I usually specify Intel peripheral chips as these seem to have the best compatibility with Linux.
They work well and work consistently longer.
I suppose you could say my motto with my computers as well as with my cars is "Buy twice as good and buy half as often" or looked at in another way "If it works, don't fix it."
Personal - 2011 Macbook Pro (fitted with a SSD [OS location] and 16GB of RAM). The upgrades have helped it immensely.
Work - Dell laptop
I can't see myself using the Macbook often in the near future, and when I eventually leave my job I'm considering getting a Windows laptop of my own. The one I use for work is about $2k (thoughts about buying it from them dissipated), but my SO got a high performing one for about $600 that I'd consider.