Need a new laptop. Recommendations?

[TygrBright]

I'm looking for something that can support both a Linux partition and >>gag<< Windoze 10.

I've looked at gaming machines in the past for the graphics cards and rendering speed (don't actually game much anymore, but do some graphics-heavy work) and I'd like something that can run old software from a disc drive.

Don't necessarily need much storage space as we'll be investing in a desktop storage drive to dock it to.

Anyone seen a really good deal around lately?

hopefully,
Bright

[alwaysinasnit]

1. FWIW. I have had several Asus computers and have never had a problem. I get my electronics from

https://www.newegg.com/

They also have customer service that can likely answer a lot of your questions.

Good luck.

[TygrBright]

3. Thanks for the recommendation!

[mr_lebowski]

7. +2 for The Egg ... just bought a new mobo, cpu, ram, and nvme drive ...

And like was the case with nearly all my PC gear, it came from the Egg. It's also the only 'store credit card' I've had in the last ... 20 years or so.

[Susan Calvin]

8. Somewhat related.

I bought a little Asus a year or two ago with Windows 10, ick. I love the little computer but I hate Windows 10. So basically I never use it. That's how much I hate Windows 10.

How do I find out if it's possible to install Linux on it? Other than by just trying I mean, because I'm afraid if I just try I'll mess the computer up so that it's unusable. Or is that a stupid question and the answer is always of course you can install Linux?

[alwaysinasnit]

10. I, unfortunately, don't have the technical know-how to help you. My son is a software engineer and I

get tech help from him. I do know that you can call Newegg's customer service and get some help there. As to Sin 10 (Windows 10), I also resist using it, more because of it's surveillance capabilities so I purchased a new Asus with Win 7. I have several layers of anti-virus and encryption on it because Microsoft will no longer support it, and I will hang on to my Win 7 computer for as long as I can. Linux, hopefully, will be more widely used in the future but for now, all we have is scattered support.

[Lithos]

2. Just replying as a bookmark

This does seem more of a reddit question though...

[fleabiscuit]

4. I'd be less than useful, having only Apple machines for the last 30 years.

However, if you haven't been to Ars forums I like to point people there. I have received positive responses from them.

https://arstechnica.com/civis/

[TygrBright]

5. Thank you, looks helpful! n/t

[fleabiscuit]

6. You're welcome. Be sure to check the whole site, lots of interesting information there. nt

[JDC]

9. I have a MacBook Pro; I run VMWare Fusion

And have both Windows 10 and Ubuntu Linux instances running on it.

[TygrBright]

11. That hadn't entered my possibles list, but you're right, it's do-able.

I'm just not sure that the MacBook would offer anything (other than reliability which is, granted, no small advantage!) that would justify having to work it as (essentially) a foreign environment for the other OS?

curiously,
Bright

[JDC]

12. I'm not sure I understand the question.

I run Mac OS for all my day to day. But for times when I need to run windows or need to run Linux, I turn on my VMWare and boot whichever OS I want to run in parallel with my MacBook OS. I can toggle from "machine" to "machine" in real time as they are both running simultaneously. It is a battery suck I'll admit, but I'm plugged into power mostly. Things get slower on the machines if I have all 3 OSs running at the same time. I usually just pause one so I only have 2 running max at any given time. The VMWare offers "Unity" mode where all OSs are given a blended feel, but it's a pain and kinda confusing.

It is much more efficient when you use 2 or three monitors. If you want 3, you'll have to get a docking station/hub. Belkin makes an OK one. What's nice is I usually have 2 Deaktops set up per monitor, so I can run multiple apps in their own screen and just toggle between them with a fingers swipe or hot corner.

One thing about my Mac that I do not like is that it only has 4 USB-C ports. Period. Good that Any of which can be used for power and accessories; BUT, I have to use a dongle if I don't have my dock connected. So if I want to use a thumb drive that is regular USB, out comes the dongle. HDMI so I can connect to a customer's conference room projector...dongle. It's a pain.

[TygrBright]

13. It's not just the MacBook that is cutting down on ports...

As I'm looking at various options it's clear that most laptop makers are limiting ports, probably for reasons of profile and weight.

What I meant by my query was that I don't have any reason to use the Mac OS for a particular function, so would probably spend almost all time in other OS.

But I understand from Mac-based users that it's superior for a number of graphics functions, so it might be worth a try.

No matter what I end up with, I'm fairly sure I'll need a dock, though.

ka-ching, ka-ching...

regretfully,
Bright