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Why a laptop?
Although desktop machines can still achieve much better performances, laptops are already much better than we usually need as software developers. There are some exceptions, but 99% of us could still develop pretty well on a powered up 10 year old machine (hand up who still does!  ).
So a top class Ultra Laptop connected to an external big monitor is the best of two worlds, power and portability.
Thin && Light
Although I don't usually take my work home, I like to always have a computer with me.
Phones are getting better but are still miles away from a proper computer.
This said, I like to carry a portable machine, not a transportable one 
P.S.: They also look nicer in meetings. 
Power
Although I don't really need the top CPU + all the memory the board can handle, I need to work on a machine that doesn't waste my concentration.
I get annoyed and distracted on slow machines so I tend to buy the best I can get.
Still to improve
Batteries... definitely...
I know this fight goes well beyond laptops but batteries technology, in general, is deprecated.
Devices power last longer but it's not because the batteries are getting better.
Having a battery 24/7 connected to the plug will screw the battery sooner than later, and if it's a Ultra Laptop usually the battery isn't easily removable.
Cheers!
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AlexCode wrote: laptops are already much better than we usually need as software developers
Personally, I hate them for anything serious - simply because the keyboards and "mouse substitute" are cr@p.
The keyboards are too cramped, and don't have enough travel for good feel on the keys.
Those stupid touch plate things drive me round the twist - give me a proper mouse (or better trackball) anyday. And with a mouse wheel for scrolling / zooming / closing tabs as well.
Yes, I know you can plug two monitors, and a proper keyboard, and a proper mouse into a lappy, but then all you have is a desktop that takes up too much desk space, costs three times as much, and is both more easily stolen and left in the train / tube / pub.
The universe is composed of electrons, neutrons, protons and......morons. (ThePhantomUpvoter)
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Yeah, true.
I kind of got used to laptop keyboards, and I manage to be pretty fast on these new chiclet keyboard style but I agree it's not the same.
For the mouse it's ok... I don't use it that much anyway.
And I might be one of the few that prefers the TrackPoint over the MousePad.
Another advantage is that you can have only one machine instead of having multiple on each desk, and if it's a true Ultra Laptop you'll never miss a Tablet (so one less gadget to carry around).
But yeah... a powerful desktop is always a powerful desktop!
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AlexCode wrote: true Ultra Laptop you'll never miss a Tablet
I disagree to an extent - my 7" tablet fits in my coat pocket, so along with my keys, wallet, phone and so forth it it pretty much always with me. A lappy (or even a 10" tablet) needs to be carried - and that's not always that easy.
The universe is composed of electrons, neutrons, protons and......morons. (ThePhantomUpvoter)
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I guess there are enough devices and form factors to suite everyone's needs
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AlexCode wrote: I need to work on a machine that doesn't waste my concentration.
I get annoyed and distracted on slow machines so I tend to buy the best I can get.
That's why I have desktop. There are not laptops that have very quick SSD and 12gig of memory and which have also reasonable price.
AlexCode wrote: Although I don't usually take my work home, I like to always have a computer with me.
And that's why I have also small and cheep laptop. If I need to go to customer or to a meeting it's sufficient for Word, Powerpoint and few emails. Most of my work I do in home (remote job rocks! ) anyway on my quick desktop.
No more Mister Nice Guy... >: |
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Sorry, but no. Ultra-whatever laptops are great for answering e-mail in a train/plane/boat, but for serious work they are too uncomfortable and underpowered.
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The comfort I agree... but for the power...
For me a Core i7 (Core i5 is good enough also) with 8Gb and an good SSD works pretty well.
Usually I have multiple instances of VS open, (consuming 1Gb each ), Eclipse and SQL Server running with Management Studio.
Other apps and services also running like IIS, Sublime Text 2, multiple browsers... whatever.
And it works without any problems with Windows 7.
The mSATA SSD makes the difference here but my other laptop (a normal 3kg DELL laptop), currently also with 8Gb of RAM can go up to 16Gb and hold normal SATA 2.5" SSD.
So, unless our needs heavily depend on Graphical performance, any top notch ultra-laptop powered up to the max should be enough for any application developer.
And as usual, it all comes down to what you need on-the-go.
For my usage makes no sense to carry around a Browser or a Powerpoint. I need a full powered machine on my backpack.
Geeks!
Cheers mate!
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AlexCode wrote: For me a Core i7 (Core i5 is good enough also) with 8Gb and an good SSD works pretty well.
The product I am currently working on[^] will refuse to start on such a machine - I believe the current limit is 24 GB RAM. My workstation has 256 GB RAM, 32 CPU cores and 1 TB SSD drive. Give me an ultrabook that comes even close to that.
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Ok ok!!!!
So when there's a power outage in the area it's your fault!?
That's about the same problem/requirements with big Sharepoint or Biztalk kind of development.
Still I think it's a niche compared to the rest.
But hey! Good luck with that!
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if you're using machine for work or using it for long time in a day then Desktop is still better option (Ergonomics)
or alternative will be ultra book
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It's still much cheaper to buy really good PC, for work and gaming and a portable laptop if you need it.
I like to game a little from time to time, and buying any laptop/netbook/ultrabook for that is just silly because of theirs ridiculous prices (1250$ for 1 machine?! no way!).
Beside any of 30$ dollar keyboards are better than laptop keyboard.
No more Mister Nice Guy... >: |
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Docking station, regular keyboard and mouse, two 22" screens -- but that's for work. (I don't "game".)
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Yep, plus you can get the most bang for the buck if you go the desktop route. My workstation has 256 GB RAM (I swear) and 1 TB SSD drive. I am not sure a laptop with these specs even exists; if it does it must be way too expensive.
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That's really impressive...
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Using a traditional desktop/middle tower allows me to have two hard disks in raid1 (mirroring), and to upgrade even one single component if I need.
Roberto
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Yes! +5 
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