this post was submitted on 23 Aug 2026
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Best laptop hardware? (programming.dev)
submitted 1 day ago by Moussx@programming.dev to c/linux@programming.dev
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Hello! For work (where I'm compiling a big Rust monorepo in a loop), I'm on a Thinkpad T14 Gen 4 and it's getting a bit annoying.

My only constraint is that I'd like a 13-14 inch device

The AI memory situation is probably to blame, but after sending a LLM fetch specs and GeekBench results, it seems that for sustained multicore performance, the only thing that comes close (within 10% but still lower) of a M5 MacBook Pro (currently ~3200 EUR), is the HP Elite G1a (ARM linux is OK), but its list price is much higher (up to 4900 EUR for 64G memory and 1TB disk) for arguably worse speakers and battery on top.

So right now it's hard to justify not getting a MacBook and that makes me sad...

Is there a laptop you're using right now that comes close enough to a MBP in long compilation jobs, but runs Linux and doesn't somehow cost more ?

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[–] kspes@eviltoast.org 4 points 21 hours ago

I'm using a laptop with strix halo as my main machine (ryzen 395 in hp zbook ultra g1a). Came from macbook pros and compile large c++ repos frequently. This thing is a beast! Running debian 13.

The only thing it's noticably worse than a macbook is its battery life. Running local llms, play high end games. All on 55-70W TDP.

Was a part time linux user since 2005 but Apple's "Liquid Ass" finally made me switch full time to Linux :D