Lenovo ThinkPad(Linux) or Apple MacBook Pro as a Developer Machine

Question

I&rsquo;m planning to buy a laptop and I have decided either to go with these two. I&rsquo;m very much okay using linux but the only drawback would be running softwares like photoshop (which I run occasionally) and Microsoft Suite if I end up getting lenovo thinkpad to run linuxBut if i go with MacBook everything would run easilyAnyways I would love to know from you guys who have been using linux or macbook as there daily driver and what are some pros and cons of owning either of these laptops

geophile · Accepted Answer

Your software requirements sound like they dictate the choice.
But I don't have those requirements, and my main dev environment is Linux. I ran VM Fusion on a MBP, and I really liked that setup. The Mac was for play, the Linux VM for work, and I had everything in one box. Linux networking just worked.
But my 2015 MBP was on its last legs, the new MBPs had really bad keyboards (butterfly switches, touchbar), and they are really expensive.
I got a System76 Darter running Pop OS, and I'm very happy with the combination. The hardware is decent, much cheaper, and Pop OS is extremely stable and pretty. (At the time, the MBP didn't even go to 32GB, but that's been fixed.)
Maybe get a Linux ThinkPad and run photoshop and Microsoft Suite in a VM?

WheelsAtLarge · Answer

In terms of longevity, I would choose the Lenovo. The hardware will last you a long time and the ability to upgrade the OS will be much longer than the Mac. But ultimately it comes down to the software you'll need to run. The Mac is much more flexible on what software you'll be able to run. Macs can run, Windows, Linux and OS X. You won't get that with the Thinkpad.

jamesponddotco · Answer

As @geophile said, your software requirements dictate your choice.
Personally, as a system administrator that does photography on the side, I ditched my Apple stuff and went back to Linux. That meant ditching Photoshop and Lightroom, favouring open-source alternatives, but if you are willing to put on the work and you do not care about open-source or learning new tools, there are ways to run Photoshop on Linux inside a Windows or macOS VM — dual boot is another option.
If all you care about is something that "just work" and will run both Photoshop and the Microsoft stuff out of the box, the MacBook is the clear winner. However, if you are willing to put on the work, it is my opinion that a ThinkPad with Linux will last you much longer and make you happier in the long run — the T14 with Ryzen CPU is what I would recommend.

actionowl · Answer

I was a Linux user for a long time, then switched to Mac for working hoping that would result in less fiddling with things and more actual working. That strategy worked for quite a while, but lately I've been frustrated by myself and all my coworkers getting hit with the keyboard issue, and one of them had a swollen battery. Lots of random crashes.
I've been slowly switching back to using a Lenovo ThinkCentre running Linux (which requires a lot less fiddling these days) and I'm really starting to like it. I just get shit done again. Oh, and I can install any software I want without having to go into settings to allow it...
Even on Mac I ran a Windows VM for some things, I now do that same thing on my Linux machine.

simonblack · Answer

ThinkPad with Linux. Just replaced my trusty old T410 (2000GB) with a P53(1000GB).I usually keep a Windows 30-50 gig system tucked away 'in the corner' but I rarely bother to boot it.