<p>if any of you are true CS fans(JK), you know that theory, not language, is the most important. Learning different languages for computers is pretty simple once you master about two languages. I agree that learning something like Java or C is the best way to go, just because thats how I did it and because C is like the foundation for many MANY things.
As for the original question, I personally would go with any notebook that has old enough hardwares for a Linux distro. 
Although, macs are fine too since you can’t really get a better software-hardware compatibility then macs. Also, now that OSx is unix, i have no qualms about them.</p>