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Help me choose a desktop/laptop for a programming major
Should I get an Apple or PC laptop?
Laptop with best battery life
Best laptop for student
Should I get a solid state disk

Credit to Troggy for the list.

Hey, I'm looking to do some Java programming using Eclipse and I need a laptop that's good for that. Can anyone name specific models or specs I'll need to look for that are good for programming? My budget is 800 dollars.

Answer 1

• The most important thing: a good keyboard to type. I think Lenovo ThinkPads and some HP laptops have good keyboards.
• As big screen resolution as you can get.
• 2-4 GB or more memory. Java IDEs are hungry for memory, and you might need to run a database and other things on your laptop also.
• Dual or quad core processor.
• A fast hard drive. If you can afford it, get a solid state drive (but 800 USD might not be enough then).

Answer 2

Not a duplicate, but similar/helpful questions from around the site that should aid in your choice/research:

• http://superuser.com/questions/15956/help-me-choose-a-desktop-laptop-for-a-programming-major
• http://superuser.com/questions/12428/should-i-get-an-apple-or-pc-laptop
• http://superuser.com/questions/5703/laptop-with-best-battery-life
• http://superuser.com/questions/9295/best-laptop-for-student
• http://superuser.com/questions/2347/should-i-get-a-solid-state-drive

Answer 3

Forgive me for being simple here, but programming doesn't require much ^*. Any laptop built in the last couple years will be more than sufficient.

^{* I'm been a fulltime programmer for nearly a decade. I currently use an off-the-shelf dell.}

Answer 4

Thinkpads are often a hacker favorite.

Answer 5

Thinkpads - T series, R series has much lower quality. Or - if you dislike Lenovo my advice is Dell Latitide E5500/E5400. If you do not aim to buy high quality laptop with best support, you should buy cheapest notebook possible (400 USD or so), so if something will break, you can throw it away and buy new one.

So my advice is: buy expensive good quality one, or buy cheapest possible. Do not try to aim into the middle - you will spent a lot of money and have a big problem,when something will go wrong with your new computer.

Answer 6

Adding to Esko's answer, I will lower it a bit, moreover according to the budget.

• I agree on the keyboard, you want a good keyboard, with no sticking keys, or things like this. I would recommend one with a TrackPoint, quite useful when programming, I think.
• You don't need as big a screen, especially if you want it to be easily transportable. I would recommend 15' for ease of reading, but not more.
• IDEs don't eat that much memory for Java. 2gb is enough, even if you use two ones at a time (example, Eclipse for the main programming, and Netbeans to design interface), from my own experience. Although under 2gb, you will easily feel slow.
• According to your budget, a Quad core would be too expensive, for almost no advantage. Prefer a dual-core, eventually faster than the equivalent quad.
• About hard-drive, programming in Java is not really demanding on this point. Pick rather what you think suits you, in size. Hardrive speed is not really an issue to program in Java

Answer 7

Buy an inexpensive laptop, but also buy a could LCD screen and keyboard. When out and about you just use the laptop. At home you can use the second LCD to dual screen. I've never had a laptop keyboard that I like as much a even a modestly price keyboard.

Answer 8

My current development notebook is a 3rd Generation MacBook with 4GB RAM and a 250GB hard drive. It's the entry level model and meets all my needs. You can run Eclipse and Java on it directly and I do primarily .Net and Mono development on it. .Net through Parallels using a Virtual Machine.

It's the best investment I have ever made, although a bit pricey. However I ideal for when I travel. However I still prefer a desktop for serious hardcore long session development. Nothing wrong with my MacBook but the dual screens and full keyboard helps for those late night stretches.

Answer 9

I like my MacBook and I have used a Dell Latitude at work for a couple of years.

• The most crucial thing is the keyboard of the thing. You will type a LOT so it needs to be good.
• Second most important thing is the resolution of the screen. The more the better.
• Then you need memory. For XP and Eclipse you will need at least 1 Gb to be comfortable. The more, the better.
• Speed is less important. Modern IDE's do things in the background while you do other work.

If you go for a used MacBook be sure to get a Core 2 Duo (as opposed to Core Duo) since this is required for Java 6.

Answer 10

I would think something with a keyboard similar to the newer MacBooks would also benefit here too.. Sony's Vaio has a nice keyboard with raised keys... I mean ram and processor speed are a given but I would assume for a programmer the keyboard would be a huge selling point as well.

Answer 11

Thanks a lot for your help. I've come up with these so far:

Dell S1440-022B

Toshiba A505-S6960 at Best Buy

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4824203&CatId=2289 (Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 4186-55U)

Now I looked at the Dell for its portability but also because it has slightly better graphics; I'm not using this laptop for gaming but I'm considering doing some work with 3D in the future. I'd appreciate your opinions on these choices, or, if you have any more suggestions, I'd be happy to consider them. Thanks!