The best personal computers, according to hackers
10 personal computers recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.
- Most recommendedApple Mac453 people recommend it
- Built to lastAmiga 1000owners report a median of 41 years
- Least regretDell OptiPlex21 recommend, 2 criticize
All personal computers
- Apple MacRecommended for excellent build quality and tight hardware-software integration that makes it reliable and easy to use, though critics dislike macOS UI changes and pricey upgrades.453recommend
- Apple Mac StudioRecommended for running large local AI models thanks to huge unified memory, plus quiet, efficient everyday performance; critics note slow prompt processing and high prices for upgrades.319recommend
- Apple M1 MacStill fast enough for web dev, everyday work and Linux years after release, and cheap used. Critics note soldered, hard-to-upgrade storage.48recommend
- Apple IIRecommended as an open, expandable, hacker-friendly 1977 computer that was everywhere in classrooms; critics cite its price and limited graphics and hardware.46recommend
- Apple MacintoshRecommended for its graphical interface, attention to detail, and strength in visual and creative work. Critics say it started out costly and limited, with weak multitasking and slow performance for demanding tasks.34recommend
- Apple M-series MacPeople recommend M-series Macs for battery life, displays, trackpads, quiet operation and efficient chips. Common caveat: poor Linux support and limited hardware documentation.34recommend
- Amiga 1000Recommended for fast, responsive input handling and preemptive multitasking; critics say it was not ten years ahead of rivals and floppy setups were clunky.25recommend
- Dell OptiPlexCheap used Optiplex desktops offer Core i5 and i7 power for self-hosting and Linux. Critics say they draw more power than ARM boards.21recommend
- Apple M4 MacPeople recommend M4 Macs for running local AI models quickly and for everyday computing. Critics say the speed gain over earlier chips is small.8recommend
- Macintosh 512KPeople recommend the Macintosh 512K for a fast Finder, since it runs no multitasking, and for working on it without the RAM limits that held back earlier Macs.5recommend