
Little small but makes up for it by being cheap and having 8-10 hours of battery running Linux.
How I miss my old EeePC 1000h though.
clevo (Score:3)
Buy hardware not crap Microsoft software.
Whatever works. (Score:1)
Linux Brands? Alpha, Purism, System76, ZaReason? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Fujitsu LifeBook (Score:1)
I am a big fan of PFU "Fujitsu" HappyHacking keyboards (with Control-key beside 'A' and Escape beside '1', where they're best for vim) and the Fujitsu LifeBook Tablet PC models are my favorites.
The couple versions I've dealt with have had pretty decent hardware support under each most recent Ubuntu GNU/Linux distributions I have run on them, including handling the stylus being calibrated for the touchscreen, and the side-buttons generating usable events.
Some newer models have more artist-friendly tablet sen
Re: (Score:2)
Old MacBook for dev, Clevo for leisure. (Score:2)
My old MBP 2012 has been one of the best laptop purchases I ever made I think. I liked the keyboard and it has performed well as a no-problem development system. Not sure what I'll do when this dies; I don't like the new MBP scissor key design or the fact that it has even less travel than before, and I like OSX.
I use to use Lenovos for my windows/gaming, but recently switched to Clevo and have had very few problems with it. I also like that their systems are highly customizable in their hardware while being
Dell (Score:2)
* Apple - I've used these for work for the past few years... I love their trackpad and the magnetic power plug but everything else annoys me. Homebrew makes it a tolerable *nix environment, but it's still weird and running Linux in a VM is still a pain since the keyboard and trackpad act all strange.
* Chromebook - My father uses these... but I think I need a little more software than the app ecosystem can provide, even with some of the GNU CLI tools installed.
* Dell - Cheap decent desktop replacement, they
Re: (Score:2)
Dell? Easily upgradeable?
The hard drive failed in my Dell last week. I'm supposed to get a replacement today but FFS there were 10 screws just to take the back panel off. Wanna take the battery out? That's another 5 screws. The hard drive looks to be only 3 screws for the mounting bracket.
It's been a pain in the ass so far and I'm not even halfway done simply replacing the hard drive.
I remember older laptops where you could just slip off a panel and access the memory and the hard drive and you didn'
Re: (Score:2)
Ha ha, which Dell are you using? I've had a lot of Inspirons and some Lattitudes, my 14yo son's gaming Inspiron from last year is the latest, but I haven't looked at it that closely other than to monitor him when he was replacing the LCD that he smashed once. He's not much of a tech kid, but he watched the youtube instructional video and went at it. He had even added a second HDD himself to augment the internal SSD.
Compared to the Toshiba Satellite, which had 24 screws (of various sizes) just to remove
Re: (Score:2)
* Apple - I've used these for work for the past few years... I love their trackpad and the magnetic power plug but everything else annoys me. Homebrew makes it a tolerable *nix environment, but it's still weird and running Linux in a VM is still a pain since the keyboard and trackpad act all strange.
The best Unix environment on an Apple is the one it comes with, with the UI that doesn't suck.
Bad Luck With Lenovo (Score:2)
Dell Latitudes (Score:1)
Asus (Score:1)
A couple (Score:2)
System 76 (Score:1)
Cyberpower Fangbook (Score:1)
Thing weighs a ton like an old IBM Thinkpad and the powerbrick can stop a rifle round but I bought it for gaming on the road and it does that in spades.
Purism (Score:2)
... I mean, only assuming you want to own your hardware instead of the other way around.
https://puri.sm/products/ [puri.sm]
Clevo (Score:1)
Clevo for me.
They're cheap, they're (very) powerful and they're not in the slightest bit flashy.
My current one has a desktop i7-6700K, 17" 4K IPS screen and a GeForce 1080 in it, along with an NVMe M2 SSD. It also cost a fraction of the price of an Alienware or similar laptop!
System76 (Score:2)
I'm too fucking lazy to install an OS nowadays, so I go with companies that make Linux a priority for their machines. System76 is my go-to.
Lenovo (Thinkpads) (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
I think I should not buy this specific model (Which does NOT mean I should not buy Lenovo).
1) Trackpoint should have 3 normal buttons, not 3 areas on Trackpad. So you can disable Trackpad and have no problems when your hands rest on it.
2) I think that the simple book for work should have Intel HD graphics, the normal book for work should have NVidia graphics, that the double graphics is a way to disaster and that the cool computer for games is stationary.
It's a place to remember a FreeBSD KMS disaster which
Brand is a marketing gimmick (Score:2)
Never have a favorite brand of anything. Each of these manufactures may have made a particular device or model which was very nice indeed. There is nothing which convinces me that this is a good indicator that other devices or models built by that company will also be good.
Re: (Score:2)
Well, I also have a similar policy. But I depend on Trackpoint.
cast off Dell latitudes or precision from work (Score:2)
They give them to the employees free after 3 years or so. A new hdd, install Linux and I'm ready to rock. Awesome IT department!
Otrona and HP/Lovecraft (Score:2)
I don't need laptops anymore (Score:2)
I have Samsung Note 8, Dex dock in office. Simple HDMI to USB C converter at home with bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Charges while connected.
It works great. In few cases, where I need more, I RDP to remote Windows 10 workstation or ssh to Linux servers.
Ver-r-r-ry interestink! (Score:2)
By a large margin, this vote is going to the brand that people here love to hate.
Warranty Experiences (Score:2)
Doesn't matter (Score:2)
Brands don't mean a thing to me. As long as it has the specs that I need and I can slap Linux on it, I'm good.
Chromebook (Score:2)
I'm surprised more people aren't voting Chromebook. My daily driver is the Samsung Chromebook Plus. It's seen me through a year of uni. Mostly note-taking, reading, essay writing, that kind of business. The battery life is fantastic. If I forget to charge it overnight, I can make it through a second day, if I'm frugal with the power (lower screen brightness, stay off Youtube). It runs Android apps better than most Android tablets I've owned. The stylus is the killer feature, for me, and it's signific
Puirism Librem. Very privacy oriented Linux based (Score:2)
https://puri.sm/ [puri.sm]
Clevo (Score:2)
I've had a Clevo over 4 years now and never any problems with it. I almost never travel with it though; the farthest it goes is across town to play lan games from time to time.
Re: Asus or AlienWare (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Here another satisfied ASUS user. I'm currently on my third ASUS 'main' laptop and also own a VivoBook x202e I use as 'travel' laptop whenever I need to pack light.
Unfortunately my Z92K suddenly died on me last year (originally Windows XP, AMD Turion processor) although because of its age I only used it for some legacy applications and watching anime every so often. It even still had a decent battery after all that time :`( . It's the only piece of hardware I actually wrote a small eulogy for. I guess that
Re: Asus or AlienWare (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
agree
Re: Asus or AlienWare (Score:2, Informative)
Professional... MacBook??? Bwahaha!
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Professional... MacBook??? Bwahaha!
If he's in an artistic or news-based job, it makes sense. About 90% of professional jobs I've seen using anything in the Adobe Suite use Macs for all the creative work (and funnily enough, often have an additional Windows PC at the desk as for everything else).
Nowadays this is mostly a function of technological inertia: The systems are already Macs, so they stay Macs, because you don't risk breaking the production environment without good reason.
Re: Asus or AlienWare (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Yep, even though I use cygwin on my Windows machines, work was nice enough to let me have a Mac when they asked.
[John]
Re: (Score:2)
Professional... MacBook??? Bwahaha!
About half the development team I work with uses Macs. Not the folks doodling in Photoshop, but the folks writing code. I was surprised at this (shared your viewpoint, I think) but since the advent of OS X, Macs have become much more respectable to devs.
Re: (Score:3)
I've had smaller normal Asus laptops as well, and they're not special, but no laptop is special anymore. In the past, it seemed you got more for your buck, as many people thought
Re: (Score:2)
In the same way that Lexus is Toyota. They's still differentiated brands.
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Asus are great. They launch a ton of models each year so if you want an odd mix of features - fast GPU and not thr largest screen for example - you can get it and not have to compromise like you do with Apple.
If you don't need to run OS-X, get an Asus and run Windows or Linux on it.
Re: (Score:2)
Unless you spend a lot of time on an airplane or long train commutes the combination of owning a desktop, smartphone, and tablet is better for the vast majority of use cases. Laptops do a little of all three, but nothing quite as well and each one of those things individually.
That's the combination I switched to after I no longer had to do development on the road. I get through airports much quicker now, and I look a lot less silly when I'm searching a hotel lobby for that one good spot where the WiFi comes in.
Re: (Score:2)
depends on what 'work' means. My machine at home runs an SSH console as well as my one at work does.
Re: (Score:2)
In 2003, I had a choice of buying a used Fujitsu or used Thinkpad since I needed it for my sysadmin activity. The prices were comparable. I have found a Thinkpad service manual. I have found nothing about the Fujitsu. So I asked Fujitsu service about any docs. Answer was formulated very politely and was the following:
1) We disclose NO service info, it's a commercial secret, we are very-very sorry.
2) This specific book is a Japan-specific model. It's not sold outside Japan, we are very-very sorry. We can sup