Which is the best laptop for web development?

raji96 · March 2018

Hi..
I am looking to purchase a laptop for professional work that is for web development. I would like to know which is the best laptop suitable for web development process.

mikey88 · March 2018

I don't believe web development requires any demanding hardware resources. Why don't you visit your local electronics store and find a laptop that is comfortable for you to type on and has a good display. Afterwards, shop around for deals once you narrow down to what you like.

As far as specs: Intel core i5 or i7. 8Gb Ram, and a Solid state drive and you'll be on your way.

Ertaz · March 2018

mikey88 wrote: »

I don't believe web development requires any demanding hardware resources. Why don't you visit your local electronics store and find a laptop that is comfortable for you to type on and has a good display. Afterwards, shop around for deals once you narrow down to what you like.

As far as specs: Intel core i5 or i7. 8Gb Ram, and a Solid state drive and you'll be on your way.

+1 to this. Your comfort is more important than 8gb vs 16gb (Unless you're running chrome, ha!).

TechGuru80 · March 2018

I found the screen on a Mac is easier to look at for longer hours and more script friendly versus Windows computers but you need to look at what is available and see which feels good.

Make sure the keyboard is comfortable and decide if you will connect it to monitors or use the built in screen. Also determine if you are going to be on the go a lot or will stay stationary...it will help on determining the size.

yoba222 · March 2018

A disagree about not needing to care about hardware resources.

A Mac would be best. This way you can run Windows and Linux in virtual machines, so you can verify compatibility across the maximum possible number of different web browsers. Good luck with Internet Explorer and Edge--you'll need it.

16GB is more important than 8GB when it comes to numerous virtual machines and Apple is generally a terrible company when it comes to supporting RAM expansion. Quad core would be best, but you can run 3 or so virtual machines on a late generation i5 with dual core.

fitzlopez · March 2018

My first webpage I did on a MS-DOS editor clone, on a Tandy 1000 HX with 256K of RAM and no hard disk. It couldn't run a web browser so I had to go to school to upload it and check on the mosaic browser if the syntax was OK.

Nowadays my regular is an old MacBook Pro Mid 2012, 16GB RAM, 750 GB SSD. If you are going to develop using a lightweight test editor like Notepad++ any cheap computer will do but I if you're going to be using Visual studio, Eclipse or any IDE I recommend you go >=16GB and a SSD. On my computer sometimes I have to run the IDE + virtualbox or vagrant + keep outlook open + word or excel + browser(s). Sometimes if I'm also checking the security fixes I have Owasp Zap or Burp open. So the RAM requirements add up.

At home I also have a USB docking station (I'm cheap) a couple of extra monitors , a comfy keyboard, trackball and mouse connected. Also a not so comfy chair (have to get that replaced) and some ergonomic considerations on my desk choice. The point being is that you should also think ergonomics on your usual workstation.

Also, always backup, on the mac timemachine works great , I also have crashplan home (thinking of getting backblaze) and the usual GIT commits. Every second saved helps, either processing time, using a second/third monitor or not losing work.

At work the guy next to me is ordering a Zbook, it looks good on paper but expensive. http://store.hp.com/us/en/mdp/business-solutions/zbook-15-mobile-workstation-243552--1?jumpid=cp_r11400_us/en/ips/business_laptops/workstation/buynowZ15G3#!&Tab=features

SteveLavoie · March 2018

I do a bit of dev, and a lot of system administration. I am using an HP Elitebook 850G4, 16 GB RAM, 256GB NVME + 500GB SSD. It is a 15inch laptop, so on the go, it is large enough. Otherwise, at my desk I am connecting to an HP docking station and using my 3 x 24" screen with a wireless mouse, keyboard.

I am doing so much work on my laptop that I have to be comfortable.

DoubleNNs · March 2018

I like Macs, but MacOS is really personal preference.

A lot of work has been done on MacOS to make open source dev a lot easier. Open source tools also run much easier and can be installed/managed cleaner with tools such as homebrew. Your dev env will also often take less resources to work on Mac than it would on Windows.

Windows is catching up to MacOS in terms of open source operabillity, with the Linux Subsystem. I think in the future it will surpass MacOS actually, judging by recent progress. Unfortunately, Windows just isn't there yet, today in 2018.

I say get a Maxbook. Any model will do really. I personally have a MBP 15" w/ 16 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD

technogoat · March 2018

I would find a laptop that has mechanical switches since it will make typing easier and much more enjoyable (red switch user here)

kriscamaro68 · March 2018

Check this out: https://www.costco.com/Dell-XPS-15-Touchscreen-Laptop---Intel-Core-i7---4K-Ultra-HD---4GB-NVIDIA-Graphics.product.100336318.html

A lot cheaper than a MacBook pro and more ram.

raji96 wrote: »

Hi..
I am looking to purchase a laptop for professional work that is for web development. I would like to know which is the best laptop suitable for web development process.

JayEgger · March 2018

I like how you think!

Ultimately, it depends on what kind of sites that you'll be making. If you're making web forums, you could go with a minimal setup vs. what you'd need for a video portfolio.

Which is the best laptop for web development?

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