I develop applications with Visual Studio 2008 and use SVN as my source control.
I am looking to purchase a laptop to use as my primary development tool, with my desktop machine hosting the SVN server. The laptop will also run IIS and the database server.
Ideally I want the laptop to have around 4GB of ram, a fast HD (7200rpm) and a widescreen.
Can anybody recommend a model around the £600 mark?
I've been using the HP Pavilion laptops with the 17" monitor and number keypad for years. The battery life is pathetic, but it's not really relevant for what I need it for. I'm on my 3rd one now.
I'm liking HP's laptops these days .. I've both a 17" DV7 and a 15.4" DV5t. You can get a 2.0MHz Core 2 Duo 5800 w 320GB 5400RPM disk and 3-4GB of ram / wide-1400x900 .. for under $600US if you hunt around .. you can upgrade to 320GB 7200 RPM (like Seagate Momentus 7200.3) for about $90US
MacBook Pro Runs OSX, Linux, and Windows... at the same time.
PS - Just saw your price limit... bummer... just remember you get what you pay for. If you want a Ford, buy a Ford, but if you can afford (even with a little pain) the Lexus, get it.
I'm currently using Lenovo T61 and I think it is great for programming. The keyboard is nice, has a matte screen and is a fairly powerful laptop.
The T400 is a good machine. It's a 14" laptop.
You'll probably want to start with what size and screen resolution you want. Then go for other things that are important. Most any laptop can be had with 4GB RAM and a 7200 RPM harddrive. Those two things are user upgradeable so you'll probably want to look at the things that are not upgradable like the size, weight, screen, keyboard, cpu and graphics card.
Never used it, but based on my experience with Thinkpads: their normal-sized keyboards, performance, and quality, this new Lenovo dual-screen....really a screen in a half.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/21/lenovo-thinkpad-w700ds-dual-screen-laptop-details-and-pics-unear/
but for 600 quid....a used Thinkpad perhaps...