Question Torn Between ThinkPads and Maybe a MacBook Pro

[Randi Poling]

Hey everyone! The wife is looking to replace her Samsung GalaxyBook Pro here soon and we were debating what she should get. Below are the 3 we are looking at.

Laptop 1:
Thinkpad P16v Gen1

• AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7840HS (3.3GHz) Processor
• 32GB DDR5-5600 RAM
• NVIDIA RTX A1000 Graphics Card
• 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe M.2 SSD
• 16" WUXGA IPS Anti-Glare Display
• 2x2 Wireless LAN WiFi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3
• 4.85 lbs. (2.20 kg)
• Windows 11 Pro
• Secure Digital 7.0 Memory Card Reader

Laptop 2:
ThinkPad P16s

• Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (1.4GHz) Processor
• 32GB DDR5-5600 RAM
• NVIDIA RTX 500 Ada Graphics Card
• 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe M.2 SSD
• 16" WUXGA IPS Anti-Glare Display
• Gigabit LAN, 2x2 WiFi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3
• 4.01 lbs. (1.82 kg)
• Windows 11 Pro

Laptop 3:
MacBook Pro 16" with an M4 or M4 Pro CPU, base RAM and Storage.

Her use case is traveling to other countries, writing papers, grants, and some coding in R and Python, nothing heavy. Battery Life WOULD be preferably at the top, but not exactly a priority. Just looking for longevity and something built take the travel she will be doing.

 

[USAFRet]

The main consideration here is....Windows vs Mac.
The 2 Thinkpads are not that much different.

 

[Randi Poling]

The main consideration here is....Windows vs Mac.
The 2 Thinkpads are not that much different.

She is kinda iffy on the MAC due to the OS - But i explained its not horrible (She had a mac in the past, 2013-2021) So OS isn't really a big factor, just looking at something that will give her good battery life and survive multiple intercontinental trips.

 

[faalin]

Would this be another option for you? HP G10 Business laptop $500

• AMD Ryzen5 7530U
• 32GB DDR 4
• Integrated AMD Graphics
• 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD
• 15.6" Display
• Windows 11 Pro

For what she's doing the Nvidia RTX cards are overkill. I dont fly internationally but i do fly around the states at least once a month. I carry a HP g11 for work along with my MSI Prestige 14h in a North face Borealis backpack.

 

[cruisetung]

For what she's doing the Nvidia RTX cards are overkill.

👍

For OP: Do not switch OS unless your wife requested it!

LG gram 15" and above with 32GB memory. These will be overkill too though. But she will feel good. 😉

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=LG+GRAM+32GB&i=electronics&rh=n:172282,p_n_size_browse-bin:2242801011%7C2423841011,p_n_feature_thirty-three_browse-bin:23720422011&dc&crid=P70MNA5YXTMQ&qid=1743780397&rnid=23720416011&sprefix=lg+gram+32gb,electronics,281&ref=sr_nr_p_n_feature_thirty-three_browse-bin_1&ds=v1:HBgkcrq2a39ngmw662f8IozLjVm/6a7njB3orNT/IO8

Look for video reviews on youtube.

 

[LordVile]

I’ve used the P series and they’re not very good. HPs offerings in the space are better. However for the use case workstation laptops are a bit overkill. Mac would be a better option if software compatibility etc isn’t an issue. If the MacBook can do something it’s normally the best option, though I’d also look at the 14” over the 16”. I’ve had both and found the 16” to be very unwieldy especially for travel.

 

[geofelt]

Look at the Lenovo thinkpad carbon X1 series.
They are light with 400nit displays and an excellent keyboard.
You can usually customize one as you see fit.
For example:
https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/lapt...-gen-13-aura-edition-14-inch-intel/21ns0012us