I'm trying to decide between the ThinkPad T14s Gen 5 and the MacBook Air with the M4 chip for my programming work and some graphic design projects. I'm a computer science student starting an internship soon, and currently, I use a MacBook Air from 2017. In my country, not many people use macOS, around only 30%. Any advice on which laptop would be better for me? Thanks!
4 Answers
Honestly, it comes down to personal preference. Macs can be quite pricey for what they are, but their ecosystem is really seamless. I've been using ThinkPads for over 20 years, and they serve me well for programming, but the specs you get with the Mac might tip the balance for graphic design.
If you're aiming to develop iOS apps, go for the MacBook. Otherwise, either laptop will handle programming well. MacBooks are typically better for graphics work, but you should consider what you're comfortable with.
The MacBook Air might struggle with dual monitors. You should check if the M4 model can support them, as that could be a deal breaker for your graphic design tasks.
The M4 models definitely do support multiple displays.
Since you already have experience with macOS, you might want to stick with the MacBook. The terminal and tools available on macOS are really powerful. If you lean towards the ThinkPad, I'd recommend running a Linux distro on it for better development support.
Modern MacBooks offer performance and battery life that’s hard to beat, especially compared to older Intel models.