I’m unemployed and my current laptop died. Is ThinkPad T480 still the goto and does it still work for software development? Thinking of getting a Framework but I don’t want to spend that much right now.

  • PancakesCantKillMe@lemmy.world
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    23 hours ago

    I think OP is right that most laptops run Linux fine and the business lines are best. I did have to flash my HP laptop BIOS/firmware using Windows as HP has no Linux tools for this yet. But with that said, I own seven or eight Thinkpads and run different distros (Mint, Cachy, Solus, etc). All work very nicely. I could not discourage you from buying a 480 at all.

    • notthebees@reddthat.com
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      21 hours ago

      For HP laptops you can just a flash drive now. You can extract the bios file and signature file from the bios updater.

      • BassTurd@lemmy.world
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        20 hours ago

        Same with dell. Download the file, put on fat32 (I think) flash drive, boot to bios, flash. Ez Pz.

    • sudoer777@lemmy.mlOP
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      23 hours ago

      I’ve used HP laptops in the past, my first one only lasted like 2 years before the motherboard randomly died, the case was falling apart within a year of usage, the WiFi was shit and getting it working on Linux was a pain. My next one is better which I just started using again, although right now it’s barely in tact as a desktop and not usable as a laptop and certain components on it also suddenly died after 2 years (and the touchpad was already wearing down after only a week). Additionally I can’t enable secure boot on it because they locked down the BIOS, some of the components don’t work on Linux at all, and the SSD/battery is difficult to access and for whatever reason it rejects certain well-known SSD models. It’s also not a well known model so there’s not as much part availability, and while I could repair it there’s enough stuff that’s broken on it that if I could get a better laptop for $200-300 I’d rather do that.

      • PancakesCantKillMe@lemmy.world
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        22 hours ago

        Totally get it. I don’t directly recommend buying an HP laptop, but I only mention it as it runs CachyOS fine. This one is a gamer and just happened to be the right price. I would go Thinkpad, then Dell business, then HP business (all used).