The Best Laptop for Web Development

The internet is chock full of information for the best gear for software development. “ You need a MacBook Pro”, “ Surely a ThinkPad is the best option”.

I get asked it on my Instagram account regularly.

This is a brief article because the answer is short. The best laptop for the programming is the one that you have or the one you can afford.

I repeat.

The best laptop for the programming is the one that you have or the one you can afford.

As long as you can open a terminal or download a text editor, you are honestly good to go.

Sure — a nice laptop is a nice laptop. But realistically it is no different from having a nice car — no matter the price tag, as long as it works it will get you to your destination. Maybe it won’t be as quick, or as comfortable, but ultimately it will fulfil its job regardless of whether the car cost £250 or £50,000.

The gear doesn’t provide the value — the person sitting at it does. If you have the money to invest, invest in yourself as a priority rather than spending money on hardware hoping it will somehow make you better or more capable.

Originally published at https://www.jame.es on November 5, 2020.