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Ask HN: Laptop Buying Guide
9 points by laserstrahl 10 months ago | hide | past | favorite | 14 comments
Hello, I am from the EU, just passed my apprenticeship and now I want to buy me a laptop.

I need to buy it via Paypal via monthly installments only.

I wanted to go the modded thinkpad route but since I dont have so much money at all. I would prefer the framework Laptop but since they don't allow to pay monthly. I need to look elsewhere.

Can you recommend me something else?

Dunno if I would like an Apple device. At least not a new one.

Is there a shop in the EU which sells "old" Macbooks where I can pay them monthly?

Or other laptops in generall?

I would be happy to hear your thoughts.

PS: I would like to use linux when i want. If that helps.




Congratulations on your accomplishment.

Just buy what you can afford and get on with life.

Because what you need is experience. Then you will have a better understanding of what actually matters.

I have nothing against Framework laptops, but I think they are suboptimal for a first laptop because they add complexity and over the past thirty years I personally have never seen anyone benefit from buying bespoke upgradable hardware. I am sure someone has, but sticking more memory, more storage and more graphics in a generic box is the only thing I’ve seen work…

…ok so maybe I have a bit of bias against Framework. But a new computer is almost always a better option after a few years than niche upgrade hardware for a niche product.

Anyway, old macs are fine but the hard part is finding a good one that will just work out of the box and will stay working.

That’s true of all used computers in general and laptops in particular.

Someone got rid of them for a reason and unless you know someone or pay a premium price you that reason may mean you are dealing with difficulty, faults, and/or missing components.

Computers are cattle, not pets and a cheap new Windows box is the simplest thing that might work. Maybe a base Thinkpad (that’s the most recent new computer I bought and it’s more than good enough).

Just put some stickers on it to make it look cool. And install Linux if that’s what you know (but running Windows is also the simplest thing that might work).

The future where you can indulge in technical whims is still ahead of you. And no matter what computer you buy you will still have the same heaps of hard work to do.

Good luck.


You might want to say your budget, otherwise it’s hard to give relevant advice.

Also, do you prefer Linux over macOS? If so, I would probably not pay the premium for the Apple hardware. (It’s very nice hardware though…)


A quick web search yielded these shops, if you decide to go for the Apple hardware:

https://maconline.de/gebrauchte-macs-kaufen.html

https://www.rebuy.de/

https://www.backmarket.de/

If they don’t mention payment plans on the website, it can never hurt to call/email and ask for it.


What laptop should I get when I try to put linux on the macbooks?


Never tried it myself, I’m on macOS. But if you go with an x86 one I think hardware support is good. If you’re interested in Apple Silicon, check this: https://github.com/AsahiLinux/docs/wiki/Feature-Support


I don't recommend lenovo laptops. Last year I bought a thinkbook 15 g4 and have been struggling with performance issues from day one. Lagging, stuttering, low fps, thermal throttling etc. Tried everything but couldn't fix it. Not possible to overclock or undervolt. Very poor performance and poor tech support.


I have always had good experience with Thinkpad T series. But anything outside Lenovo's business range laptops is usually terrible. It's like an entirely different company! Had a terrible experience with IdeaPad and it died just after a year :(


Can you qualify for Paypal credit? That way you can pay monthly installments to Paypal!


If you do end up getting a used Apple device I recommend making sure that it has the newer keyboard style that the current models have (I think it switched in 2018). The old keyboard was not fun to use.


Do you really need a laptop or would a desktop work? They are much cheaper and have better performance for the same price.


I could use a desktop too. Maybe a mini pc? Since I got a keybaord already and an old SAMSUNG display.

Have you got a recommendation?


Is a 2020 Macbook Air in your budget? 4 years old and still a fantastic computer.


Mac Mini if desktop is good enough, it is cheaper. The M1 chip is a really good deal.


MacBook Pro and don't look back.




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