Recommendations on web dev / multimedia notebook?

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Eccentric

20 posts

Geek

#139413 8-Feb-2014 13:14

Hi all, I'm looking to buy a new notebook mainly for the purposes of:

Software development (mostly web related - Visual Studio)
Web browsing
Some multimedia - video and sound editing

I don't do gaming much. So, I need plenty of screen real estate and it doesn't have to be particularly light since it mostly stays in the office hooked up to a second large monitor. And while I don't need gaming specs I do want it to be snappy and responsive for code compiling, switching between a million web tabs, watching videos, etc. An SSD would be good, and a nice crisp non-fatiguing display quality.

My current notebook is an Asus and I really like Asus as a brand. I like well constructed laptops with a decent solid feel and nice keys. I always use a mouse.

I'd be looking to spend less than 2K, ideally, unless there's something amazing out there which would likely last me 3 years or so.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks!

billgates

4705 posts

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#982259 8-Feb-2014 13:18

Surface Pro 2 with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD configuration connected to an external monitor. You will be living the dream

Do whatever you want to do man.

gzt

17104 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#982263 8-Feb-2014 13:25

switching between a million web tabs,

Lots of RAM, but look into some kind of tab management. Opera is really good for that.

Eccentric

20 posts

Geek

#982267 8-Feb-2014 13:46

I really like the Surfaces in themselves but probably not as my main dev PC. I was looking at this as an option:

http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/notebooks/componentview.asp?partid=20615

gzt

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Lifetime subscriber

#982288 8-Feb-2014 14:27

The specification lists a lot of options. It's not clear exactly what you are getting for how much?

nathan

5695 posts

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Inactive user

#982296 8-Feb-2014 14:49

2GB RAM is not much these days

Xeon

302 posts

Ultimate Geek

#983117 10-Feb-2014 02:11

MSI is good performance for money, http://www.playtech.co.nz/afawcs0139235/CATID=/ID=22066/SID=353491536/productdetails.html you can also open them up without voiding warranty if you wanted to install an msata ssd in it. Also has 8GB x 1 stick which makes it easy to add another 8GB if your running lots of heavy programs.

TwoSeven

1623 posts

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#983182 10-Feb-2014 09:59

On my setup at home I have a "writing bureau" as my desk and I use a surface pro (v1) with a monitor attached and some speakers - I use Visual Studio Online as my source code repository.

For Visual Studio development I would recommend the minimum of a Core I5, 8+Gb of memory, and an SSD with windows 8.1 and at least 2 monitors if possible. If doing MVC applications I like to keep VS in one monitor and the app running in the other monitor (until we get designer support for MVC/Razor views).

I would be thinking an Ultrabook (or Surface) would be a minimum, probably with a large a screen as possible if doing customer demo work.

Just throwing a random concept out there - one can also build a micro-PC (micro-atx) or NUC style device that can run a better processor such as a Core I7 and have more memory and disk. These can be used to run VMs and can be remote into from the laptop (remote desktop supports multiple monitors).

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polglase

266 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#983218 10-Feb-2014 11:08

The ASUS G75 series is worth a look - a new one will be more than you budgeted - so you could raise your budget or I have an ex-demo one that would sell for $2k.

http://www.elive.co.nz/asus-g75vx-t4153h-laptop.php

Eccentric

20 posts

Geek

#998107 3-Mar-2014 12:51

Well, I went with this:

http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/notebooks/componentview.asp?partid=20785

I'm really liking it so far. 128GB SSD, 8GB of RAM which I might bump up to 16GB, but compared to my old notebook it's already a beast anyhow. Awesome massive screen and I'm really impressed with the build quality and the feel of the keys.

Now I can actually get work done again!

polglase

266 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#998109 3-Mar-2014 12:53

Looks good, have a look at the ASUS G series next time around - they are excellent as well.