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It has been many years since I looked into computers. My laptop is on its last leg. I'm being lazy and asking you guys what you would buy, and from where.

It has been many years since I looked into computers. My laptop is on its last leg. I'm being lazy and asking you guys what you would buy, and from where.

(post is archived)

[–] 5 pts

It depends on whether you are watching what is happening in the world of privacy and cyber security, and whether you care about that.

At this point, you’re either a full-on expert in this and you’re navigating the waters perfectly as it is, or you’re stupid like me and have arrived late to the party and desperately need to make changes. Or you don’t care, in which case cease reading.

I am personally moving over to Linux, and buying a computer made by System76. The most important thing here is that this company does the absolute maximum to ensure that the computer you buy is open-source and your own device. You’ll end up paying a little more but this computer is not going to spy on you like “any laptop from Costco” will.

They even disable intel ME on their intel chips, if you don’t know what this is, look it up. Basically both intel and AMD have been putting easily accessible (by the right people) back doors in they’re CPUs that allow external access to your info and bypassing the operating system.

System76 laptops are also assembled here in the country, at least they’re trying.

Look into something like the FairPhone, DeGoogled phones, and/or Linux phones as well.

Best, Ivan

[–] 0 pt

I was about to say, I just bought a system76 myself and really loving it. It did have a couple quirks but their support is excellent and helped me figure it out. I got a gazelle 15". Though I might prefer one of their other laptops if I were to get another one The best part is that Stream's proton layer, (built on Wine) is able to play almost every windows game I've tried yet.

One weakness of the gazelle is the Bluetooth, which seems intermittent.

[–] 0 pt

You can de google a phone pretty easily yourself. There are tons of guides available. IMO lineage is the best android alternative out right now. You can then run a phone with no google apps, the challenge is that you will have to download the actual .apk files for the apps you want or find another app store besides google play. Amazon is an alternative but then you just have amazon on your phone instead of google. Also lineage is great even does OTA updates now, typing this from my lineage phone now lol, on the can.

[–] 5 pts

Go to Costco and get an HP or Asus that meets your needs.

Do not be afraid of getting one with AMD chips either.

Just don't get anything super cheap with eMMC instead of an actual Solid State hard Drive. (SSD)

[–] 6 pts

look for NVME specifically as the drive interface type

[–] 5 pts

Depends on what you’re doing.

If you’re not into computer gaming, any middle range laptop will do. If you’re into graphics design and video editing, get more storage/ram and an external 4K display.

[–] 3 pts

I guess a valid answer would be what are your needs for the device?

I personally would get one of fully specced... but that's because most laptops simply do not fit the bill as my primary machine. This gets close. Though, not really enough CPU cores to spread around to VMs. I don't however buy laptops, I build my own systems.

Realistically, get a modern video card from either AMD or nvidia and processor from either AMD or intel, with about a 17" screen and you should be fine for most uses.

If you just need something to browse the web and some light duty computing, a 500$ box from newegg will probably just fine, pick a major manufacturer to ensure you dont get total shit

[–] 3 pts

Go to a used laptop seller, pay cash, get something old enough not to have that Intel backdoor in the processor, install tails, commit hate-computing

[–] 2 pts (edited )

Anything before 2008 is cool right? 2007 is the last year they were really ours.

[–] 2 pts

I'd have to look it up. It'll probably be faster if you look it up.

[–] 1 pt

That's the year I remember reading sometime ago, anything pre 2008 was "safe", just before they started implementing the backdoors at hardware level. I'll check again when I get some free time.

[–] 1 pt

Depends on your use Laptop at home only a big 17" (Acer) Laptop on the way a 13" (Lenovo Yoga with touch)

[–] 1 pt

Work got us new xps 13's. Excellent battery life so far.

[–] 1 pt

If you are looking for name brand running Windows; the XPS series are good machines.

[–] 1 pt

Check your local pawn shop for one of Hunter's laptops

[–] 1 pt

Razer Blade Pro

Buy it from their website for warranty purposes. I've had good luck, but things can go wrong on any laptop.

[–] 1 pt

I just bought a lenovo ideapad gaming 3.15 Much better than my last laptop

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