r/SuggestALaptop • u/I_Send_feet_pics • 6h ago
Laptop Request Ca Looking for a durable, repairable 16"+ laptop for Linux development, home lab projects, and occasional gaming (Canada)
Country:
Canada, Ottawa precisely
Budget:
Not setting a budget yet, as I'm researching for a potential purchase in the next year (wait for deals or good offer on marketplace mostly)
Are you open to refurbs/used options?
I'm actually leaning toward buying second-hand, especially premium business laptops that have depreciated significantly. I'm also open to refurbished or open-box models.
Screen size:
16 inches minimum. This is a firm requirement, as I'll mostly use the laptop without an external monitor.
Weight limit:
No strict limit, but I'd prefer something relatively thin and portable. I love the premium, minimalist design of MacBooks and ASUS Zenbooks.
Purpose:
Personal development, home lab administration, networking, and occasional light gaming (really a sub-use though).
Form factor:
Normal, I guess ? Nothing out of the ordinary. A touchscreen would be a nice bonus, but isn't essential.
Intended usage:
My main goal is to have a personal laptop for my home projects, including:
- Running Fedora Workstation (GNOME) or another Linux distribution.
- Coding with VS Code, Git, and other development tools.
- Managing Linux servers and Raspberry Pis through SSH.
- Configuring my home network, including VLANs, switches, and other networking equipment.
- Experimenting with Docker/Podman and potentially virtual machines.
- Occasionally playing modded Minecraft (medium modpacks), Old School RuneScape, and indie games.
Gaming is very much secondary. I absolutely do not want a dedicated GPU. Integrated graphics only. Battery life, efficiency, and reliability matter far more to me than gaming performance.
Desired battery life:
At least 6ā7 hours of real-world use, ideally more
Performance priorities:
I'm not looking for the most powerful CPU. I'd much rather prioritize build quality, battery life, repairability, longevity, and a polished everyday experience.
Additional information / requirements:
- 32 GB RAM preferred. Soldered RAM is fine if there's at least 32 GB installed. Otherwise, I want upgradeable RAM.
- Replaceable battery and SSD.
- Good availability of replacement parts and repair documentation.
- Excellent build quality, keyboard, trackpad, and speakers.
- High-quality display for coding and multitasking.
- Ideally something I can keep for 5ā7+ years and repair myself when needed.
- No dedicated/discrete GPU. Integrated graphics only.
Models I've considered:
I'm particularly interested in the ASUS Zenbook S 16 (Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, 32 GB RAM). I love its design, 16-inch OLED touchscreen, large trackpad, and lightweight construction.
But I see some people reporting overheating issues, display failures, and sleep/driver issues have made me question if it's a good long-term option.
I've also considered the Lenovo ThinkPad T16/P16s, Framework Laptop 16 (without a dedicated GPU), and 16-inch MacBook Pro.
I love the MacBook experience, but the cost of a 16-inch Pro with 32 GB RAM, combined with limited repairability, makes me hesitant. Plus, had a macbook air in the past, and it gave me sooo much trouble that I don't think I want to go the apple route again.
What I'm looking for advice on:
Would you recommend the Zenbook S 16 for long-term ownership and Linux use, or are there more reliable, repairable with good build quality?
I'd especially appreciate feedback from people who've owned their laptops for a year or more, particularly those running Fedora or another Linux distribution.
Had seen the deal below, not sure if it's a reasonable price for a 2-years old laptop. But looks in pristine condition visually
