Is it the norm to be asked to use own computer for an Inside IR35 contract?

[BlasterBates]

If you run Linux on a cheap laptop you wouldn't even need to spend anything on a virus scanner. The citrix desktop will be secured centrally.

[pr1]

The end client is a bank and I will be required to install Citrix on my laptop. I would just have the usual MCAfee protection installed. Is this enough? They're saying that ordering a laptop would delay my start date and that is even if the request gets approved which apparently is highly unlikely, as agent stated that only perms get a laptop. The role is remote but quite an odd situation seeing as last time I worked with this client I was provided with a laptop!

Financial circumstances do not allow for me to spend hundreds of pounds on a new laptop

Don't know what rate you are charging but surely if it means not delaying by a few days or a week then you're better off just buying one?

[vetran]

I tend to use SQL server, SSIS & SSMS so I need something that can run Visual studio SQL server together without me needing two cups of coffee while it starts up.

a recent (<6 years) i5/i7, 8-16gb of memory and an SSD will deliver this.

Passmark & tomshardware can give you an idea of relative speeds.

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/singleCompare.php

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/laptop.html

[vetran]

Don't know what rate you are charging but surely if it means not delaying by a few days or a week then you're better off just buying one?

£200 delivered

https://www.mycheaplaptop.co.uk/prod...gaAtaOEALw_wcB

Buy something nicer when the money runs in.

[TheDude]

If you are contracting for a bank and can't afford a laptop then you are being screwed on your day rate.

[some guy some where]

I'm not an accountant but if purchasing the laptop is required equipment for your employment and there is no private use you can claim tax relief for it on your tax return if I recall correctly (similar to uniform/tools/etc) https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-em...ther-equipment

[darmstadt]

I would rather use my own laptop for the various projects that I work on and I do for about 90% of customers using various VPNs however there are those that don't allow this. That is why I have an extra desk in my office that currently holds 4 customer laptops with another 2 currently in transit to me. I try not to use them too often, maybe once or twice a week so that I don't forget userids and passwords but the real pain is, is that you cannot remote into them which would make life so much easier.

[vetran]

I would rather use my own laptop for the various projects that I work on and I do for about 90% of customers using various VPNs however there are those that don't allow this. That is why I have an extra desk in my office that currently holds 4 customer laptops with another 2 currently in transit to me. I try not to use them too often, maybe once or twice a week so that I don't forget userids and passwords but the real pain is, is that you cannot remote into them which would make life so much easier.

Hardware KVM switch? That is what I used with my personal laptop, server (back when running a windows one locally made sense), RaspberryPI and client laptop.

It allows you to use a decent keyboard, mouse (I have big hands) https://www.trust.com/en/product/241...wireless-mouse and big screen (4k) on all the machines.

[ladymuck]

Hardware KVM switch? That is what I used with my personal laptop, server (back when running a windows one locally made sense), RaspberryPI and client laptop.

It allows you to use a decent keyboard, mouse (I have big hands) https://www.trust.com/en/product/241...wireless-mouse and big screen (4k) on all the machines.

My Dell monitor has built in KVM. To use the keyboard shortcuts to switch, you set it all up on your primary PC and then you copy the exe file over to your client supplied kit and it runs without the need to install anything.

Or AnyDesk is another handy tool - allows you to remotely access another computer without installing anything. Again, you just copy the exe and launch it.

[vetran]

My Dell monitor has built in KVM. To use the keyboard shortcuts to switch, you set it all up on your primary PC and then you copy the exe file over to your client supplied kit and it runs without the need to install anything.

Or AnyDesk is another handy tool - allows you to remotely access another computer without installing anything. Again, you just copy the exe and launch it.

The issue there is 'install on client computer'. A button though less convenient doesn't require installing anything on locked down machines. Some of these you quite rightly have less rights than most, trust me you don't want people installing rubbish on computers that access certain networks.