If you can get something preloaded with Linux it is probably best. System 76 or the Dell precision line of laptops are good options. In the case of dell I would go precision over XPS - I believe you get better support and a better tested product with the business line. I have an XPS and have had a few QA issues with it. However, once I got it sorted it has been great running Ubuntu - but it was a ..... journey to say the least ;)
EDIT: another good option is probably XPS 13 Dev editions that give you ubuntu preloaded as well
I too am interested in this.
Not sure what your platform choice is, linux or windows, but this post is all with a linux bias.
I have a 15" macbook pro from late 2013. I do not upgrade computers very often and expect them to last a long time.
Laptops are especially hard because I am also a linux user who has never operated a linux laptop. The departure from Mac leaves me with Windows which I will not ever operate.
I've looked into this before am currently considering these
Thought about getting a super light weight low spec cheap laptop like a thinkpad x220 or even a dell. Most the time my laptops are used as clients, so I do not need too much. Running a web browser is the most intensive need these days.
System76 - Gazelle or better. These look nice and are linux compatible.
Also, an article I saved to read later and still havn't found time https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/11/2/13497094/b...
I would recommend Thinkpad T470s. I have used both Lenovo T460s, T470 laptops and Dell XPS developer edition with Linux. I personally prefer the Lenovo.
Here is a detailed review of T470s https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-ThinkPad-T470s-Core-i7-...
Here is ranking of Laptop brands by Laptop mag, Lenovo rank best laptop brand. https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/laptop-brand-ratings
I highly recommend a decently modern Lenovo Thinkpad.
The T470 and T470s/p are pretty nice. I managed to get a good bargin on a T460 off Craigslist, and it runs like a dream. After some minute tweaks (mostly installing tlp), it's running Ubuntu 17.10 fantastically.
If you want something a bit smaller, the X series is the line with a 12.5inch screen. Downside is the latest model (the X270) only has a FHD screen, with 1920x1080 max. The T470s and T470p both have a 14 inch WQHD screen with 2560x1440 max. The 15 inch T570 has a UHD screen with 3840x2160 max, which is definitely Retina-like.
I just did this because my MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013) / 16GB / 1TB machine finally developed a hardware fault they want motherboard replacement money to fix (occasional but frequent hard resets).
After checking the cost of a new MBP (basically almost same specs as the old one, plus touch bar!) and then noticing a Dell sale on before Xmas here in Sydney, I decided to replace it with a Dell XPS 15 9560 (laptop version, not the split-part "2-in-1" version, in black, with max memory and hard disk) for about ½ - ⅔ of the price of a Macbook Pro, but with better specs. The physical build of the machine takes some getting used to but I prefer the keyboard immensely, the black/carbon fiber finish is excellent and the high-grip "don't fall off table" feature is also great. As I have been focusing on family over Christmas and also have a company to run I am time short, so still setting up Gentoo, but set myself the somewhat uncharted goal of ZFS root (achieved!) and am enjoying the setup so far. Yet to finalize optimum video setup as the machine has two chips, X11 does not yet want to function correctly with the closed source nvidia-drivers on super-new kernels, but it works awesome for angband and X does work fine with the open source i915 drivers. Current notes on the Gentoo wiki at https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Dell_XPS_15_9560
I recommend checking out the "Galago Pro" from System 76, it comes preloaded with Linux (actually their whole company is built on Linux), Good customer support. They have been recommended various times in another HN threads
BTW: They are currently addressing the Intel ME problem.
I'm running Arch on my Surface Pro 3 for work. It works pretty well for me. Some hurdles, but it's nice to have the control.
I'd look into the Dell XPS. Its build quality competes with the MacBook, it's one of the smallest laptops of it size (either 13 or 15) and the 4k screen is absolutely stunning (although some prefer fhd for the improved battery life). I got mine recently and I'm loving it.
Thinkpad. If you hit the Lenovo outlet you can occasionally find a really good deal.
Buy a used IT laptop from eBay and install your favorite Linux flavor on it.
I have a T470P, Core i7-7700HQ, 32GB RAM, NVMe SSD. 2560x1440 matt IPS (excellent screen) with the larger 72whr battery.
Cracking machine for the price works great with Linux.
.Dell XPS 15 4k with windows 10 pro. MS is all in on developers and releasing more goodies every quarter.
I see a lot of ThinkPads and Dells here, but how about hp? Are they good for Linux?
Asus Zenbook works well for me. I'm running Kubuntu.
Wait for thinkpad x1 carbon 2018, should be presented at CES in 2 weeks ...
I went from a stolen 2015 MBP to an X230 (modified with an X220 keyboard) to a new MBP. With the thinkpads, the smaller screen and lower resolution will take some getting used to. Running a customized window manager in Linux is the best solution when it works but you shouldn't discount the amount of time you will lose to tinkering and random breakages.
My personal belief is that, for a working dev, MacOS is still the best deal running. The fact of the matter is that it will always work and any new software you want to install will have a well documented how to. Even if you don't want to run MacOS, I'd still probably recommend buying an MBP and dual booting linux on it. Thinkpads are great, the x220 keyboard is probably the best keyboard ever put on a laptop, but the screens are horrible, you will notice the RAM and CPU shortage, and battery life was an issue. Further, the form factor is not as small as an MBP.
If you are going down the Thinkpad route, the X62 is an interesting option custom made by an enthusiast group in Shenzhen. [1] Otherwise, Hackaday wrote a fairly modern Thinkpad buyer's guide [2]. One thing I would note is that upgrading the x230 keyboard to the x220 keyboard is trivial and only requires a jeweler's screwdriver and a few new parts (about $70). You can also upgrade the x230 screen to an HD screen but that is a significantly more complicated upgrade.
[1] https://geoff.greer.fm/2017/07/16/thinkpad-x62/ [2] https://hackaday.com/2016/10/28/apple-sucks-now-heres-a-thin...