Laptop Requirements for Coding School: What You Actually Need

Three specs determine whether a laptop can handle coding work. Everything else is secondary.

RAM: 8GB minimum. When you code, you run a code editor (VS Code), a web browser with multiple tabs (for documentation, your app, and debugging tools), a terminal, and often a local development server. All of these consume RAM. With 4GB, your machine starts swapping to disk, which means everything slows to a crawl. You will spend more time waiting for your laptop than writing code. 8GB handles a standard development workflow comfortably. 16GB is better if you can afford it, but 8GB is the floor.

SSD, not HDD. An SSD (solid state drive) makes your computer boot faster, open programs faster, and respond to everything faster. An HDD (hard drive) is the spinning metal disk inside older laptops. The speed difference between the two is enormous for development work. VS Code on an HDD takes 15 to 30 seconds to open. On an SSD, it takes 2 to 3 seconds. Over a 26-week bootcamp, that difference adds up to hours of your life. If a laptop has 8GB RAM but an HDD, you will still be frustrated. The SSD matters as much as the RAM.

Screen size: 13 inches or more. You will spend hours looking at your screen. On anything smaller than 13 inches, the code editor becomes cramped and you cannot have a browser and your code visible at the same time. Thirteen to fifteen inches is the sweet spot. Bigger is fine but heavier to carry.

Brand. Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, ASUS, Apple. For web development, the brand does not matter. What matters is the specs inside the machine. A KES 30,000 Lenovo ThinkPad with 8GB RAM and an SSD runs VS Code exactly the same as a KES 200,000 MacBook Air for the kind of work you do in a bootcamp.

Dedicated graphics card. You do not need one. Graphics cards matter for gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning training. Web development does not use them. Do not pay extra for a GPU you will never use.

Latest processor generation. An Intel Core i5 from 2020 or 2021 handles web development perfectly. You do not need the newest chip. In the refurbished market, older processors are significantly cheaper, and the performance difference for coding is negligible.

Touchscreen. Nobody writes code by tapping the screen. A touchscreen adds cost and drains battery faster. Skip it.

Backlit keyboard. Nice to have if you code at night, but not worth paying KES 10,000 more for. A KES 500 USB desk lamp solves the same problem.

All three work. Here is the honest breakdown.

Windows. The most common and most affordable option in Kenya. Modern Windows (10 or 11) works well for web development. You can use VS Code, Git, Node.js, and every other tool in a typical bootcamp. Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) gives you a Linux terminal environment if you need it. Most bootcamp students in Kenya use Windows and have no problems.

Mac (macOS). Excellent for development. The Unix-based terminal is identical to what servers run, which makes deployment and server work slightly more intuitive. The downside is price. The cheapest usable MacBook starts around KES 80,000 to KES 100,000 in Kenya. If you already own one, great. If you are buying specifically for a bootcamp, you can get a more powerful Windows machine for half the price.

Linux. The developer's favourite. Free to install, lightweight, and fast, even on older hardware. Ubuntu is the most beginner-friendly version. The downside is that you need to be comfortable with troubleshooting when things break, and some software (like Microsoft Office or certain video call apps) can be harder to use. If you are technically adventurous, Linux is an excellent choice. If you want everything to "just work," stick with Windows or Mac.

Do not let anyone tell you that "real developers use Mac" or "you cannot code on Windows." That is gatekeeping, not technical advice. Use what you have or what you can afford.

New budget laptops in Kenya that meet the minimum specs (8GB RAM, SSD) start around KES 40,000 to KES 55,000. Brands like Acer, ASUS, and Lenovo IdeaPad have models in this range. Check Computer Hub, Nairobi Computer Peripherals, or online shops like Jumia and Kilimall. Compare specs carefully, because some budget laptops cut corners on the SSD (shipping with a 128GB SSD and an HDD, or just an HDD).

Refurbished business laptops are the best value option. A refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad T480, HP EliteBook 840, or Dell Latitude from the last 4 to 5 years costs KES 25,000 to KES 40,000 in Nairobi. These machines were built for corporate use, which means durable keyboards, good screens, and upgradeable internals. They already have 8GB RAM and SSDs in most configurations.

Where to buy refurbished in Nairobi: Luthuli Avenue has dozens of shops selling refurbished laptops. Bring someone who knows specs if you are not confident evaluating hardware. Online, check OLX Kenya and Facebook Marketplace, but inspect the machine in person before paying. Avoid buying sight-unseen from strangers.

If a refurbished laptop comes with 4GB RAM and an HDD, you can often upgrade both. Adding 4GB RAM costs around KES 2,000 to KES 3,000 for the module. Replacing an HDD with a 256GB SSD costs around KES 3,000 to KES 5,000. Any computer shop in Nairobi can do both upgrades in an hour.

These are not endorsements. They are starting points for your research. Prices are approximate for the Kenyan market in 2026.

Refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad T480/T490 (KES 28,000 to KES 40,000). The classic developer workhorse. Excellent keyboard, durable build, 8GB to 16GB RAM, SSD. Widely available refurbished in Nairobi. If you see one with 8GB RAM and an SSD for under KES 35,000, that is a strong buy.

Refurbished HP EliteBook 840 G5/G6 (KES 25,000 to KES 38,000). Similar to the ThinkPad in build quality and specs. Good screen, solid keyboard, reliable for long coding sessions. Also widely available in the refurbished market.

New Acer Aspire 3 or Lenovo IdeaPad 3 (KES 42,000 to KES 55,000). Budget new laptops with 8GB RAM and SSD options. The build quality is lower than refurbished business laptops, but they come with a manufacturer warranty, which refurbished machines usually do not.

Chromebooks. Generally not recommended for coding bootcamps. While it is possible to set up a development environment on a Chromebook (using Linux mode or cloud-based IDEs), it adds complexity that a beginner does not need. Some bootcamp tools may not work on ChromeOS. If a Chromebook is all you have, ask your bootcamp whether it is supported before enrolling.

Battery health. Refurbished laptops often have degraded batteries. A battery that lasts 1 to 2 hours instead of 5 is common. This matters if you plan to code at a cafe or co-working space without reliable power. Budget KES 3,000 to KES 5,000 for a replacement battery if needed, or plan to always code near a socket.

Keyboard condition. You will type thousands of lines of code. A keyboard with mushy, sticky, or unresponsive keys will slow you down and frustrate you daily. Test every key before buying a refurbished machine.

Screen quality. You will stare at this screen for hours every day. A dim, washed-out, or low-resolution screen causes eye strain. Look for at least 1920x1080 (Full HD) resolution. Anything lower (1366x768 is common on cheap laptops) cramps your workspace and makes code harder to read.

Ports. You need at least 2 USB ports (for a mouse and a USB drive), and ideally an HDMI port if you ever want to connect an external monitor. Check what the laptop offers before buying.

Weight. If you carry your laptop in a matatu to a co-working space or bootcamp campus, weight matters. Business laptops like ThinkPads and EliteBooks are around 1.5 to 1.8 kg, which is manageable. Gaming laptops can hit 2.5 to 3 kg and become a burden in a backpack.