Benefits of my own development laptop?

[heyya99]

I work as a software developer in a contract basis for a client. The client has provided me with a laptop to do my work. I am free to use my own machine if I wish.

I am considering purchasing a work laptop of my own and doing my development on that machine solely. When I move to my next client, I will use my own also. I like the idea of having more control over my workstation. I can customise it and be more comfortable developing on it.

Has anyone else done this? I'm trying to find out the Pros and Cons of doing this. A new machine is a lot of money but I can afford it.

Any input welcome.

[TheFaQQer]

You need to find clients who are happy to let you use your own kit - even though your current one does, that's no guarantee that any client will in the future.

This is particularly true if you are working on-site and expecting to plug directly into their network - it's different if you are working remotely.

One of the PMs with this client asked me about using my own kit because I have access to payroll data. The fact that I have access to payroll data regardless of kit, seemed to bypass him. That and my laptop is encrypted to a higher standard than their normal kit.

[heyya99]

You need to find clients who are happy to let you use your own kit - even though your current one does, that's no guarantee that any client will in the future.

This is particularly true if you are working on-site and expecting to plug directly into their network - it's different if you are working remotely.

One of the PMs with this client asked me about using my own kit because I have access to payroll data. The fact that I have access to payroll data regardless of kit, seemed to bypass him. That and my laptop is encrypted to a higher standard than their normal kit.

All my clients so far have allowed it. Is it common to have them prohibit it? Is there a type of industry that forbids it? I usually work in eCommerce.

[Scrag Meister]

I haven't come across a bank that would allow this.

Everything is shut right down.

No installing your own software, actually it's a dismissable offence.

[Bunk]

All my clients so far have allowed it. Is it common to have them prohibit it? Is there a type of industry that forbids it? I usually work in eCommerce.

In my experience, it's about 50/50. Banks certainly won't allow it.

[heyya99]

Seems like a risk then. I cannot see myself in banking for a long time though.

[blacjac]

The one client I have had that allowed it, insisted that the laptop be joined to their domain, meaning I no longer had admin rights to it (unless I logged in locally, but then I could't access their network).

[eek]

Even a top of the range macbook is less than £2000 when you claim the VAT back on capital expenditure.

[TheFaQQer]

In my experience, it's about 50/50. Banks certainly won't allow it.

I'd say it was about 30/70.

Public sector probably wouldn't do it - central government won't. Most consultancies that I've worked with wouldn't allow it.

I only use my own with current client because it was quicker and easier to get me a secureID token and log on than it was to try and find me a laptop. My laptop is significantly more powerful than anything that they have on offer anyway.

If the client lets me use my own kit, then I build a virtual machine to work in, and then when I'm finished on the project I can just archive that away and move onto something else.

[VectraMan]

I found even quite small companies have strict IT policies about this sort of thing. Previous permieco. would let me remote desktop over VPN, but not have copies of code etc. on my own machine, and TBH I didn't really want to be in that position. It could be awkward when you leave if they want to inspect your machine to make sure you're not keeping anything you shouldn't be.