WPF Development laptop | The Coffeehouse

Hi guys,

I'm looking at buying a laptop and I need it to be good enough so that I can do some WPF development on it.

Does anyome know of one that doesn't cost a small fortune?

Regards

ZippyV

Anything that doesn't have an Intel graphics chip in it.

Gravy

What about processor? Do you know of any good graphics chip sets to look for?

blowdart

ZippyV wrote:

Anything that doesn't have an Intel graphics chip in it.

Yea, but then you don't get the experience users get; a good dev laptop is going to hide speed problems

Ion Todirel

ZippyV wrote:

Anything that doesn't have an Intel graphics chip in it.

I'm not so sure about that, my laptop has dedicated ATI graphics but WPF demos runs like crap

so definitely no! get a nice video card

jgilkey

If you are looking for a good balance between price and performance, check out the Acer Ferrari. I've been using one for a couple of months now and havn't had any problems. I got mine from buy.com for < $1500 USD.

Gravy

Cool. What about this one I've just found:

Dell Vostro 1700

17" screen

T8300 processor
3Gb memory
320Gb hard disk (5200 rpm)
256Mb nVideo GeForce 8600M graphics card.

Only thing this is missing is integrated wireless.

stevo_

Ion Todirel wrote:

ZippyV wrote: Anything that doesn't have an Intel graphics chip in it.
I'm not so sure about that, my laptop has dedicated ATI graphics but WPF demos runs like crap

so definitely no! get a nice video card

They shouldn't, especially the current version of WPF..

Id say get a card you expect your average client to have something close to..

JohnAskew

My Alienware Area-51 7700 is over 3 years old now, and besides the VGA web cam in its lid not working and problematic RealTec audio, it runs Vista Ultimate quite well - Aero, et al.

I will replace it with another obscenely expensive laptop this year, here's my current favorite, a quad-core, -- and look -- it comes without any OS loaded!

It's cheaper and better than the new Alienware offerings, but the form factor is the same as my current one; a lunch-box.

I can't recommend a downstream laptop since I'd not be happy with one. My 3 year old runs great today... I invested heavily and am getting an excellent return for it. My chiropractor likes my 38 pound laptop too, but I have to buy two seats on an airplane to open it. j/k...

Cool

jamie

well kids - as you can see - it's WPF week

Yes inoculation is fun! Get your WPF shots here!

(sorry - but it looks like a flu shot center...)

GoddersUK

Gravy wrote:

256Mb nVideo GeForce 8600M graphics card.

Drivers.

'nuff said.

Gravy

GoddersUK wrote:

Gravy wrote: 256Mb nVideo GeForce 8600M graphics card.

Drivers.

'nuff said.

D'oh. I meant nVidia Geforce 8600M.

Pace

Some of the new Toshiba portable notebooks are sexy...

Dont get the xps m1330 Sad

big let down. I miss the 1210.

But when this has seen its day I think it will be a new tosh'

Small, powerful, geeky looking machines those.

Sven Groot

Pace wrote:

Dont get the xps m1330 big let down. I miss the 1210.

Why? I have one and I love it.

RoyalSchrubber

There's this phrase about eating your own dog food.. besides recent intel chips (x3100) are not that bad - I can run flip3D at 1680x1050 very smoothly with it..

EDIT: Developer's machine needs fast processor and lots of ram because of compiler and IDE, but you don't need bad-a.ss gfx as it won't speed up development process - maybe even slow it down, because you'll have to do performance tweaks for weaker machines later on.. and again x3100 is not that bad.

Smiley

littleguru

Sven Groot wrote:

Pace wrote: Dont get the xps m1330 big let down. I miss the 1210.

Why? I have one and I love it.

I love it too... Awesome little device that runs WPF very great Wink

Wonder why not with the geforce 8400M GS Tongue Out

Pace

Oh dont get me wrong its a very very good machine. I would reccommend it for someone looking for a fast portable.

The 1210 though was definately better (for me). It had better graphics, slightly smaller and a much better feeling keyboard, swivel webcam, tougher feel to it, 4 USB ports! on a 12"1 display. Im just gutted it was stolen and I ended up with the 13 (I couldnt wait for it as its a newer model) It was just more "oh" than "wow".

A bit like playing a PS3 after owning a 360 for so long. The 12 was the 360 and the 13 is the ps3 - both great, but the earlier one had the advantage.

darklotus

It may sound crazy, but i use my Asus EeePc to do WPF. It works really well for what i need it to do. Havent had any WPF issues as of yet (knock on wood). The only downside is the small screen size. I dont think you need a powerhouse laptop to do WPF.

Gravy

This is great, all this feedback in invaluable.

I'm looking further afield now (not just the Dell web site) and I have found an MSI EX700 with the following spec:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 1.66GHz
Memory: 3072MB DDR2 at 667MHz
Storage: 250GB HDD (at 5400rpm)
Display: 17in TFT - 1440 X 900 ( WXGA+)
Graphics: nVidia GeForce 8400M GS 128M (Dedicated)
Optical Drive: Super Multi DVD-RW
Networking: Gigabit LAN, Wireless 802.11a/b/g
Operating System: Windows Vista Premium
Warranty: 2 yrs C&R P&L
Dimensions: 395 x 278 x 27 mm
Weight: 3.4kg
Battery: Lithium-lon (6 Cells)
Integrated Webcam
4-in-1 Card Reader
Bluetooth
Firewire
HDMI Out

All this for < £550 (BTW I'm in the UK)

Do you think the processor is ok for a dev machine?

vesuvius

Gravy wrote:

This is great, all this feedback in invaluable.

I'm looking further afield now (not just the Dell web site) and I have found an MSI EX700 with the following spec:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 1.66GHz
Memory: 3072MB DDR2 at 667MHz
Storage: 250GB HDD (at 5400rpm)
Display: 17in TFT - 1440 X 900 ( WXGA+)
Graphics: nVidia GeForce 8400M GS 128M (Dedicated)
Optical Drive: Super Multi DVD-RW
Networking: Gigabit LAN, Wireless 802.11a/b/g
Operating System: Windows Vista Premium
Warranty: 2 yrs C&R P&L
Dimensions: 395 x 278 x 27 mm
Weight: 3.4kg
Battery: Lithium-lon (6 Cells)
Integrated Webcam
4-in-1 Card Reader
Bluetooth
Firewire
HDMI Out

All this for < £550 (BTW I'm in the UK)

Do you think the processor is ok for a dev machine?

I'm surprised no-one has insisted that you get a 7200RPM hard drive. This is so important on laptops, as most manufacturers (even on expensive brands) lumber you with slow 5400 ones. Since your are using Visual Studio for WPF, I would ensure a 7200 hard drive is at the top of my list.

Pace

vesuvius wrote:

I'm surprised no-one has insisted that you get a 7200RPM hard drive. This is so important on laptops, as most manufacturers (even on expensive brands) lumber you with slow 5400 ones. Since your are using Visual Studio for WPF, I would ensure a 7200 hard drive is at the top of my list.

I agree. I was just waiting for you to suggest Tongue Out

JChung2006

I would recommend a MacBook Pro, but unfortunately it doesn't meet your "doesn't cost a small fortune" criteria. If you relax that requirement, though...