The article is stupid, because in the mind of the article's writer, docking stations do not exist. He talks about things like nice mechanical keyboards, multiple monitors, how bad laptop ergonomics are, etc. But none of those are issues when you have a good docking station; it's exactly like having a desktop, though possibly with a higher price tag (but not higher than having a desktop + a laptop). The writer seems to not even know about the very existence of docking stations, or else he would have said something about them.
>I only need to manage a single machine (I have little time or patience to look after a flock of computers) and when I do need to travel I just unplug the laptop and off I go.
These are the exact reasons I now refuse to own or use a desktop PC. My docking station setup with dual 27" monitors and mechanical keyboard is fantastic, but if I need to go somewhere, it's trivial to just unplug the single Thunderbolt cable and go (just make sure not to forget the travel power adapter!).
Bought it four times now (two cities, one setup for each myself and my partner). Neither of us have had an issue with any.
These days, my work laptop happily drives a pair of QuadHD monitors, and even suffices for light gaming. I have yet to max out all the cores and ram. On top of that, I no longer have to deal with having two systems and all the data shenanigans that goes along with that.
Very much so, but 10 years ago most devs suffered on a laptop, now most devs would not.
Obviously if your workstation reference is a multi-socket beast then you will not be satisfied with a laptop, but most devs aren't recompiling large codebases from scratch every time.
> Its still difficult to find a laptop with 32 gb of ram, let alone 64.
I can't quickly find one with 64GB, but there's Lenovo Thinkpads with 48 GB (which is what I have), along with with 8/16T Ryzen cores. I can't speak to what it's like recompiling large C++ codebases, but I don't wait when it comes to compiling things written in golang fwiw.
My first job out of college was for a government agency where everyone had an assigned desk with a desktop PC. The people at the top of the org chart all had laptops with docking stations so they could be mobile. Of course they almost never were mobile, but their laptop was a physical reminder that they were more important than the rank and file, because they could be off to meetings in D.C. any time!
Years later, I have a corporate laptop that I am forced to schlepp back and forth to work if I choose to go into the office. I usually don't choose to go to the office, because the office is an open plan, hot-desk model. Pack it in, pack it out. There are no pictures, desk toys, ergonomic keyboards, or anything personal—just a standing desk with the same generic keyboard, mouse, docking station, and monitor that are magically reverted to their standard position within minutes of you leaving the area.
Packing up for the day and leaving the factors of production at the office along with any expectation of telepresence sounds... opulent. I maintain that a desktop isn't a computing form factor, but is instead a place and a lifestyle.
But when using a laptop with a dock, a big external monitor, external keyboard, mouse etc, I don't see the point in using a desktop machine anymore.
Perhaps not an issue for many development activities, but anything involving lots of calculations (CPU or GPU) will inevitably generate a lot of heat.
Desktops tend to be better at dissipating heat.
In a previous job, our desktops massively out performed our similar spec laptops for long running simulations.
Also you can typically attach more storage and GPUs to a desktop than a laptop if you need to.
Well, I suppose the assertion could be true of non-apple trackpads.
However, two years ago, after switching to an external keyboard (hello, butterfly keyboard…), I started using an external gaming mouse with a large gaming pad.
On a work laptop I use the magic trackpad.
The mouse is such an ergonomy upgrade. Bonus point, no more wrist problems.
From an ergonomic/setup side, of course using laptops doesn't prevent you from using a dock, with external monitors, external keyboard and all. In fact a docked laptop that you can pick up in seconds when needed is way easier to deal with than two machines.
About the cost, do like we nerds do: buy refurbished thinkpads. For most software dev, having the latest i9 is not necessary. Old thinkpad workstations are perfect as desktop replacement machines and are somewhat upgradeable. I'm sure this doesn't scale that much but small-scale companies can do this without any trouble. Worked perfectly in a previous company I worked for. People were actually pretty happy we didn't buy 2000€ new stuff while 700€ already-on-the-planet stuff was more than enough.
Personally, I find laptop screens too close and I need my reading glasses. Whilst with the three desktop LCDs they are further away and I don't need the glasses.
I wonder if laptops were more appropriate when remote wasn’t so commonplace. You’d be lugging your laptop to work and then back home (to be available? Or do more work? Not sure what was wanted here but it’s a tangent for sure) now it makes more sense to prioritize an effective machine and not one that costs boatloads just for more RAM. Seriously, Apple could finally find more devs springing for their MacPros.
Work computers I’ve been given over the years plug into that same docking station when I WFH and my ergonomics don’t change. I have one cable that goes into the work or personal machine depending on time of day.
I’m saddened by the fact that I’ll have to downgrade to a dumb dock when I receive an apple silicon Mac, as these don’t support eGPUs
> Don't get hung up on a laptop for software development, even if you work best from the couch
It’s not that I work best from the couch, but it’s that it’s refreshing to get away from the (standing) desk occasionally. When I need to be highly focused on what I’m doing, I appreciate my desk setup, but if there’s some light architectural design (read: diagramming) work or if I’m just drafting emails, I’m not hindered by being on the couch on a 16” display. In truth, I find it helps me decompress after standing got a few hours dealing with a problem with some intensity.
I’m aware that the article doesn’t make the point against working from a couch specifically, but ignoring potential employee benefit when thinking about what kind of machine to issue to employees does kind of miss the mark.
I'd like a better performing computer but my laptop is super fast.
I find I end up replacing so much that buying a new PC is not much more expensive.
Cost is also often a non-issue. Let's say a desktop can save you $500 or so, or even $1000. That's at most $2.5 a day if you keep it for two years, it just isn't relevant to a developer making 50, 100 or 200 k a year.
When it comes to screens and ergonomics, that's largely subjective. For some tasks, I do prefer a large screen, for others it doesn't matter. But I always prefer a macbook keyboard with the built-in trackpad, super convenient.
Idc if the content on the site is zero point energy that solves world hunger and teleportation and whatnot. I am TIRED, no, FED UP of dealing with this.
Fix your cookie banners and your data collection. Stop spying on me.
Also, installing a content blocker may help. (I didn’t see any nag screen.)
Using a laptop may be painful for you. I don't find it painful or difficult or limiting. Plenty of programmers work from laptops. I understand it's not for everyone. Likewise a big desktop machine with multiple monitors and big speakers and all that is not for everyone. I travel a lot so a desktop computer won't work for me.
Posted from my laptop without any pain or inconvenience.
