Need a Laptop - Any Ideas

[Fraziermdevlin]

Hello, I will be attending university next year for Robotics and Automation Engineering. I am in need of some ideas for the best laptops for this field of work. I'm open to any suggestions you have as well as anything else you may suggest to be helpful during this journey; devices, tools, calculators, etc. Thanks!

 

[itsmoked]

Not Dell. They've become a joke in pricing.

I'd go with a Samsung. I'd go with the largest screen 17" if you can find one. Skip the DVD - not needed. Make sure it has a 250 or 500G SSD. At least one USB3. Make sure it has an Ethernet port. At least 16G mem.

Consider a:
Gigabyte Aorus 17G
or
Razer Blade Pro 17
or
Gigabyte Aero 17

If none of these work consider scratch making a lunch pail computer which is more work, quieter, but you don't get the inherent UPS of a laptop and you need to bring your own display and keyboard. Rather a napsack computer.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[MacGyverS2000]

Stay away from Lenovo, too... they're installing so much crapware (even at the BIOS level) the systems are becoming unusable, even after reformatting.

Most of the hobby-level software used for coding/programming firmware runs on Windows, so consider that your main OS. If you're a Linux guy, all the better as some really nice hobby tools/toys can be found outside of Windows. Grab a USB port extender, say a 4-port, as you'll want a number of things plugged in at once when you get deep in to the programming/hardware side of things... nothing fancy, just a $15-20 plug-in module.

Unless you're intent on running design software (CAD, high-end PCB design software like Altium/Cadence, etc.), I'd stay with a very mid-level machine to get the best bang for your buck. All too often people purchase high-end machines (like AlienWare) only to use 10% of the processing power.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[onatirec]

Funny, I would recommend either a lenovo or a dell.

Don't quite see how you can knock dell's pricing and then offer up a $2k+ gaming computer...

I bought a refurbished lenovo thinkpad (~$600) for school which was adequate; if you watch their outlet store, you can find very good deals. If I could've convinced myself to spend a bit more, I would have bought either a lenovo carbon X-series or a dell xps - both of which are very light with good battery life. I'm issued a dell (5540) from my work and have no complaints with it.

Specs are important. I'd agree with at least 16G memory and 500G+ SSD. I doubt you'd do much heavy lifting in robotics and automation, so I wouldn't see the need for a gaming rig with dedicated beefy graphics card. Ethernet port is nice, but they are harder and harder to find - especially if you want something slim that doesn't weigh 10 lbs.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

Don't quite see how you can knock dell's pricing and then offer up a $2k+ gaming computer...

No one offered such a computer... in fact, I suggested against it.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[onatirec]

Yes, I see that you recommended against that.

I was responding to Keith's comment about dell's pricing and what appear to be his subsequent recommendations of three different gaming computers listed at around $2k+.... unless I'm misunderstanding?

 

[SlideRuleEra]

17" mobile workstation

Everything about them is upscale; nothing like a "traditional" mobile computer. They are built very rugged.
The best kept secret is a used one. I purchased a like-new Dell Precision M6800 a few months ago for $400.
Intel I7 CPU, two hard drives, high-resolution screen, etc. I installed Windows 10. This model is 7 years old and will run circles around a current "consumer" grade laptop.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

 

[IRstuff]

Much depends on what you actually wind up doing on the laptop; I'd opine the following:
> 32 GB RAM -- Makes whatever applications you use run faster, although 16 GB is tolerable
> 1 TB SSD -- SSD is important given the amount of handling and accidents it's likely to get -- I personally wind up with 4 TB external drives, just because I'm a pack rat
> Fastest processor you can afford -- some of the AMD Ryzen processors might give you a better bang for the buck.
> While I like the "idea" of a 17" display, it adds a lot of weight to slog around, and whether you actually do a lot of work not at home can drive that. I do most of my work in fixed locations, so connecting up a docking station with 32" monitors with a 15" laptop works better for me.
> GPU -- not necessarily just for graphics, but if you plan on doing stuff with AI/neural nets, having a higher performance GPU might be worthwhile; this would be the one place where a gaming laptop might have a slight edge. Ostensible gaming laptops aren't necessarily THAT expensive; Costco's lowest priced gaming laptop is $1100.

Given that you haven't even started college yet, I wouldn't get too engrossed with application specifics; my best bud from high school changed majors 4 times in 5 years. Amusingly, we both started EE, and after a bunch of twists and turns, we both graduated EE, although he lost a year from the digressions in majors, veterinary, photography, etc.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

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[3DDave]

Getting a used one is a good idea - especially for the moment. I tried to order a Dell a while back. Chose from "in stock" and "ships in one day" - order placed. Then they switched delivery to 2 months.

Wait for the pandemic to drop back and supply chains to get reasonable again. You can put an SSD into an old laptop and get 90% of the performance you mostly depend on - which is loading and unloading from storage.

 

[Landen Anderson]

I have a HP laptop and I am very happy with it. I bought it a few years ago and since then I have never regretted buying it. It works very fast and of high quality.

 

[IRstuff]

One thing to be wary of with used computers is whether you can truly reset to factory condition, and whether that might be an operational issue; to wit, buying a computer that was Windows 8 or even 7 would leave you with an OS/hardware that might not be compatible with newer software or Windows 10/11. And, leave you with an OS that isn't necessarily as secure as a more recent OS

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list

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[SlideRuleEra]

A legitimate concerns about Windows 10 / 11 compatibility on older Windows 7 / 8 machines. For the Dell and HP mobile workstations I considered, no worries, limit your choices to machines demonstrated by the computer manufacturer to be compatible:

Dell Computers Compatible With Windows 10

HP Products Tested With Windows 10

Testing results for Windows 11 are reportedly coming soon.

I assume other manufactures have similar support.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

 

[3DDave]

There are worries of Win 11 compatibility on most all recent and some current production computers. Microsoft has left huge doubts that their latest efforts will work on many of them. While MS has had a long term policy of supporting older software, it looks like they are feeling the heat in declining computer sales over the last decade and may be choosing a policy to force people to give up existing hardware and buy all new. This will also drive the creation of 3rd party software that is incompatible with the old hardware so users wishing to upgrade will be forced off both old hardware and the older OSs, the latter lowering the support cost for MS.

The core of the problem is a system called the Trusted Platform Module - a bit of hardware that is mainly useful to MS and MS partners in preventing software piracy. The claim it is for the prevention of malware - I think the practical result is that if the TPM detects a problem it will refuse to boot the OS. Great for a company, bad for a user. Essentially, TPM is designed to provide ultimate control of your computer to someone else.

 

[itsmoked]

I suggested a 17" because trying to CAD or writing and troubleshooting PLC code on anything smaller is a cripplingly abysmal effort, two things I see a robotics effort requiring. My 17 fits a nice pack and I carry it lots of places. 2 pounds, 7 pounds I don't care.

Lenovo is Chinese and famously includes a root-kit that only they have access to because it's BIOS based. Because of that I wouldn't touch one with a 10 foot pole.

Dell. What to say about Dell... I really liked Dell. In fact, from where I'm sitting I can see four of them. Problem is they've become the clothing store of computers. They make absolute bottom basement hardware now, state it's list price at ridiculous numbers and then discount various models in a rotating confuse-the-victims scheme to get the victims to knee-jerk "purchase this great computer before the sale ends". If you want or need the slightest different feature you 'break the sale price' and are back to absurd overprices.

There are lots and lots of complaints about their tech support now as apposed to a couple of years ago.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[3DDave]

Reasons Dell has lost respect:

https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/23/michael_dell_plans/

Over $30Billion in debt makes many companies cut as many corners as possible.

 

[IRstuff]

A measly $30B? Evergrande's debt is 10X that. ;-)

If you can tolerate the weight, then sure, go for the 17" display. Note also that the universe of laptop bags drastically shrink when you have a 17" laptop

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list

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[MacGyverS2000]

I suggested a 17" because trying to CAD or writing and troubleshooting PLC code on anything smaller is a cripplingly abysmal effort, two things I see a robotics effort requiring.

Bigger is definitely better for CAD (and fatser processor, as well)... but that's why I asked if he truly intends to be working with a CAD package. Most robotics groups do NOT go down the CAD path, instead choosing to do the mechanics by eye (unless they're lucky enough to have a couple of experienced mechies in the group). And I have never seen a robotics group that uses any form of PLC programming... usually it's some form of embedded C (et. al.).

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[jari001]

I'd ask someone from the department or the academic advisor that's tied to this degree for information on what software you will be expected to use, that's the best way to understand what specs you will need and not get distracted by superfluous features. Get a decent sized mouse, not those mini ones that fit in a toddler's palm - your hands will thank you.

For calculators, a TI-89 would is an easy recommend but you may not be able to use it in some of your math courses since it has a CAS so you will need to buy a very basic calculator as well (or borrow one for exams).

If you are going to build anything, then you can't go wrong with a tape measure, a couple different sized screwdrivers, a thick Sharpie, work gloves, safety glasses, and a basic multimeter.