Ask HN: M1 MacBook Pro or Lenovo X1 Carbon with Ubuntu

I am really struggling making a decision to get the new Macbook Pro 14, I had even ordered one already with 32GB and 1TB, looked a long time at that 3200€ before clicking the button and just cancelled the order again. I was wondering if others have the same thoughts.

Short background: I use my laptop 95% for development, mostly web, including docker. My current Macbook Pro 15 2011 died two years ago and I resurrected it with Ubuntu. The reason it died was probably Docker, it was running at 105% every day for multiple months, and performance was still very bad. After switching to Ubuntu I could not believe how snappy everything was again, not only Docker.

With Macbooks before M1 it would have been easier, because you could run everything plus you had the best OS, but those have other problems (Keyboard etc). Now I somehow cannot justify spending so much for being completely closed in the Apple system and getting worse performance doing dev stuff.

I think the M1 is superior when it comes to video, graphics etc. what seems to be the core target group of buyers for Apple. But for development I think the best times are over. Working as a freelance dev on my last jobs actually most were running Linux.

Only problem is getting a setup that runs with current hardware, and then I just found out that you can actually order a Lenovo X1 Carbon with Ubuntu preinstalled, it just has a long wait time (> 6 weeks).

What probably annoyed me most with the new Macbooks, is that not only is everything soldered, but they take 460€ tops for getting 32GB Ram - even by Apple standards this is ridiculous. For Lenovo it was 50Euro to get 32GB :))

So what do you think? Is anyone getting a M1 Pro for doing dev stuff? Or maybe using a normal M1, maybe even a Macbook Air and using it with Docker (Postgres, Redis etc)? That would be another option I am thinking about...

Curious on your opinion and experiences!

Just FYI, Lenovo is having a terrible time fulfilling orders. Months of delays with a complete lack of transparency around actual ship times. Not to mention just a comical process around rejected payments and other issues.

I ordered a Thinkpad in July with a ship date of 10-14 days. The ship date has basically slipped to March of next year. I check the ship date every week or so and it bounces around a lot, telling me they have no idea when it will actually ship. I can't even imagine what will happen if they ship me a defective laptop and I have to get it replaced.

I'm 95% at the point where I'm going to cancel the order and switch to either a Framework laptop or a Macbook Pro.

This doesn't help answer your question, but if you need the laptop soon, The X1 Carbon may not be the answer.

krisdigital · 4 years ago

OMG, that sounds worse than I expected.. I just asked in their chat window if it is somehow possible to get one earlier than 6 weeks (it said at least 6 weeks) but it isn't :) Their website is also kinda crappy, btw. I am currently running Ubuntu on my old Macbook and it is perfectly fine and fast, but because of a problem with the discrete GPU I don't know how long it will last, sometimes it won't start anymore.. I am looking at the framework laptop again, can't remember why I discarded it... Probably a Macbook is still the least of trouble and best hardware - for the price of being locked in..

yuuu · 4 years ago

I ordered mine on October 8 and it's arriving tomorrow. The estimated date when I made the order, though, was three months out. Maybe I just got lucky.

apohn · 4 years ago

speedgoose · 4 years ago

I have a 4 years old Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, it's running windows though, but I also develop only on Ubuntu through WSL2. So my opinion is more about the hardware than the software.

I also have a 13" MacBook pro M1.

I use the MacBook, because it has a much better battery life, it doesn't get warm, and it's not extremely slow on battery power. The i7 needs to be connected to power to be not annoyingly slow, but then it will cook my legs and genitals.

The ThinkPad has a touchscreen, which is a huge plus for me, but I am not sure the user experience will be great on a full GNU/Linux distribution.

They are both very good laptops, but the MacBook is much better if you can manage Mac os.

Thank's for the info! The WSL2 solution Windows has is pretty perfect, but that is a red line I cannot see me cross at this point :) That should be built into macOS! I hoped that the Carbon would get better ratings, but so far the tendency is pretty clear pro Macbook..

pps · 4 years ago

I have Macbook Air M1 16GB for web dev (including docker and all that plus occasional Adobe Illustrator) and it's absolutely perfect machine for me, nothing hangs or lags with 50+ browser tabs and multiple electron apps open. It's completely quiet (doesn't have fans) and cold, weights nothing, and typing on it is super smooth. I'm super happy I didn't buy MBP this time.

Thanks for the info! Crazy that the ram is enough, I checked the ram usage on my current machine, and it was about 23gb… It would be much easier decision if they would just let you upgrade the RAM (good old days…), especially considering the crazy prices.

1991g · 4 years ago

I also picked up the cheapest spec M1 Air for my personal machine, with a view to upgrading when the new Pro's came out. I absolutely have no need to upgrade, I have never even got it to run remotely sluggish. Very impressive for $999.

runjake · 4 years ago

Order the MacBook Pro.

It's still a much better experience and you can still do your development on it just fine and deploy/test with Linux.

I say this as a person who uses the excellent pop!_os as my primary OS at home. It's great, but I miss the general quality and productivity of macOS. (I have an M1 MacBook as well, but am forcing myself to use desktop Linux for an extended period.)

I think I know what you mean, for me it is the little things like the preview app on mac that I miss the most. And the trackpad that is by far better.

reacharavindh · 4 years ago

Docker - x86 images are a pain with M1 Mac. If you can run ARM images, it’s already as fast as running natively on Ubuntu. The other stuff works great on M1 - photos, videos, etc.

Does that also count for the file system? That was the biggest pain point in the past, working with shared folders between container and host. I even needed a tool called docker-sync to even make it usable..

Yes, the filesystem access was slow both in Intel processor and now M1. I suppose that is to do with the Virtualisation involved. It felt a little faster accessing filesystem on the M1, but that’s just me and insignificant difference.

I’d say if you’re reliant on Docker for work, and that includes filesystem sharing, Macs may not be your best choice.

ezrakewa · 4 years ago

Check out the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15, even though it's marketed as a gaming machine, it will address all the issues you're talking about and might even compete with the new MacBook pros that just came out this week. It should more than suffice since you use it for mostly dev and would be great value. I've personally reviewed it and YouTuber TechLead uses it. Check it out then do your homework before you buy anything, anywhere. Cheers.

https://www.4alltech.com/2020/06/the-asus-rog-zephyrus-duo-1...

jzig · 4 years ago

I hate me Asus Zephyrus G15 and want to go back to a Macbook

verdverm · 4 years ago

I've been very happy with my Pixelbook Go. The Linux app is real nice, Docker works great, the Linux is itself a container. I like it better than Linux now because the UI just works as does my second touchscreen monitor.

I am looking forward to a next iteration with some better specs, but they are pretty good as it stands. (not getting in the way of work)

Looks good! I am not so much in Google Camp so, probably could not get happy with Chrome OS...

markus_zhang · 4 years ago

I'll first check out M1 compatibility for the tools you are using. And then assess the benefits of getting an M1 Macbook Pro (mostly on performance side I think) against a Ubuntu Lenovo (more tools and less expensive).

I myself is using a Macbook Pro 2017 for developing data (some ETL and lots of queries). I don't think it beats the original Carbon X1 I used (but not with Linux, with Windows) but I can't complain since it's a company laptop. I have one serious issue with the Carbon though is that the battery got bloated just after 18 months of usage.

Thank's for the info with the Carbon battery, I had hoped they are more solid... M1 compatibility is ok for the most things I guess, according to https://isapplesiliconready.com Not sure if it is really more performant though for what I will use it for.