If you had asked me this just a couple of years ago, the answer would have been really simple: buy a MacBook Pro. Here’s why:
- Little worry about viruses and malware- Sure, they exist on Mac, but they’re not nearly as pervasive as they are on Windows.
- Easy access to the entire Unix/Linux open-source ecosystem. Software that requires lots of tinkering on Windows just works on Mac
- Access to important proprietary software like the Adobe Creativity Suite (becoming less and less relevant with apps like Sketch and Affinity’s graphics apps — exclusive to and available on Mac respectively)- Beats the pants off Linux in this respect
- Operating system gets out of your way better than Windows and Linux- No fiddly color schemes, frivolous settings, or compiling kernels to distract you from your work
- Incredible build quality- Macs hold up well for a long time.
- Great resale value- When you’re ready to upgrade, your Mac will still fetch a good price on the secondary market. Most computers resale value falls off a cliff after a year of ownership.
Most of this is still true, but Apple has screwed up a very important part of their laptops: the keyboard. The keyboard is the most critical component of a computer for developers. No laptop keyboard is going to be great, but this new keyboard that was introduced alongside the Touch is a mess. Besides having virtually no travel, the butterfly switches apparently break forcing the owner to replace a substantial portion of the computer. I rarely use my MacBook Pro’s built-in keyboard, but I would still be reluctant to purchase one of the newer MacBooks because I want the built-in keyboard to be a viable option.
Current Recommendation
As ridiculous as this sounds, your best bet right now is to buy a second-hand or refurbished MacBook Pro. Get the beefiest machine you can find pre-Touch Bar, and you’re going to be thrilled with it. Until Apple gets their act together (and, I think, with all the negative publicity swirling about the newer keyboard, they will fix it in newer models eventually).
You’ll need to make three decisions as you’re selecting the right computer.
Which monitor?
Go with a 15”. More room to work with = more productivity. Get a Retina display and crank up the resolution to give you the most workspace possible. Besides that, it’s a joy to look at a monitor and not see pixels.
How much RAM?
16GB is the most you can get in a MacBook Pro at the time I’m writing this, and it has been for a while now. This will give you headroom to run Slack and your email client, have a couple of containers running, Photoshop, and whatever else you might need. I’m not suggesting you keep all your apps open all the time, but it’s a great time-saver to keep all the apps you’re switching between open while you’re working.
Processor?
Just get the fastest you can find/afford.
This sounds great, but even used MacBook Pros are pretty expensive. That’s what makes the following advice really tempting to follow:
“You don’t need incredible specs for most web development.”
This is true, but incredible specs buy you the ability to not have to think about resources. You won’t have to close down applications because your computer has come to a slog. You won’t have to delete old projects or your photos or music to make room for a new project. You won’t have to close Slack so you can rebuild a Vagrant machine, install dependencies for a Node project, or run several Docker containers. This lets you spend your time and brain power on things that make value for other people which, in turn, makes value for you.
What if…
I can’t afford a Mac
If you’ve tried Craigslist and still can’t find an affordable Mac, buy whatever you can afford. Don’t put off starting because you can’t get a MacBook Pro. Start picking up some freelance work, and reinvest some of what you make into buying a better computer later.
I can’t find a suitable used MacBook Pro
Try the Apple Refurbished store. Even as I write this, the selection of the pre-Touch Bar machines is pretty slim as those machines are a little old at this point. If you can afford it, just buy a new MacBook Pro. Even if the keyboard isn’t as good, you’re probably going to be using it with an external keyboard 95% of the time as they’re much faster for typing and ergonomic.
I’ve never used a Mac
I hadn’t either until about 11 years ago. Actually, that’s not entirely true. I had used them in high school art class but not very much. It took a couple of weeks to get comfortable enough with the differences of the operating system to be able to work effectively in it. After six months, I had “mastered” using the Mac to nearly the same level of proficiency I had on Windows. It’s an investment, both in time and money, which will pay off with less friction developing and greater productivity.
If you still can’t stomach the thought, or if you don’t have time to spin up on a new OS right now, go with whatever makes you comfortable.