What to Look for in a Modern 2017 High-End Laptop

ThatCyberSecurityGuy had a very old HP dv6t Model 3627 laptop that has served me well for 9 years. However, I need a new laptop so that I can demo things like virtualization, SSH, VPN, Remote Desktop, etc. in my presentations. In the old days of Windows 7, we could purchase the OS with the option of installing it on multiple PCs (maybe we still can, TBD). You only get one shot at a new laptop about every 5 to 10 years (if you are on a budget) so you have to get it right the first time. Therefore, I started researching a new laptop and found things have certainly changed in that there are so many BAD deals! As with anything else, you get what you pay for (or NOT, to be or not to be) in 2017 laptop hardware.

My first dilemma was what hardware to look for in a new laptop. We are going to get into GEEK speak but keep reading as I will get back into plain English after spec'ing new laptops and what to look for. For example, you can buy an ASUS Ultrabook X555DA-WB11 AMD A10-Series A10-8700P (1.80 GHz) 4 GB Memory 500 GB HDD AMD Radeon R6 Series 15.6" Windows 10 Home 64-Bit for a mere $330. However, when you look at the specifications, you just pissed away $330, which is not a slam on ASUS but on all corporations pushing this junk. If all you want to do is read your email, edit a document or perhaps a spreadsheet then, by all means dive in. You will be woefully disappointed when you try to edit a picture, video, or do anything that requires a bit more computing power as this will rapidly become a paperweight (it is already) that you will want to recycle at Best Buy. Also when one of these crappy laptops has problems you will just throw it out rather than try to fix it so now you are out double the cost! My last argument is who do you think the manufacturer is going to take care of, you or the high-end customer?

If you shop at NewEgg regularly, you will see supposed (high-end) laptop deals on Dell, MSI, ASUS, and so on. In 2017, to get modern day features and hardware for a decent laptop, I'm sorry to say you will have to spend between $1,200 and $3,000. For example, an ASUS ROG G752VY-DH72 Gaming Laptop Intel Core i7 6700HQ (2.60 GHz), 32 GB Memory, 1 TB HDD, 256 GB SSD NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M 4 GB GDDR5 17.3", and Windows 10 Home 64-Bit was selling for $1,550. It came with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M w/4GB Video Memory, a 256GB SSD, 32GB of memory, 6th-generation Intel Core i7-6700HQ 2.6 GHz, 17.3 inches Matte IPS FHD display with 1920 by 1080 resolution and so on. Sounds impressive but it is NOT so don't be deceived by their supposed marked down daily deals!

Let us examine what is wrong with the ASUS specifications above. Folks, if you are spending $1,500 why in hell would you want Windows 10 Home. Windows 10 Pro allows you to join a domain (corporate job), that includes Azure Active Directory for single sign-on to cloud services and Microsoft Hyper-V virtualization is also included so you can max out the use of all that $1,500 hardware, BitLocker whole disk encryption is also included so you can take this battle star on the road (FYI: I have been told that the easy backdoors required by the U.S. NSA have been patched, but who knows), as well as Remote Desktop, a version of Windows Store for your small business, Enterprise Data Protection containers (not sure what this is but it sounds cool), and assigned access which locks a PC to running only one modern application, to use like a kiosk. Pro users can also get updates from Windows Update for Business, which includes options for scheduling updates so they don't reboot PCs at important business times. Therefore, looking at all the above you would have to be insane to purchase a high-end expensive laptop only running Windows 10 Home, which is what many of these expensive laptops come with, SHOCKING!

The second specification above that blows the mind is the (1920 x 1080) resolution. Once again if you are spending $1,500+ you want the (3840 x 2160), which is the new norm in high-end computer laptop screens. As you get older, like I am, you will appreciate the difference in the resolution. Then when you look at the GTX 980M w/4GB Video Memory limitation when there are laptops with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB GDDR5 dedicated) and better available at below that price. Amazingly, there are even some without a display port which is a HUGE RED FLAG to toss this $1,500 laptop in the garbage! All modern monitors perform best with the new, amazing display port technology.

So what else do we see corporations pushing in these high-end laptops? Remember I'm talking $1,400 or more. Some only have 12 GB of DDR3 memory and I'm telling you to only accept 16 GB or more of DDR4 RAM memory. Another limitation on these supposed high-end laptops is one or more USB 2.0 ports, why? Folks, you are spending $1,500 for 10 year old tech when USB 3.0/1 is backwards compatible with USB 2.0, so what is the point of a having a 2.0 port (other than to save the manufacturer money)? What you really want is USB 3.1, which is becoming more common but I will let you get away with USB 3.0 if you have to. On a laptop every inch of space, every component, every port is critical to your success using the device.

Lastly, and this is a given but it must have 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 or better. If it does not, run to the hills and scream because what you are buying is not a high-end laptop that will serve you for years to come. Some other options you will want are a 17 inch display which I realize if you are young and only have an attention span of 60 seconds (or so the media says) the 15.3-inch display seems OK. However, as you get older and want to read a book or two you will appreciate the extra viewing space, especially for gaming (bet that caught your young eye)! An SD media card reader is also nice but not a showstopper. If you are offered a PCIe MVMe M.2 SSD option, take it! Make sure the laptop comes with speakers such as the Bang & Olufsen Quad speakers. Wearing a headset is awesome while gaming but they make my ears sweat and carrying external speakers in your backpack can get old. When I'm watching a learning video, listening to a podcast, or something on YouTube I don't want to break out the headset and put it on. Plus the family will leave you alone if they hear the speakers on an education video.

One last thing to consider is a battery pack for these new laptops. In the past you could purchase a spare battery that you could plug in and get 8+ hours of extra offline laptop use. These new laptops only come with 5+ hours of use so if you don't have a way to recharge them while out in the forest you are s$$t out of luck. I recommend one that will also start your car and pump up its tires! I carry one in my car and recharge it about every 3 months. I reviewed it in a previous blog entry and surprisingly it only loses about 1/5 of its full charge even in extremely cold temperatures. The laptop I chose was the HP OMEN 17t with all hardware upgrades and Windows 10 Pro $50 upgrade. (See:  http://store.hp.com/us/en/vwa/hp-omen--1)

So let’s go over the minimum hardware you need in a new high-end 2017 laptop (better if possible):

• Windows 10 Pro 64 or NO OS so you can purchase a non-OEM version, or install Linux
• Intel® Core™ i7-6700HQ (2.6 GHz, up to 3.5 GHz, 6 MB cache, 4 cores)
• NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1070 (8GB GDDR5 dedicated)
• 17.3" diagonal UHD IPS UWVA anti-glare WLED-backlit (3840 x 2160)
• Intel RealSense™ 3D Camera with Dual Digital Microphone, support Windows Hello
• 16GB (preferably 32 or 64GB) DDR4-2133 SDRAM (2 x 8GB)
• Optional:  Dual Layer DVD Writer (DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
• Intel® 802.11ac (2x2) Wi-Fi®
• Bluetooth® 4.2 Combo
• 1-2 TB SATA or SSD internal hard drive with drive light on side
• 512GB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD or better
• Quad speakers like Bang & Olufsen
• Full-size island-style backlit keyboard (needed for work in the dark)
• 3 USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Data transfer only) or better
• 1 Mini DisplayPort or full size
• 1 HDMI port or better
• 1 RJ-45 port, Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN and status lights
• 2 Internal microphones
• 2 Wireless antennas
• 1 Audio-out (headphone)/Audio-in (microphone) combo jack
• 1 Audio-out (headphone) jack
• 1 Audio-in (microphone) jack
• Touchpad with left touchpad button
• Memory card reader
• Security cable slot
• Windows key (displays the start menu)
• Mute key and light
• Airplane mode key
• ENERGY STAR® certified; EPEAT® Silver registered
• Battery life of up to 5 hours or more
• External battery pack like the one that starts my car and pumps up my tires detailed above

Final Commentary and you have to read this!

Understand that the sales idiots, preparing your order and sending you this high end laptop are low paid individuals and only follow the corporate directions. I'm not disparaging them but the corporations who don't give them proper training as to the true nature of the products they are presenting which is appalling. For example, this laptop comes with bloatware that you need to remove. By default HP suggests Windows 10 Home which would be a travesty on hardware this advanced.

Choose Windows 10 Pro and understand you will also have to apply the latest Windows 10 Pro updates and update your computer device drivers, software and such. The 3D Intel Camera option, for example requires an Internet search to bring it online to graphics I have never seen before. Bluetooth drivers also have to be updated and applied. Folks this hardware is a revolution and married with the proper software that I have never seen its like in my 35 years of work in the IT industry juggernaut. After installing all updated device drivers and updates I actually see 3840 x 2160 3D on all three of my monitors. It is beyond cool with a $1,600 back-lit laptop keyboard. I regret to say I got nothing for this review but what can I say, ThatCyberSecurityGuy, LLC is honest in his reviews.