What is a good laptop?

methylacetate

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Hello guys! I've found a laptop named ITEL Spirit 2 (non-ad). It's a Linux-based laptop with 16 GB RAM, 4-cored CPU (2.5 GHz) and 512 GB SSD. GPU is Intel Iris Xe graphics. So I'm looking for a good laptop for me - Java and Android developer (I'm goin' to learn C and Rust) and I like to play games like Minecraft. Parameters are good! But... Is ITEL good manufacturer? Does anyone have experience with ITEL?
 


It is not a product I am familiar with, not sold in my region, it has a decent 11h gen I5 processor but as it is made for Quote "emerging markets" I personally would be weary of build and other component quality,
HFL have run a probe on this model [it may not mean much to you, results here.. https://linux-hardware.org/?probe=8c370ddf38
apart from this, there is little in the way of workshop sheet available to me.
 
the specs sound good but like Brickwizard states never heard of it. There are good "windows" laptops you can buy as well as other laptops made specifically for Linux. System76 is a good one for US and Tuxedo is a good European one. Shipping costs make them better in their own region.
 
The ITEL company is in China and is relatively new. They appear to have gotten their start producing mobile phones, but are diversifying their product line. Here is a brief article about them, but you can find more on their website if you dig around:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itel_Mobile

Other useful links:
https://www.itel-life.com/products/laptop-pad/spirit/spirit-2
https://www.itel-life.com/products/brand/about-us

I agree with @Brickwizard that they appear to be focused on emerging markets. Their physical stores are in Kenya and Nigeria.
 
To be perfectly honest, for learning Linux, etc, you could do much worse than to obtain a good condition second-hand or refurb'd model. Unless you're absolutely sure that Linux is the route you want to go down, I wouldn't spend big bucks if that was me.....nor would I take a risk with a relatively unknown manufacturer. Not until they've had time to build up a 'track record' of sorts.

There's a ton of good-condition second-hand models out there that will do an excellent job for what you want. The Dell Latitudes are a good choice - these are 'business-class' models, and as such tend to be more robustly built than the average 'home-user' ranges. The IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads are also highly thought-of. With either of these, a good condition second-hand one will often outlast a new model aimed specifically at the home user!

Both the Latitudes and the Thinkpads are known for "playing nice" with Linux. Anyway; to start you off & get you in the right frame of mind, you've really GOT to install your own OS of choice.....none of this mucking-about with a pre-installed distro (like with Windows)! :D

It's gonna be a learning curve from the word "Go", so you may as well start as you mean to go on.

Just my two-penn'orth, FWIW.


Mike. :)
 
Last edited:
Lenovo ;)
 
I concur with what is said here about Thinkpad and Dell. Had good experiences with Compaq too.
 

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