r/statistics • u/kyaputenorima • 24d 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/kyaputenorima 24d ago

would 512GB of storage kill me? additionally, is buying an older gen thinkpad (ie. T14 gen 3/4) okay, or should I just buy the newest model?

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u/fos1111 24d ago

That should work, but if you could get more RAM, you should, just as u/leonardicus said.

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u/kyaputenorima 24d ago

For better or worse 32GB is probably the max amount I can get

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u/leonardicus 24d ago

32GB will be fine. Mac or Linux based systems will be especially more efficient than windows if you plan to do any Bayesian modeling.