I'm learning to program in Python and JavaScript, and I need a laptop that can handle IDEs well without lag. I've got a budget of around $800-1200. Do you recommend something with good RAM and a processor, or is there something specific I should look for?
With that budget you're more than covered for what you need, honestly. A decent processor like a recent-gen Ryzen 5 or Intel i5 with 16GB of RAM is going to run just fine for IDEs like VS Code, PyCharm, or Sublime Text without the machine struggling. What I'd look for is a fast SSD (256GB minimum, 512GB is better) because that makes more of a difference in day-to-day responsiveness than extra RAM, and pay close attention to the screen - spending hours staring at code on a bad display will wreck the experience. You'll find solid options in that range from brands like Lenovo ThinkBook, ASUS Vivobook, or Dell Inspiron, but the important thing is to test the keyboard and comfort before you buy, because you're going to spend a lot of time with that machine and an uncomfortable keyboard will take its toll on you.
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