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I can only speak for Dell laptops: Avoid the Inspiron range. The (more expensive) XPS range are a far better quality!.
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
modified 8-Jun-21 18:02pm.
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If you are testing software, my recommendation would be to get 2 test machines:
1. The hottest hopped up laptop with the most modern expensive options, lots of memory and large disks
2. The oldest wimpiest crappy laptop that you support for the software with the smallest memory and disk that are reasonable to use with it. Make sure it has Windows Vista.
You'll be seen as the smartest tester in the group.
If pigs could fly, just imagine how good their wings would taste!
- Harvey
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Microsoft won't allow you to install Windows Vista on a new machine. My test machine died and I tried to re-install Windows Vista and it went to the MS website to validate the software, but the URL was no longer active. The oldest OS you can install (before Vista) is XP.
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I bought a low-level Acer Aspire V17 Nitro gaming laptop (7?) years ago, and have been really happy with it. You might check out something by them, like the Predator Helios 300. I have no idea if they are still good, but the reviews seem nice. Just an idea, but not a guarantee as others probably know of better options.
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I think this is the one, I can just see the envious faces of my colleagues when they see this! Does it come in pink?
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BTW, my serious response is Lenovo.
However, if you can handle luggable, I used a Dell Precision Workstation at a job a few years back and it was incredible. Biggest problem, besides its weight and it got really hot when on your actual lap, was that the 17 inch screen wouldn't fully open on a plane tray.
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If your software supports it, an i7 processor that provides AVX-512 (e.g. Intel 1065G7 or above) may be useful for number-crunching. Otherwise, any mainstream processor that supports AVX2 (don't they all these days?) will suffice for numeric programming. I don't know if AMD has support for AVX-512 in any of its laptop processors.
If you deal with large datasets, you may wish to ensure that the computer has additional memory. 16GB is the absolute minimum, with 32GB recommended and 64GB for really large sets.
Other than that, a large SSD disk and light weight never go amiss. The screen size should be something you are comfortable with; it should be large enough to work with, but small enough to open on a airplane seat tray. Personally I find a 14" screen to be ample for anything that I need to do on the road.
A docking station or some such is essential for when you are at the office; working on a small screen is possible, but why suffer?
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.
-- 6079 Smith W.
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I use a Dell XPS15 9500 with 250gb SSD, 32gb RAM, i7 - and a thunderbolt docking station to connect external monitors etc..., modern lappies only seem to have a couple of USC C ports so the docking station is a must.
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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I use two MSI gaming laptops. The oldest is eight and a half years old, the newer one is nearly three; it was bought as a replacement for the first but the first hasn't died yet (shouldn't have said that!).
They both have i7 CPU, 16 and 32MB memory, boot SSD 500GB, and a storage drive of 1TB.
What I like about MSI is that they are made for modifying and maintaining so it is easy to upgrade disk, memory, etc. It is also easy to clean out dust when the time comes. The older machine has had SSD and HDD expansion and a new battery.
Gaming machines also come with a good video card and while that is not needed for most laptop work I have found it very useful for rendering animations (3X faster than 6 CPU cores).
Andy
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A good video card speeds up the system. A few years back I upgraded my desktop video card from basic (low end) to a good mid-range card -- ALL applications ran faster. Look for video cards that have their own RAM and do not use the the main RAM.
Minimum RAM is 32 GB -- if doing high-end number crunching, get 64 GB or even 128 GB.
Get the biggest SSD you can. Better to have too much storage than have to replace the SSD later on.
CPU? Consider AMD, their higher end line-up is highly rated.
I agree with previous advice to get the smallest usable screen size to keep the unit light. I worked briefly with a guy who bragged about his tiny laptop, but he had poor screen resolution and worked hunched over, trying to read the screen ...
Have a docking station, good kbd & mouse, and dual monitors at all locations where you will sit.
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At work, when we upgrade, we will get (if we choose a laptop):
HP IDS T2000, 15in, i7-985H (6 cores) 64gb ram and 2TB ssd. (comes with bag, docking and mouse).
AFAIK, it has integrated graphics.
CI/CD = Continuous Impediment/Continuous Despair
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THINKPAD brand from LENOVO:
T14 Gen 2[^] for lightweight + intel Xe + powerful laptop + ethernet port + smartcard reader (optional).
T14s Gen 2[^] for lighter + intel Xe + powerful laptop + NO ethernet port + smartcard reader (optional).
X1 carbon Gen 9[^] even lighter + intel Xe + more premium same power laptop + No ethernet port.
X1 extreme Gen 4 -- link to notebookcheck see the specs there[^] (almost here (Gen 3 here[^])) a much more powerful with dedicated GPU + yet portable device + No ethernet port.
P1 gen 4 (almost here (gen 3 here[^])) the same but with professional GPUs and Xeon + No ethernet port.
With all them you get:
- Lenovo Vantage: the best way to keep your drivers and updates up to date.
- a military and very durable tested device[^].
- a super nice keyboard (I really find it better than most of the other things I tried).
- Plenty of security features.
- a good port selection.
- 5G as an option.
- discrete Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (dTPM 2.0) chip.
Of course if you want raw power there are the AMD options for the T14/T14s.
I'm just waiting for a maxed out X1 carbon gen 9 or a P1 gen 4 to be available to buy.
Been working with a T460s for a few years and I really love this machine, no warranty now, that's why I want to replace it.
I always get them with 24 hours max unit replacement in case of accidental damage, keeping the HDD.
It would be a big mess walking down a plane getting it broken and not being able to do my job because I have lost my laptop...
Hope this helps!
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I'd go for a classic: Clickety[^]... 
Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
Anonymous
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The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
Winston Churchill, 1944
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Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.
Mark Twain
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About my level 
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I was asked this in my current position. I asked for the moon and got it. I have a desktop that is a BUTTTTTTT KICKER. loads of memory 4 harddrives. Dual monitors etc......(grunt, grunt, grunt)
And.,...... and a little bitty convertible notebook that can connect to the beefy machine via RDP when I am not in the office. It has this pen thingy I can take notes with in OneNote(the only decent MS Product) and it doesn't weigh 2 lbs (1 kg)
I really like my setup.
To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer
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In the Dell lineup, take a look at the 15" Precision laptops.
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Which OS? If you will never need Windows, if you have an iPhone, get a macbook with M1. Their hardware is the best around, and I've tried many, many, many laptops in my time. Except we're expecting the new ones soon so hold off till...2022?
Otherwise an Intel Macbook, and run Bootcamp. You get to test on macOS, Windows and Linux on a single box. If you're in the apple exosystem you get all the goodies therein. You'll scream at the lack of video connection but will learn to love USB-C. Except in Windows.
Honestly: you may as well be asking us what shirt to wear. It's such a personal choice, but for me I've tried moving away from the Apple hardware but cannot find anything better.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Mmmmaaa....?
Maaaacc...?
Macccb...?
Nope, can't force myself to say it!!!
Tbh, I have no doubt that you are right in terms of hardware, looks, OS stability (just guessing on that one but got to be better than windows right?) But I just don't see myself making the change. On the other hand there is a definite shift in reliance on Windows in my work, maybe I'll give it a look...
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I run Bootcamp on my Macs, and have for 10 years.
2 years ago I said "I'm done" and bought the best Windows laptop I could find. After (literally) 6 months of constant searching (and swearing at the US for the Huawei ban which meant no Matebook Pro) I settled on a DELL XPS 13, fully loaded.
Being in Canada we could only get the white version at that spec level, but that was fine since I wanted a change. Turns out their white keyboard has a white backlight so if your in a light room and the backlit is on you can't see the keys. Simply switching the colour of (I assume) a couple of LEDS would have fixed that for no cost to DELL. And it was actually way thicker than the marketing said (no drama, but really DELL? You're formally going to quote width without including the feet thickness? And battery life was...not even vaguely what they claimed. Not even close. And the bloatware. And opening the lid required two hands. And the heat. And (really, the only thing that truly bugged me) the fact that it was the same speed as my 7 year old iMac. Running Bootcamp. And the thing just looked like every other Windows laptop after a year: cheap and tattered.
I palmed it off to someone else and went out and grabbed a Macbook Pro. I still have it and it just works, looks neat, and was cheaper than the Dell for a higher spec.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Well I can see where it went wrong.
From Dells Comparison site[^], The aiming groups for XPS are "Ultra mobile consumers" and "C-level executives" for home offices.
If there ever is a next time you should aim for Latitude, they are free of bloatware (if you discount the stuff that comes with windows itself), and the aiming groups are "Mobile professionals" and "Information multitaskers" for "Medium and large organizations".
My five year old Latitude looks like new, and works like new.
It's out of warranty though, so I recently got a new one just in case.
In the last twenty years I have had five latitudes, four of them are still alive, the fifth only runs on power adapter.
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I've tried the latitudes and found them too clunky for travel. Everyone else seems to be able to create a thin and light laptop, so why must I move up to the clunker? Underneath it's still the same silicon, and on top it's still the same marketing and poor experience choices.
I never understood Dell's insistence in having their business development team handle the UX of their site. Instead of "let's show you something amazing" as the first thing you see, it's "Are you using this for Office or Home". err...both?
Inspiron, Latitude, XPS, etc etc. Iterations to suit price points developed against business metrics instead of focusing on the consumer.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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I'm buying two of them. I'm going to need a spare.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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