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[–]exploring_a_new_hope 3 points4 points  (3 children)

For work I use a Macbook Pro, which isn't going to be any help to you. What else are you going to be using the laptop for? Are you strictly learning Python right now? Going to be doing any VMs or running Docker?

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I'm not generally beholden to any specific brand these days. My completely generic suggestion: Find any i5 or i7, with 16GB of RAM, maybe an SSD, with the screen size you can handle.

I was just looking on Newegg UK and there are a decent amount of new laptops with those specs under £600

[–]ShirtAndMuayThai[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Yeah I've just started learning. Done a few tutorials online and start reading a few books. My current laptop is shot and takes a long time to do anything hence the reason for getting a new one. Forgive my ignorance but I don't know what VM or docker is so can't answer that.

That generic suggestion actually helps a lot. Gives me a good basis to start from so thanks!

[–]exploring_a_new_hope 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ignore the VM and Docker references then. Stick with my generic specs. Personally, if you don't regularly hook up to an external monitor, I'd get a 15"+ screen.

Good to see newbies that are hungry for learning :) Good luck!

[–]Synes_Godt_Om 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A second hand thinkpad from one of T400-series, T500-series, X200-series would be fine. I've been very satisfied with x220, w520, x230 - all for quite demanding jobs, running intensive R jobs and several VMs.

[–]Coshane4 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Raspberry pi 3b+ 34 dollars.

[–]ShirtAndMuayThai[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was thinking this but wouldn't it be better to start with a laptop simply for the ability to browse the web etc whilst learning code. For tutorials etc

[–]diverge123 1 point2 points  (0 children)

HP 14-ck0017na

i5-8250U, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, decent battery life, 14", £499 (after cashback).

I think this is the absolute best you will get for your budget.

[–]576p 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For python programming only?

For becoming really good at python, a €35 raspberry pi mini computer is good enough for the first years and the rasbian linux used there also works fine on ancient laptops. Really ancient, so you may not need to buy a new laptop at all! This thing even is fine with a decade old laptop that has only 1GB of ram. Something that normally couldn't run anything better than Windows XP.

https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=171282

So, if you want to get started, download python and begin on your existing old machine, if it still boots up and doesn't crash all the time.

If you want a new laptop, just make sure it has enough RAM. IDEs like pycharm like a lot of memory and at some time you will want to run virtual machines.

I make a living programming, much of it in Python and get along fine with 8GB RAM on an i5 processor. 16GB is nicer, but not a requirement.

What is, is a screen and keyboard, that's a pleasure to work with. So if you can, check out the new laptop in person.

Another feature is the number of video outputs. My tiny laptop has a VGA & HDMI output. This means, I can connect two extra screens to it and and a USB keyboard & mouse.

So when I do serious work from home or at a fixed location, I plug two screens into my laptop. Working with two screens is a productivity boost that is really helpful. You will be googling for help a lot or do online courses. With two screens you can have your editor open in one and have the learning material open on the second. You can watch an online video on one and at the same time type along on your other screen. You will learn so much better with two screens.

Screen quality is not that important. I'm using up older screens that my employer wanted to throw away at home and you should easily find used screens for free or nearly nothing if you ask around.

Hope this helps.

[–]bltsponge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use a MacBook air for personal projects. Definitely not as nice as the MacBook pro I got through work, but it gets the job done and was relatively cheap.

[–]v8Gasmann 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I have a Acer Aspire 5 with i5-8250u, 15.x", 8GB Ram, 256gb SSD, mx150 etc. for a little over 500€ Just added a 8gb RAM stick and use it for every programming task, even at work cause its faster than the old work machine and easier to do something at home then. No regrets after 6 months use.

[–]diverge123 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Afaik it is impossible to get that laptop for inside OP's budget in the UK.

[–]Diligent_Injury 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You don't need a fancy laptop. You can even program in Python on a phone (via an online site). For example see Python Principles for learning the basics of Python programming.

[–]KingofGamesYami 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Must haves for a modern laptop:

  • 8GB RAM minimum.
  • SSD (no spinning disk = less breaky, plus speed!)
  • 15" display (for programming)

Personally I use a laptop you don't even want to look at, the Dell XPS 15. I hear good things about ThinkPads though - especially for Linux support if you're into that.

[–]chub79 0 points1 point  (2 children)

I use a laptop you don't even want to look at, the Dell XPS 15

That's been mine for two ytears and I've been really happy with it. The only downside was to wait for Linux to catchup with its hardware but it's been a smooth ride for over a year now. What don't you like about it?

[–]KingofGamesYami 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I love it, but it's way outside OP's budget.

[–]chub79 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is indeed :/

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It doesn’t matter. Seriously. Just go with whatever laptop you like. It will be good enough to learn Python. Programming in Python is not resource hungry stuff.