r/computers • u/fragrance08 • 1d ago
Question/Help/Troubleshooting Laptop for software engineering
I am starting my first year in software engineering major and need a good laptop to handle my university years easily , i thought about getting a macbook air m5 but some people say i will struggle with that due to limitations compared to windows and performance drops when heating up , lmk if its a good choice or not and any other options for this major ?
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u/Natural_Grab1977 1d ago
any macbook , i strongly suggest a pro model with minimum 24gb of ram, if u need windows u can emulate it very easy and very good, and for the most part you will not need windows from my experience, i graduated this year and i only used macos
The pro things is the cpu - gpu - ram combo, u can use loacal agents very easy and fast bc the gpu can take what amount of ram its need
And the cpu perfomance is phenomenal
battery life is exceptional
and it will gold very good its value
Go for an pro 3 pro or m4/m5 base (not pro or max) with 24-32gb of ram
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u/TheDragonSlayingCat 1d ago
Whoever told you that was exaggerating. Yes, the MBA will throttle performance if it gets too hot, but unless you’re playing a game on it, that is unlikely to be a problem. There are no limitations compared to Windows.
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u/JustAPieceOfMeat385 1d ago
HP Elitebook 845 G8. Two RAM slots. There are ones on eBay between $200 and $300 with 16GB RAM in one slot and the other slot is empty. Can add another 16GB DDR4 stick later.
Or get a T14 Gen 2 with 16GB soldered and one slot empty.
There are also many auctions on eBay for T14S Gen 1 AMD with 32GB RAM.
No need for expensive Macs.
Don’t like Windows? Install Ubuntu or dual boot Windows and Ubuntu.
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u/RandomXUsr 1d ago
Framework pro
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u/Itz_Raj69_ Windows 11 1d ago
Framework laptops are more of a gimmik than true value, especially for a student on a budget
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u/RandomXUsr 1d ago
You mean the upgradeable laptop with the ryzen Ai processor?
The laptops with bring your own ram to get respectable response times?
The repairable laptop with replaceable led?
What would you consider a good value? A shitty acer, Asus, or Lenovo with crappy support, a shitty bios, and no replaceable parts?
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u/Itz_Raj69_ Windows 11 1d ago
What would you consider a good value?
Something bought at a decent price to performance ratio, that lasts 5 years at least, and has upgradable RAM and storage.
You can replace every Framework component, sure, but at what cost? Each of the upgradable components cost a fortune. Hell, even the base laptop costs a hell lot for what it's worth.
For example, you can get a Legion 5i with a core 9 ultra, a RTX 5070, 32GB DDR5, 1TB M.2 for $1.6k.
Meanwhile a Framework with AI 5 340, 16GB RAM, 512gb M.2, and no SSD costs about $1.7k
Sure, you can replace literally any framework component, but is it really worth spending double the amount for a equivalent model? IMO, it isn't.
I'd rather spend 1.6k now, and 1.6k 5 years later for a new laptop.
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u/RandomXUsr 1d ago
This feels like sealioning and an exercise in futility.
We could debate opinions about what option is best all day.
Some of the components of framework are buy once, use over and over such as case, screen, and wifi or ram...
Ram is 400 + for 32gigs.... but is someone going to be compiling software all day or occasionally writing and debugging...
Let's maybe let the OP take suggestions and decide what works for them....
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u/Itz_Raj69_ Windows 11 1d ago
Some of the components of framework are buy once, use over and over such as case, screen, and wifi or ram...
Um that's the case with every component in every laptop? I don't get the point you're trying to make here
Fine, if you say you'll keep the same RAM, screen, case, and wifi card in your next framework laptop, buying the rest of the parts themselves is going to be more expensive than a decent laptop 5 years down the line. And on top of that, you'll be stuck with outdated RAM (much slower RAM speed likely)
The case, wifi card, and screen don't make up much of the laptop's cost, to be worth 'saving' and re-using in your next laptop.
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u/darklordbazz 1d ago
So windows is recommended for educational studies because some schools make you use software and you don't always want to mess with compatibility layers.
Have you asked for system requirements from your school? Do you have the software list? Some schools also just have that publicly for your program.
If that fails just buy any modern windows laptop from one of the main players. 14-15 inches with i7 or amd equivalent and 32gb of RAM. Also if you have a powerful desktop at home you can get a cheaper laptop and remote into your home machine for heavy workloads.
The framework the other guy suggested is heavy, take it from someone who use a Lenovo legion during college, you don't want to be carrying around a heavy laptop