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Hi all, as it seems likely I will be working from home for the foreseeable future, I need a decent dev box - I currently use my Dell Latitude E6430 laptop with an external monitor and keyboard - this works ok but the laptop is getting on a bit and I'm sure it's getting slower by the day. Reccommendations guys ? budget ~ £2000 TIA
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
modified 13-Nov-20 8:57am.
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Spend most on monitors: the more the better - and you will be looking at them for most of the day, so the better the quality the less strain on your eyes.
Other than that, how about an original IBM PC? You can still buy them second hand, and they are within budget ... and "640K ought to be enough for anybody."
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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You strange boy 
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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Not necessarily strange at all.
Whilst working from home, will the real work be done on your local machine or on a remote box/server/whatever?
I work from home (for a while) and have a refurbished Dell Optiplex that's old enough that I had to use DDR2 to increase the RAM. Originally, I just got it for a cheap media box for the TV (hence RAM increase) but for work, it's all throttled by the internet and a hop from a VM to my "at work Xeon".
A cheap box with HDMI output to a nice big screen and you're in fine shape.
If you're working on your local machine - I usually find it prudent to buy into the sweet spot in the market - the point where the price just breaks somewhat precipitously. Unless you're doing some heavy duty video, you really don't need a gamers' speed.
Now I do have some better systems, include a Dell M6500 laptop (17" screen and excellent keyboard).
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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I was referring to OG's quoye how about an original IBM PC ?  - my work will largely be done on my local machine as the Citrix connection to the office is a bit flakey - I would like one of the mega powerful laptops but I think the fan noise et al would be a problem at home - I think I'll probably stick with Dell - would you reccommend the M6500 ?
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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M6500 - I bought this used ($400) and several years ago. It's more or less the low end of the family. Now they make these things with i5 and i7 chips. Possibly renamed the model family?
Here's what I like: 17" screen, great keyboard, 2 HDD's (raid 1 if you wish). I've upped one to an SSD. Also, when I was buying it, I only wanted Win7 - not Win10. That may not be your preference or even an option.
Downside: it's quite heavy. The power supply it came with is about 1/2 the size of a real brick. Possibly because it's a refurb, but the battery doesn't last that long (an hour or two). It does get hot.
Now, putting the above, together: I expected (like most users when it comes to real life) that when I'm doing any "real work" I'd be plugged in, anyway - so I didn't worry about battery life. It still runs long enough for a but of on-the-go browsing - not a problem, so far.
This is/was referred to as a "Portable Work Station" and it is pretty much just that - a portable desktop that feels like one. I really like it.
Also, I did notice OG's reference to an original IBM PC. That's why I noted that, if not working on your local machine, you don't need much to do very well. When it's an option.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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OG wrote: Spend most on monitors
I've always done everything on my laptop screen, which is 15.5" (39.5cm). Yes, you have to cycle things to the foreground, but how much do you need to see at the same time? This way, I never got spoiled about where I'm working.
I can see it being different for others, but so far I've been fortunate. No eye strain, no wrist problems, none of that. A bit of mouse elbow after a lot of repetitive mouse usage, but that's about it.
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Greg Utas wrote: how much do you need to see at the same time?
As a minimum, VS and Chrome - that's why I have a portrait (Chrome) and landscape (VS) monitor set up, plus a third for email.
I used to just have the one, but having two changes the way you work, and it really does improve your performance - more than you'd think, it adds more than more RAM or a faster processor does!
It's really handy to be able to read a whole page while coding something complicated: you can see all of what you are doing plus all the supporting info at the same time - and debugging with my app on one monitor and VS on another is just so much better.
And when I'm doing graphic work, Paintshop Pro spreads across three monitors: work area (portrait), tools area (landscape), preview (that is colour matched to the printer as close as I can) on the old square Samsung. So much easier!
Try it someday - one little monitor is not something you will want to go back to!
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Sounds brilliant but I don't have the room 
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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Greg Utas wrote: how much do you need to see at the same time?
All of it.
I have a 40" 4K TV as my primary monitor, a 24" 1920x1200 monitor in portrait mode next to it, and a 27" 1920x1080 next to that one.
I'd replace the two smaller monitors for another 40" 4K display in a heartbeat. Don't think my NUC can do that however.
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You don't ask much out of life, do you? You're so easy to please.
I am not wrong. I am just different!
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Unfortunately I don't have room for multiple monitors
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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If you're facing a wall or corner, most monitors are so light you can using telescoping wall brackets.
And with multiple monitors, you're just more productive.
three screen gaming chair | Computer set, Gaming desk, Cool stuff
It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it.
― Confucian Analects: Rules of Confucius about his food
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Oh I agree Gerry I have multiple monitors at work but I'm using my only downstairs room at home and simply wouldn't get away with mounting monitors next to the dining table 
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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a new mid-top tier laptop; don't go cheap. don't go expensive.
2x27inch monitors mid-top tier; good quality like Griff mentioned.
dual display port docking station.
this has been my setup for my remote work for over 6 years now.
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I suggest you take a good look at Dell XPS range of laptops (Or XPS desktops if the machine will never travel.)
I am not wrong. I am just different!
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Maxed out XPS15 laptop here, but bought a little over 4 years ago.
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I've been looking at those
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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Whatever you buy, try to get a machine with a M.2 NVMe SSD. They are much faster than traditional SSDs.
I am not wrong. I am just different!
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Well, I do like Latitudes.
The travel and age well.
But do get a docking station and a few monitors, and a proper keyboard - mouse combo. I agree very much with OG on that.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
Never stop dreaming - Freddie Kruger
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At work our almost our entire department use MSI gaming laptops. I like them so much I have bought two of them for myself to use at home. The last one I got was a screaming deal. It has a 512GB SSD, 1TB HD, 17-inch display, 16GB RAM, and 2070 video card plus it weighs five pounds. Its power brick is heavier than it is. In the USA it is well within your budget but I don't know what its cost for you would be. I got mine at http://www.newegg.com[^]. I highly recommend them.
BTW - I do HPC work with CUDA and the video card works great for me. That was a major factor for getting this one. That and the cost.
"They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers! Can I get an amen?"
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I read thru alot of the replies.
Synopsis. Everyone works differently. Imagine that.
I like my little Samsung Notebook 9. Hooked up to a docking station with an extra monitor and things are nice. I RDP to various work machines as I need to. It just works and it has a huge battery and a big enough for me screen when I am on the road I can still work pretty darn well.
note unlike this. Notebook 9 Pro (512 GB) Windows Laptops - NP930MBE-K04US | Samsung US[^]
Just my .02
To err is human to really mess up you need a computer
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