New laptop - MAC ?

[FiveTimes]

I am about to return to contracting and the gig I've landed is mainly WFH with 2/3 days on client site every 2 weeks. I've been told that the environment is mainly Linux. Most of the contractors have mac book pros.

I've never owned a mac before and this could be ideal - however I'm struggling to justify the cost of one.

So I'm asking the panel - Mac book pro or New laptop with linux ?

[eek]

I am about to return to contracting and the gig I've landed is mainly WFH with 2/3 days on client site every 2 weeks. I've been told that the environment is mainly Linux. Most of the contractors have mac book pros.

I've never owned a mac before and this could be ideal - however I'm struggling to justify the cost of one.

So I'm asking the panel - Mac book pro or New laptop with linux ?

You're a contractor. Now buy the 13" Mac book air* and be happy.

* Unless you are dealing with programs that require more than 4gb of memory at which point the Mac book pro is a better bet.

[d000hg]

Well the Mac has greatest flexibility in that you can run Linux and Windows on it as well as Mac... but I'd go for a regular laptop and have Win/Linux if you're not familiar with Macs... turning up on site unable to use your laptop would look bad!

[FiveTimes]

Well the Mac has greatest flexibility in that you can run Linux and Windows on it as well as Mac... but I'd go for a regular laptop and have Win/Linux if you're not familiar with Macs... turning up on site unable to use your laptop would look bad!

So going for a regular yet powerful windows laptop, vm player and an linux iso build.

Seems like a plan

Next question - what laptop

[Churchill]

You're a contractor. Now buy the 13" Mac book air* and be happy.

* Unless you are dealing with programs that require more than 4gb of memory at which point the Mac book pro is a better bet.

He could telnet/virtual desktop into the development machines if he needs real horsepower.

OpenSuse 64bit ftw...

[Churchill]

So going for a regular yet powerful windows laptop, vm player and an linux iso build.

Seems like a plan

Next question - what laptop

Alienware, loaded to within an inch of your creditlimit!

i7, Dual Graphics Adapter, 32 Gigs Ram...

Forget battery life, what you're after is a mobile desktop...

[craig1]

Alienware, loaded to within an inch of your creditlimit!

i7, Dual Graphics Adapter, 32 Gigs Ram...

Forget battery life, what you're after is a mobile desktop...

Don't forget the optional add-on that really should be compulsory for those: 1 x 36 month frequent-user physiotherapy contract to help your back recover from carrying the beast around.

Good machines but they're not exactly road warrior kit!

[Bunk]

He could telnet/virtual desktop into the development machines if he needs real horsepower.

OpenSuse 64bit ftw...

Ah, so he wants a thin client type thing?

Alienware, loaded to within an inch of your creditlimit!

i7, Dual Graphics Adapter, 32 Gigs Ram...

Forget battery life, what you're after is a mobile desktop...

Or maybe not

[Spacecadet]

Alienware, loaded to within an inch of your creditlimit!

i7, Dual Graphics Adapter, 32 Gigs Ram...

Forget battery life, what you're after is a mobile desktop...

Dell Precision - it's possible to squeeze 3 physical hard drives in to the 15" unit along with the i7 quad core and 32 gb ram

[FiveTimes]

Alienware, loaded to within an inch of your creditlimit!

i7, Dual Graphics Adapter, 32 Gigs Ram...

Forget battery life, what you're after is a mobile desktop...

I'm betting they don't come cheap !!