Hello everyone, I hope this is the right category, but I am at a crossroads. Read up on some posts and got some ideas, but ultimately decided to make a post.
Deciding if I should sell my soul per se and invest in something new, such as the Framework Desktop for llm, protein folding, and coding, or a Framework Laptop for portability, coding, and smaller scale projects with intent of the framework desktop later or even a full desktop build once I get funds up again.
Albeit the market i know is wack right now with the state of the world, tariffs etc.
I specifically say the framework because I love the aspect of repairability, especially in the long run and part availability. I even thought about thinkpad of course, but what held me back is part availability and I believe I heard newer gen thinkpads screens are adhered differently causing poorer repairability if ever needed. But I did like the price point aspect especially for the T models like 470, 480, 495. Or the E14s.
I especially want to get more into linux. And whichever laptop I get I would love to start daily driving linux.
Now I understand this may be a common question and a funny thing to request help on within the forums, but just been racking my brain looking at different models, configurations, and posts within the forums, and before i go coo coo for coco puffs, I decided to post.
I think I just want different perspectives, what people would do or consider in my shoes, and any feedback really. Thank you if you read this far, I hope I made this post correctly, and thank you if you take the time to reply.
Of course, the laptop mainly would be for lighter workflow and development on the go, while the desktop would be the big driver for LLM work and other major development. I just don’t know if I should go cheap thinkpad or put a little more dough into a framework, for repairability in the long run, or sacrifice repairability for price. Then for the desktop side, either more money for the framework desktop or a PC build (which I may wait depending on the current market and prices) or just go for the strix halo. Have you personally used anything with the strix halo at all?
I have not had the chance to use a Strix Halo machine yet, they are not yet available locally for a decent price. No first party retailers. I guess the Asus Z exists but is overpriced imo.
You should price out the options and share the details here. A decently cheap unit with ok specs and a Framework that you’d ideally purchase. It would help make the decision process easier and maybe slightly more objective.
I’ve had good experience with ASUS Zenbook Series [mine is a '202114in build]
Manjaro was best Linux implementation, at time of overwriting W11 filth off
This one here I’m guessing, is the current era build
I would base the decision which laptop to get on what exactly you need it to do for you. I’m using “need”, because that can be quite different from “want”. Basically, a short list of priorities, including if you need longer runtime on battery or not, and, in descending order, what software it really must be able to run/should be able to run and “it would be nice if it could run [ fill in application]”. I would also factor in items like how important a good keyboard is, and if low weight of the laptop is important or not. The trifecta of slim, light and powerful => $$$$.
Unless budget is not a constraint, I agree with others here that a desktop situation to get into LLMs etc is probably the way to go. And here a suggestion out of left field: how about saving a chunk of change by buying something like a used/refurbished ThinkPad* with a limited warranty, and investing the money not spent on that Strix Halo laptop or 2-in-1 into a desktop with AI Oomph.
*Those are plentiful, have great keyboards, and run Linux like a champ; however, LLM speed demons they’re not.
Thank you for taking the time to respond! Yeah definitely trying to move away from the filth, looked into this one ranges anywhere from 299 usd to 600 usd used for the 2021 model, not a bad grab, has quite the display on it too!
I think that curbs my indecisiveness, i think i just needed to bounce some thoughts. But your suggestion is on par and I think I’m gonna go that route!
And I did make a list. Not only to help organize my findings, but just in case someone else could use any of this information.
I’ll probably used the money saved on buying a thinkpad for now and get the framework desktop, or build a darn good PC once ram prices come down. And maybe eventually I’ll get a framework laptop, the repair aspect is just too hard to pass up.
Here’s my findings, take it with a grain of salt, but if it helps someone rad enough!
All finding are referenced from Ebay and varies by spec of course.
Thinkpad E14s range from $120 USD to $1000 USD used on Ebay. As far as my research went for most if not all generations, someone can correct me if I’m wrong, the Intel version has only a SODIMM slot, no soldered RAM, so just a single channel. But the AMD variant has one soldered and a SODIMM slot, runs dual channel.
I even saw on lenovo’s website that gen 6 and 7 are right around $600 to $1000 new.
I looked at T495s, T480s, T470s, E15s, T14s, even P14s, the T models sweet price point currently as of November 2025 is around $130 USD to $200 USD. The E15s and E14s sweet spot was around $180 to $300. And the P14s were on the higher end especially considering they are more of a workstation, but still sub $500 USD. Their sweet spot was anywhere from $350 to $500. All Ebay.
I think I’ll shoot for a E14 Gen 2.
Thank you for your time as well and for responding!
My laptops always get very little use. When I’m home I like the multi 4K large monitor setup where you can have a lot of code on the screen, plus AI assistants, browsers, etc. I also like sitting down at a desk. I find a full keyboard that is tactile (mechanical) and a free wheeling mouse (those that you spin the wheel and it keeps on going) a lot more productive.
Once I got a Linux Dell XPS laptop, touch screen (I think) and 4k screen. But to get a meaningful amount of code on the screen the text was a bit too small. Usable, but with not as much real estate a bit limiting. I still have it, and now it runs Windows. The macs have been a waste of money for me. I never use them much. I find customizing them, and the tools available a bit limiting as well.
Between Windows and Linux I like Linux for multithreading work, because the scheduler is so much better. But windows still a few tools that have no qualitative equivalent in Linux. Otherwise for coding itself I can’t really tell if I’m on Linux or windows as the IDE makes that transparent. But I do make sure whatever I write runs on both as I keep going back and forth between them (on the same project) depending on whether I need the Linux scheduler (runs test cases much faster) or other tools that are better in Windows.
Over the years I tried all sort of high end laptops. But nothing has beat a high end desktop or workstation in terms of productivity. Maybe it is different for others…
Generally I get the highest end desktop available (I always build them) and keep them till an upgrade would give me a 2x bump, which is often 3 years or a bit more. The monitors, keyboard and mouse last twice as long.
So if it is for work, and at home, and you have the space I would go with the desktop.
EDIT: as for upgrading a machine, I find it seldom makes sense for me. For example some 3 years ago I wanted to upgrade. However, the top of the line CPUs were using a different socket, pcie5 nvmes were just around the corner, and memory was going DDR5. So waited till mobos with pcie5 and DDR5 were out and just build a new one.
Do you need a dGPU for games, CUDA, or other significant uses? Then get something new, preferably a desktop (because it can take in more power). If not, a refurbished laptop will be perfectly fine, and inexpensive on top of that. The only thing a new laptop will probably give you is better battery life (and, sometimes, a faster NVMe).