Not every laptop fits every requirement. For developers, who are either programming or designing packages, the ideal laptop specification changes, depending on the field you are into. While the tools and software used by different specialties might be similar, the hardware requirements differ. For example, a game developer’s laptop, needs to be far more focused on graphical performance, than the one a web developer might need. If you’re an aspiring programmer, and are looking for the right laptop, this guide might help.
RAM – Easy multi-tasking
The amount of RAM is one of most important things to consider. As a programmer, you might need to run heavy IDEs and virtual machines. These applications are massive and take up a lot of memory. Running them all at the same time can take a toll on your laptop. So ensure that you choose a laptop with plenty of RAM.
For web developers, RAM might not be as major concern, since there is little compiling or heavy development tools to work on. A laptop with 4GB of RAM should suffice. However, application or software developers who need to run virtual machines, emulators and IDEs to compile massive projects will need more RAM. A laptop with at least 8GB of RAM is ideal. The requirement goes even higher for game developers. Game development environments, level design need powerful systems to run. We recommend finding laptops with 16GB of RAM, or something lower but the ability to expand the memory to 16GB at a later point.
Processor – Glitch-free experience
The processor is important for any laptop for any purpose. Again, the demand change depending on the kind of work you do. A faster processor is important for handling massive projects, and for graphically intensive applications. It even helps when you’re juggling between multiple windows, applications and screens.
Keeping mind these requirements, an Intel Core i5 or a similar class of processors is recommended. It’ll also ensure that you won’t need to upgrade your laptop anytime soon. For game developers, the Intel Core i7 is the ideal processor. Game developers need to switch from the design or development tool to the game, so a dedicated graphics solution is also needed to run such software. Some of the development tools run an instance of the game in the development tool itself. A faster processor helps, at the end of the day, especially when you’re compiling code. On the other hand, if you’re working with web designing tools, you don’t necessarily need a high-end processor. A laptop with an Intel Core i3 or an AMD A8 / A10 processor will do just fine.
Keyboard for long, comfortable sessions
Besides just the internal hardware, a lot of emphasis must go to the keyboard of the laptop. Programmers need to spend endless hours in front of the laptop, coding. It’s very important to find a laptop with a comfortable keyboard. Possibly, opt for one that comes with a numerical pad. Consider the ones that have a decent travel and a soft touch. The quality and sturdiness of the keys is important, because you’re going to be using it for a long time. Look at the keyboard layout as well. Some laptops may have keyboards with odd layouts, where the Fn keys and Ctrl keys may be repositioned, or some keys such as the Enter or Backspace keys are smaller. This can take some time getting used to.
Having a backlit keyboard can also help if you’re working at night or in low-light. If you’re not entirely happy with the keyboard, consider purchasing an USB keyboard. They are generally more comfortable to type on.
Screen – More space the better
Programming involves spending large amounts of time in front of your laptop. The quality of the screen is important, as is as little strain on the eyes as possible. For that reason, we recommend getting a laptop with a 15-inch screen just for sheer convenience. If you’re looking at something portable, then opt for a 13-inch or a 14-inch screen.
The screen resolution is also important. Game and software developers should opt for a full HD screen. A higher resolution also gives more workspace so you can have many windows open side by side, instead of having to alt-tab between them. A 4K display would be great, but the text can appear too tiny, and laptops with these displays can be quite expensive. Regardless of what kind of screen you choose, a matte screen reflects a lot less than reflective screens, so it’s less distracting.
While most laptops around the Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000 price range should be about right for most programmers. With ample RAM, you can install a virtual machine environment and boot into an operating system of your choice, such as Linux, for example. You can also consider buying a MacBook or MacBook Pro. Not only will it run Mac OS X, but you can also reboot into Windows if needed. Of course, that’s something you’ll need to set up yourself. While choosing a laptop for programming, it’s important to focus on your requirement. A laptop is a long-term purchase, with some room for upgrading in the future. The right choice of hardware in the laptop and things should be smooth-sailing.
