You could go the custom gamer laptop route and build a laptop as crazy as you want. You also avoid the microsoft tax.

For example:
http://www.reflexnotebook.ca/newreleases/sager-np8677-s.html
http://www.xoticpc.com/custom-gaming-laptops-notebooks-gaming-laptops-ct-118-96-98.html#!/dir=asc&no_cache=true&order=price&p=2&size=14







On Tue, Jul 5, 2016 at 6:22 PM, CLIFFORD ILKAY via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
Hello All,

I am in the market for a laptop with the following specs.

Supports at least 32GB of RAM. 64GB would be better if the premium is not too high. If the memory is not maxed out, it should be a matter of adding more sticks rather than throwing away what it already has installed. (I intend to run a bunch of virtual machines on this machine.)

At least 1920x1080 display. 3k or 4k would be "nice to have" but not essential.

13" to 15" display would be fine. A 17" machine had better be exceptional for me to consider having to lug something that big around.

Excellent full-size, U.S. English keyboard and pointing device(s). I have a couple of older ThinkPads (A21p and T43) and love their keyboards, three button mice, and pointing sticks. If it must be a TrackPad, it had better work as well as the TrackPad on my Mac. I do not know if that is possible with Windows or Linux. I do not like laptops that have numeric keypads because that means the keyboard is offset to the left of the center of the screen, which I think would be like driving a car with the steering wheel that is offset a little bit from the center of the driver's seat.

The hard disk type or capacity is not important as long as I can upgrade it to whatever I want.

Options:

Used ThinkPad W530 can be had for under $1000 with the 32GB of RAM that it supports. I have seen a few brand new W541s (the "s" is for Spanish) but it is not clear to me if they have U.S. English keyboards.

New ThinkPad P50 - Linux support seems iffy. Numeric keypad means the keyboard is offset. Expensive.

Dell and HP both have workstation notebooks. I do not know much about them. Any recommendations?

Any recommendations besides what I have mentioned?

--
Regards,

Clifford Ilkay

+ 1 647-778-8696

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