I build new desktops every 5-10 yrs and use them until they are worth $50 ... by that point, the case is the most useful part. Definitely not the motherboard, CPU, RAM, nor GPU. Still, the HDDs can be migrated to newer systems ... or when they are 10 yrs old, I'll move the data to a pair of HDDs that are 4x larger for 50% less cost. Can't easily do that with laptops.
All my laptops since 2017 have been used and I wonder why I'd ever by a new laptop again. I suppose if you want "ship it back" support and can be without the computer for 2 weeks, that's great. I've had bad luck with new and used laptop keyboards failing after 1-3 years. On the ultra-thin laptops, replacing the keyboard is usually $80 in parts and $130 for labor. Considering the laptop was $300 used, it doesn't make sense to put $200+ into a keyboard replacement.
Most of the time, my laptops are remote access devices anyway. I don't keep any data on them and use them just to remote into my HOME LAN to get real work done. Covid taught me how to use a tablet instead of a laptop, but that doesn't make much sense for someone who needs to work 100% offline. If you need to code on an airplane, for example.
I did webapp coding on a 2GB 11inch $200 Acer Chromebook for a few years. I hated the 768p resolution of the screen. My next laptop was another chromebook, 13inch Toshiba CB35 with 1080p screen. By far, it was the best laptop I've ever owned. Light, fast, great battery life and enough CPU/RAM to run a virtual machine web server for my coding. I still have that chromebook. RAM was tight on it, which was my only real complaint until the most used keys started dying. Traveled Asia, Africa, and the US with this chromebook running lite-buntu.
Writing JS+python webapps doesn't take much of a machine. The bloated web browsers are the main issue. If you put the server stuff into a LXC container, you'll not need much RAM.
IMHO, developers not actually compiling code don't need fast laptops. Python and javascript aren't compiled. They are interpreted, so any CPU from 2018 and later will be more than fast enough. There have been some really good deals on 10/11/12-gen Intel CPUs recently.
I have a Dell laptop from 2010 that still works. It is heavy (nearly 6 lbs), thick (1.5 inch), and I've replaced the keyboard on it once. I never liked traveling with it. The keyboard replacement was less than 10 minutes and $30. Trivial to do. The keys were working perfectly last time I booted it up. The discrete GPU inside is showing the age. Think it has been about 3 yrs since I booted it. The battery on it when new lasted less than 3 hrs. Today, it is basically dead. Not worth replacing, since it a 2nd-gen Core i5 laptop. A new $150 chromebook would be faster and handle video better.
Oh, how I miss my 13 inch Toshiba chromebook 2015 (wiped with a lite Lubuntu). It was 2 lbs, 10+ hrs of battery, 4GB RAM, 1080p, Core i3 5th-gen CPU with iGPU. I replaced the 16GB SSD for a 120GB SSD, though I seldom used more than 30 GB. The rest was for music and movies/tv when traveling. I'd bring a 15ft HDMI cable to plug into the hotel TV. Besides the worn out keyboard, just the amount of RAM was a problem. Graphics, CPU, screen, were all nice.
After that 13in chromebook keyboard failed, I started looking for a used laptop to address the things that were most important to me. I made a mistake and bought a 15 inch because I didn't remember how much I loved the 13.3 inch size screen. The new-to-me 15 inch Asus laptop had a faster CPU, 8G of RAM, SSD, 8 hrs of battery, but it was also over 3 lbs and huge by comparison. I used it until the keyboard died and used a portable external gaming keyboard for about 18 months with it. Then the connected keyboard started pushing key presses constantly making it unusable.
We each have our requirements for a laptop. Make a list, specifically make a list of external ports and other important things, then prioritize that list and start searching for models that meet the requirements. If you don't need it today, then you can wait for sales and possibly save over 50% just waiting 2-6 months. I've done that twice.
If I start traveling for work again (I'm an independent consultant), then I'll need a laptop. I really like the feel of Dell laptop keyboards and that they last many years. Every other brand I've tried, the keyboard wore out after about 2 yrs. Used Dells come off lease all the time and show up on ebay in huge numbers. Lots of 1000+ are common. Thanks to the ebay guarantee, it is unusual to get something different from what you order/purchase.
Just be certain that you don't get confused with Core i3/i5/i7 labels. CPU performance has been increasing following Moore's Law for 40+ yrs. that still applies, so a rule of thumb is that
13th-gen Core i3 === 11th-gen Core i5 === 9th Gen Core i7
10th-gen Core i3 === 8th-gen Core i5 === 6th Gen Core i7
See how that works? I'm generalizing. There slow and fast models in each Core i[xyz] line, so it isn't always the case, but in general, it is.
Best to use a benchmark lookup tool to see the performance of a specific CPU model number, so you don't get taken.
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html has a list of performance sorted.
Compare:
Code:
15458 Intel Core i3-14100
15380 Intel Core i3-14100F
15147 Intel Core i7-1355U
15067 Intel Core i7-1365U
14536 Intel Core i5-12500TE
Those are effectively the same performance and using i3, i5, and i7 CPUs. Benchmarks are flawed, but they are better than using nothing. Don't get too hung up on a 500 point difference, unless the CPUs being compared are below 3000 passmarks. Then 500 points makes a huge difference.
Adv Reply
Bookmarks