looking for notebook for developer

[jonsu]

Dear all,

I am currently looking for some notebook replacement used for application development. This notebook primarily used in presentation so I hope no 16++ inch gaming notebook.
I am interested in using I-7 quad core notebook because I will run multiple sql server and web server.
I need plenty of memory, preferably 4++ Gb
I don't need big hard drive( or solid state), Powerful video card, and preferably not bright colored like toshiba Qosmio.


I don't quite know what will be the best bang for the buck, but here
is one of notebook I am considering " Lenovo Y550 15.6" 500GB HDD (http://www.jr.com/lenovo/pe/LEN_324156U/)

Any of you have good advise on other notebook model which might fall into this category ?

Thanks so much,

Jon

 

[slugg]

How many SQL servers and web servers will you be running at the same time? Chances are, a quad core is overkill.

Regardless, get yourself a Thinkpad. Look at the T500 series.

 

[jonsu]

Thanks for your reply, I am looking for notebook with I-7 processor.
So far I see only gaming notebook using I-7...

Any other suggestion ?

 

[Syran]

Check out the Asus G51J or G60J. Don't think of them as "gaming" notebooks, think of them as being "Cuda" notebooks. Both are in the $1.5k range.

Dell only has one Precision Laptop w/ an I7, and it's in the high $2k+ range at the moment.

HP has the Envy 15 @ $1.8k. They do also have the DVxT (6,7,8 based on screen sizes) starting @ $1k.

Don't see anything from Lenovo or Gateway with i7 mobiles in them.

 

[jonsu]

Thanks syran,
What do you guys think about this: http://www.jr.com/lenovo/pe/LEN_324156U/
J&R sells it around 1.1 ish

 

[slugg]

Dude, seriously... A quad core laptop to make presentations and run local web and SQL servers?

Well since you asked what I think, I think it's a terrible idea. If this is for development, you should care about the quality and reliability of your computer as your number once concern. After all, it's your work tool.

I highly recommend a Lenovo Thinkpad. Since the only real requirement that you posted was a quad core, and I'm advising against that, I can't really recommend any one model in particular. Do you have any concerns for battery life or screen size? What about an optical drive?

 

[Chiropteran]

Quad-core on a laptop just sounds like a bad idea. You realize that 10 years ago people were running database servers and web servers all on a single core computer much slower than current low end laptops? I bet you'd be fine with any fairly decent dual-core.

 

[jonsu]

well, we tried our app in quad core desktop and it's very fast compared to core 2 and amd turion. Though we want to make the apps looks as fast as possible when we present it. That is the only reason I want to go quad.

I'm ok with screen size around 15-16" as long as its not colored bright like a toy eq: Toshiba's Qoismo. It will looks bad if I bring those kind of notebook to presentation. If they build smaller one I'm definitely take it. As for battery live I usually plug in to outlet. Memory also important to me, preferably I could go beyond 4 Gb.

But seeing your response I-7 seems very2x bad... I'm not well informs for hardware stuff. Do you have bad experience against these notebooks ? Just curious what is the real battery live for these I-7 notebooks ?

Thanks

 

[Dewey]

I've been looking at the i7 mobile laptops for software development and gaming.
All of the i7 mobile laptops that I have seen lean towards gaming and have horrible battery times (1hr or less).
I like the i7 mobile quad since it should improve compile times. I'm not sure that it is necessary for games.

 

[citan x]

What kind of applications are you developing? Actually, if you are running a server an SSD would help out a lot. Have you tried running your application on an SSD? What are the average # of transactions of your servers?

Also, servers are not usually run on laptops. Why don't you just use the laptop to connect to your dedicated server machine at work and let the laptop only handle the presentation stuff?

 

[aceO07]

One of the important features I look for when I'm developing is screen resolution. The laptop in the OP only has 1366x768. It's nice and wide, but not tall enough.

My laptop is 1400x1050, though most of the time I have it dual monitored to my 24" lcd which is 1920x1200. As a developer, I hate that most laptops are going 'widescreen' by cutting the vertical space.

Are you sure the performance difference between the quad and dual core servers was just due to the mainly the cores?

Anyways, I recommend a Thinkpad as well. They are very professional looking and work great. Great keyboard. Most of them are dual core and the W700 is quad core (not I7).

 

[jonsu]

Dear all,

@citanx: I am running web application. I need to run it on notebook because I want to avoid depending on internet connection when I need to show the application.

@aceo007: Actually I'm not running comprehensive test. I got my laptop with turion 64 with vista run on 4Gb mem. The other is a desktop computer in dual core(not core 2 duo) with 2 gb memory running windows server 2003 web edition. The processor clock speed is about the same. The desktop has faster processor 2.66 Ghz. The quad core I think around 2.4... I use to plug my laptop to my LCD so screen size 1366x768 should not be a problem. Higher than that is tiring to read.

Granted it might not be all because of additional 2 core; but then when I want to buy new notebook, I would rather buy newer processor than stick with core 2 duo. Unfortunately most of I-7 I found is rather huge and designed for gamer. The most appropriate notebook I think is this lenovo: http://www.jr.com/lenovo/pe/LEN_324156U/. I was hopping there will be new model with smaller screen like 14" would be nice....

Having se my option I think I'll stick with my turion. Thank you all for your advise.

 

[phaxmohdem]

I highly recommend a Lenovo Thinkpad. Since the only real requirement that you posted was a quad core, and I'm advising against that, I can't really recommend any one model in particular. Do you have any concerns for battery life or screen size? What about an optical drive?

I second that. And if you can waint until January to purchase, the Thinkpads wil be refreshed with Quad Core options.

As a web developer myself, If I absolutely had to buy a new laptop today, I would get a Thinkpad T500 with the 1680x1050 WSXGA+ screen, 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo, and 4 GB or RAM, but I'm holding out until January to see what comes out. I think the wait will be worth it.