Hey everyone! I'm looking for recommendations on a new laptop because my Lenovo T14S Gen 2 has quit on me. My main use case will be coding every day while hooked up to a large monitor. However, I also need something portable since I'll be traveling abroad for work for a portion of the year. I typically run multiple tabs, lots of JetBrains products, Docker builds, and occasionally the Android Studio simulator, so I really need a machine that can handle this smoothly. Sometimes, I also dabble in video editing for my drone FPV footage. I've been considering the Framework 13 and the Lenovo T14S Gen 6 but have some concerns about the Framework since it's a newer brand and I've seen mixed reviews here. Any help or advice would be really appreciated! Thanks!
3 Answers
If you're considering performance, gaming laptops often do well for programming too. At my job, we get options like Nitro 5 or MSI machines for development. They pack a punch and can handle demanding tasks effortlessly. MacBooks are also great if you plan to work with iOS, but if you want budget-friendly, a solid gaming laptop might just fit the bill!
You really can't go wrong with a Lenovo, especially if you max out the warranty options for support. They usually have solid international assistance, which is a big plus if you're traveling. I’d recommend considering an AMD-based laptop for better multi-core performance since you’ll be running JetBrains tools and Docker. A P14S with the 7840U would give you great performance for those tasks and could be cost-effective too if you go for a used model. Just remember to think about warranty if you're going for a second-hand unit!
Both laptops you're eyeing are solid picks, but they cater to slightly different needs. The Lenovo T14s Gen 6 is tried and true—super reliable with great Linux support, which could be a plus for your development tasks. On the flip side, the Framework 13 is cool because it's modular and repairable, which is fantastic for long-term use, but being newer, you might run into some bugs here and there. If you're more focused on stability, lean towards Lenovo; if customization excites you, then give Framework a shot!
But why a gaming laptop? Do they have benefits specifically for coding that I'm missing?