Laptop recommendation

[Lockhouse]

Hi,

I need a new laptop to use at my latest client. I mainly work on Microsoft stack so it has to be capable of running Visual Studio, TFS and a full SQL Server implementation (including database). I'd also like a largish screen, decent disk space and if possible the ability to add an extra SSD. I will be doing a lot of development work on it over the next few months so it has to be comfortable to use but it doesn't have to be lightweight.

Budget up to around £1500. Any ideas?

Cheers.

[DirtyDog]

pcspecialist.co.uk - spec it yourself, they will build it.

[doodab]

Lenovo W540 or T540? The latest ones can be specced with 2880x1620 15" screens. You can get an adapter to add a second drive in the optical bay. I'd buy and fit the SSD in myself though.

[FarmerPalmer]

I got a good deal from Dell Outlet:

Dell Outlet - Refurbished Laptops/Notebooks for Business and Education | Dell UK

no connection etc etc

[Spacecadet]

I've got a dell XPS 15 l521x

currently kitted out with 2 SSD drives (256gb and 500gb) and room for a 3rd if I swap out the optical drive
8gb Ram (16gb is probably the same price now)
i7 quad core running at some ridiculous speed
Nvidia gt650 graphics card

Screen is 15" full hd so feels big enough

It will run Far Cry 3 on a mixture of High and Ultra graphics settings

I run SQL Server both natively and in VMs - was told a few months ago not to show a client of my client the BI prototype running on my laptop in case they asked why they're paying for a server + oracle + 2 months of dev

[northernladuk]

Might be a load of Vaio's going cheap soon!

[DimPrawn]

pcspecialist.co.uk - spec it yourself, they will build it.

Yes, sometimes it's good to spec it like you want it.

Eg. How about 32GB RAM and 2 x 960GB SSD Drives with an extreme i7 mobile CPU?

Fangbook Evo HX7-200 Gaming Notebook

[kal]

Hi,

I need a new laptop to use at my latest client. I mainly work on Microsoft stack so it has to be capable of running Visual Studio, TFS and a full SQL Server implementation (including database). I'd also like a largish screen, decent disk space and if possible the ability to add an extra SSD. I will be doing a lot of development work on it over the next few months so it has to be comfortable to use but it doesn't have to be lightweight.

Budget up to around £1500. Any ideas?

Cheers.

Are you on Flat Rate VAT, if so it may make sense to up the budget to 2 grand, you can claim the VAT back then and so it will only be costing you £1667 ish quid, doesn't need to be a single item but rather a single invoice (so slap on a nice 27inch widescreen monitor if you plan on docking etc)

[oscarose]

Chromebooks boot fast and get quicker over time due to OS upgrades.

Connect to your new laptop via your Chromebook remote desktop app and you could develop your databases 'on the go' (yet to try this - if it works, let me know).

[Lockhouse]

Sorted

Thanks all. I got an HP 17" laptop from John Lewis for £999. Just fitting a 256Gb SSD at the mo.