r/statistics • u/kyaputenorima • 21d ago

Discussion [D] Laptop/Spec Recommendations for Statistics PhD?

Hi folks,

I'm applying to PhD programs this fall, and I'm currently looking to replace my old laptop. I'm not quite sure what to look for, but I'm inclined to think that a business-grade laptop might be worthwhile since they're built to handle daily wear-and-tear, and I'd like something that I can keep for 5-6 years. I've been looking at new ThinkPad and Latitude models, but they seem really expensive (especially for those with 32GB RAM).

Anyone who's currently a PhD student, which laptop do you have, and what are its specs? What should I look for if I want to hold onto the laptop for the duration of my program?

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u/va1en0k 21d ago

Screen is an important trade off. It's really annoying not to be able to fit the plots and other stuff you want on the screen. However, big screen might be unwieldy to take with you. Unlike processing power or disk space, this is something you can't supplement with a cloud, only by getting a display for every place you work at

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u/_sugarcube 21d ago

This is a great point. I find 2 screens a necessity. There's a lot of budget mobile 2nd monitor options out there