Best Laptop For GIS in 2024
Hi, before choosing the best laptop for GIS stuff, first, we need to know the minimum requirements of the GIS software. Then we can decide which laptop would be best for us.
Many GIS software are available, like ArcGIS, QGIS, MAPublisher, Maptitude, and MapInfo Professional, but ArcGIS is one of the most popular and powerful software among them. If any laptop or computer can run ArcGIS, it will probably be capable of running any GIS software easily.
Here are the minimum requirements of the ArcGIS and some other GIS software. Your computer specs are fine, except for the hard disk. Spend $200 and swap the drive out for a 512GB SSD. It will automatically become 5x faster.
GIS tends to be I/O bound. This makes an SSD upgrade doubly important. As for the display, hook up an external monitor. It doesn’t matter what laptop you upgrade to; none will have a built-in panel as large as a 24-inch stand-alone display.
Consider getting a mobile workstation with a desktop-class quad-core processor and discrete graphics, such as an HP ZBook 15/17 or a Dell Precision M4x00/M6x00. If you’re on a budget, you can get one that is one or two generations old (such as M4600) for a steal – it will still outperform most current consumer laptops.
It’s getting slow, not because it’s getting outdated (i5). That thing should last you a few more years feeling fast. It’s getting slow because of software/registry key problems.
Your best bet on getting it fast again will be to back up all your files to an external hard drive, then do a complete system wipe and restore.
Best Laptop For GIS in 2024 / Student – ARC Pro / Work
If you want lighter laptops, you must look at ‘Ultrabooks’. You have a wide range of options for Ultrabooks these days. Asus, Lenovo, Acer, Dell, and HP have launched many Ultrabooks these days.
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14, ThinkPad S440, Lenovo Carbon X1, Lenovo Yoga Pro 3, Asus UX303LB-R4016H, Asus Zenbook UX303LN-R4290H, Asus UX303LB-R4060H, Acer Aspire S7, Acer TravelMate P645-SG-709F. And Dell XPS 13,14,15 and Inspiron 15 7548-3849.
Look at these laptops; they are decent for you to work. It’s that time of year again. The summer is winding to a close, which means colder weather, leaves changing colour, and schools everywhere are about to open their doors.
A lot of parents (and students) dread that schools are beginning to require their students’ laptops to use in their classes. But fear not, for I have compiled a guide to make buying the right laptop much easier.
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Best Sellers in Laptop Computers And if you’re not going to school this fall, this guide should still assist you in your quest for a business or personal laptop for yourself or someone in need this holiday season.
Why are you buying a new Laptop?
Maybe you’re one of the parents looking to find a laptop for their child to take to school this year, or perhaps you’re looking for a system that will give you a new edge at the office.
The reason you are buying your laptop will determine what you’ll need out of the new system. Suppose your laptop will be using Computer Animated Design software, for example. In that case, you will want a more powerful processor than merely using it for Word Processing or Internet-based research.
Are you a hardcore gamer? Do you like editing photos or creating videos? Are you a musician looking to get some better exposure?
It may be best for you to jot down every possible scenario in which you could see yourself using the best laptop for GIS before you read the next section of the guide to be sure you’re getting everything you need out of the system.
Laptops come in all shapes and sizes.
Size does matter.
This is a feature that many people overlook when buying a laptop, but the size and physical features of the laptop are some of the most important.
Where the processor, amount of RAM, and the hard drive can be upgraded and replaced as needed, features like the size of the laptop, the placement of its various input/output ports, and its weight are all things that you’re going to be stuck with after your purchase it.
Some things to ask yourself are:
- How large of a screen am I going to need?
- Am I going to be carrying this laptop around a lot?
- How many peripherals are going to be attached to the laptop?
- Am I going to miss not having the NUMPAD on my keyboard?
The screen size will directly affect the size of the laptop, so this question is important. If you buy this laptop to edit photos, create videos, play games, or watch movies and television, you’ll likely want a large screen.
Keep in mind that large-screen laptops are heavier; therefore, if you’re crossing a large campus daily, you’ll need to consider that as well.
The number of peripherals you’ll attach to the laptop also helps narrow down what you’ll use it for. The most important consideration is the number of USB ports you’ll have, as most accessories and devices connect to a laptop using these ports.
A printer that isn’t wireless, a drawing tablet, a wired or wireless mouse, and a USB storage drive are all devices that connect via USB. If you intend to connect your laptop to a monitor at any given time, you’ll want to consider the Output connection on the laptop as well.
Finally, one of the most overlooked features of a laptop is the presence or absence of the NUMPAD on the keyboard. The NUMPAD is the 16-button portion beside your arrow keys that resembles a telephone.
Though it is possible to purchase a USB-powered external NUMPAD for a laptop, if you’re used to having one, it’s best to attach it to the laptop.
1. Acer Aspire 5 GeForce MX150 15.6
Price: $899.00 + $65.93 shipping
Geared for Greatness
The new Aspire 5 Series is the perfect laptop for every need. It packs a beautiful 15.6″ Full HD screen, solid performance, and the latest WiFi into an attractive design that’s easy to place in a backpack and take to class.
This budget-friendly laptop has all the essentials to quickly browse the Web, manage a budget, or catch up on schoolwork.
Free Amazon tech support included:
- 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8550U Processor (Up to 4.0GHz)
- 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) Comfy View widescreen LED-backlit display
- 8GB DDR4 Memory & 256GB SSD
- Up to 7 hours of battery life
- Windows 10 Home
- Best Laptop For GIS In 2024
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Processor | 1.8 GHz Intel Core i7 |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Hard Drive | 256 GB Flash Memory Solid State |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce MX150 |
| Chipset Brand | NVIDIA |
| Card Description | Dedicated |
| Graphics Card Ram Size | 2 GB |
| Wireless Type | 802.11ac |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 2 |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 2 |
| Average Battery Life (in hours) | 7 hours |
2. Dell XPS 15 9570
Product Description
CPU:512GB SSD + 4K Touch | Style:Laptop Only
Xps 9570 8th generation Intel Core i7-8750H Processor, (2x8GB) ddr4-2666 MHz, 512 GB M.2 2280 PCIe solid State drive, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti with 4GB gddr5, 15.6″ 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) InfinityEdge anti-reflective touch IPS, 100% minimum Adobe RGB 400-nit.
- The virtually borderless display maximizes screen space by accommodating a 15.6-inch display inside a laptop closer to 14 inches, thanks to a bezel measuring just 5.7 millimetres.
- Beautiful from any angle: The anti-reflective screen with superior 400-nit brightness frees you to enjoy outdoor entertainment. Plus, the IPS panel provides a wider viewing angle, so you can share your screen without missing a thing.
- With the UltraSharp 4K Ultra HD display (3840 x 2160), you can see every pixel detail without zooming in. You can edit images with pinpoint accuracy without worrying about blurriness or jagged lines
- Screen Size: 15.6 inches
- Max Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels
- Processor: 4.1 GHz Core i7 Family
- RAM: 16 GB SDRAM
- Hard Drive: 512 GB 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Solid State Drive
- Graphics Coprocessor: NVIDIA GeForce
- Chipset Brand: NVIDIA
- Card Description: Dedicated
- Graphics Card Ram Size: 4 GB
- Number of USB 3.0 Ports: 3
- Best Laptop For GIS In 2024
3. HP 15 15.6″ HD Touchscreen
- Fast Processor 10th Generation Intel(r) Core(TM) i5-1035g1 Processor quad-core 1 0 GHz Base frequency up to 3 6 GHz with Intel’s) Turbo Boost Technology
- Display 15 6-inch diagonal HD SVA bright View micro-edge WLED-backlit touchscreen display (1366 x 768)
- Fast boot up with SSD Boot up in seconds transfer files without waiting hours and enjoy a snappier experience with the internal solid-state drive 512 GB PCIe(r) NVME(TM) M 2 Solid State Drive
- 1 HDMI 1 4b 1 headphone/microphone combo 1 USB 3 1 Type-C Gen 1 (Data Transfer up to 5 Gb/s) 2 USB 3 1 Gen 1 (Data transfer only) 1 AC smart pin
- Windows 10 Home No DVD
Product information
- Brand Name: HP
- Series: HP i5 touch
- Hardware Platform: PC
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Item Weight: 5.4 pounds
- Package Dimensions: 19 x 12 x 3 inches
- Rear Webcam Resolution: 1 MP
- Processor Brand: Intel
- Processor Count: 4
- Computer Memory Type: DDR4 SDRAM
- Flash Memory Size: 16.00
- Hard Drive Interface: Solid State
- Hard Drive Rotational Speed: 5400 RPM
- Optical Drive Type: No Optical Drive
- Batteries: 1 Lithium-ion battery required. (included)
Technical Details
- Screen Size: 15.6 inches
- Max Screen Resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels
- Processor: 3.6 GHz Core i5 Family
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4
- Hard Drive: 512 GB SSD
- Graphics Coprocessor: Intel Graphics_coprocessor
- Chipset Brand: Intel
- Card Description: Dedicated
- Graphics Card Ram Size: 0.01 MB
- Number of USB 3.0 Ports: 3
2019 Lenovo Legion Y540 17.3″ FHD Gaming Laptop Computer, 9th Gen Intel Hexa-Core i7-9750H Up to 4.5GHz, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB 7200RPM HDD + 256GB PCI-E SSD, GeForce GTX 1650, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10
- Price: $1,389.99 & FREE Returns
- Get $50 off instantly: Pay $1,339.99 upon approval for the Amazon Rewards Visa Card. No annual fee.
- Brand: Lenovo
- Operating System: Windows 10
- CPU Manufacturer: Intel
- Screen Size: 17.3 Inches
- Computer Memory Size: 16 GB
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About this item
- Powered by the latest 9th Generation Intel Hexa-Core i7-9750H Processor @ 2.60GHz(6 Cores, 12M Cache, up to 4.50 GHz), Powerful 6-core, twelve-way processing performance.
- 17.3″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, 300nits, anti-glare, 60Hz Display; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB Graphics
- 16GB DDR4 2400 SDRAM Memory for full-power multitasking; 1TB 7200 rpm HDD + 256GB PCI-E SSD offer enough storage for your files. PCI-e SSDs are great for major gaming applications, multiple servers, daily backups, and more.
- 802.11AC (2 x 2) & Bluetooth 4.1; USB-C, 3 x USB 3.1 (Gen 1), Mini DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, RJ45, Kensington lock, Audio combo jack
- Windows 10 Home; Backlit Keyboard – US English
Vanquisher 8-Inch Industrial Rugged Tablet PC, Windows 10 Pro/GPS GNSS / 4G LTE/Drop Survival, for Enterprise Field Mobility
Price: $549.99 & FREE Returns
Get $50 off instantly: Pay $499.99 and $549.99 upon approval of the Amazon Rewards Visa Card. No annual fee.
- Size: Standard Version
- Screen Size: 8 Inches
- Brand: Vanquisher
- Series: Touch
- Memory Storage Capacity: 128 GB
- Item Dimensions LxWxH: 8.98 x 5.79 x 0.65 inches
- Best Laptop For GIS In 2024
MILITARY-GRADE RELIABILITY
Ruggedized construction, IP67 sealed housing & MIL-STD810G standard allow for vibration, shock, drop, and liquid in harsh conditions. Adopting Corning Gorilla glass panel for outstanding durability.
Can withstand wild handling in outdoor, extreme conditions & demanding industrial environments from mining to maintenance in all weather conditions. The compact 8″ size and sturdy backhand strap make it easy to carry in the field, ideal for mobile solutions.
WINDOWS-BASED ENTERPRISE MOBILITY
Microsoft Windows 10 PRO (64-bit). Intel X5 Cherytrail Z8350 Quad-Core processor with speed up to 1.92GHz. 4G RAM, 64G ROM. Up to 128GB expandable memory through micro SD. Support OTG mode (Mouse/Keyboard). Integrated 7800mAh Li-ion battery for 8+ hours full-shift.
MULTIPLE DATA COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES
Support 4G LTE data (AT&T, T-Mobile), WIFI 802.11(a/b/g/n) dual bands & Bluetooth 4.0 to keep your team always connected.
Without worrying about data loss in the field. To get jobs done, an essential production tool for the mobile workforce, consultants, engineers, geologists, field workers, and maintenance staff.
BUILT-IN GPS
Integrated U-Blox GPS module (Neo-7 GNSS) for navigation & positioning without WiFi or cell signal in remote conditions. Support Windows offline map. Works with MAGNET Field for collecting land positioning data and performing GIS mapping.
SDK is available for customized program development. Ideal for geological survey, construction, navigation, fleet management, vehicle tracking, asset management, field data collection, etc.
RICH PORTS & INTERFACES
Full-size USB *1, micro USB *1, micro HDMI *1, micro SD slot *1, micro SIM slot * 1, Pogo pin (docking charger not included). All come with a rubber seal for waterproofing.
HP 15.6-inch HD Touchscreen Laptop (Intel Pentium Silver N5000 1.1GHz, 4GB DDR4-2400 Memory, 1TB HDD, HDMI, HD Webcam, Win 10)
Price: $519.00 & FREE Returns
Get $50 off instantly: Pay $469.00 and $519.00 upon approval of the Amazon Rewards Visa Card. No annual fee. Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime shipping.
- Brand: HP
- Operating System: Windows 10
- CPU Manufacturer: Intel
- Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
- Computer Memory Size: 4 GB
- Best Laptop For GIS In 2024
About this item
- 15.6″ HD LEDTouchscreen Display (1366 x 768), 10-finger multi-touch support
- Intel Quad-Core Pentium Silver Processor N5000 (1.1GHz, up to 2.7GHz)
- 4GB DDR4-2400 Memory; 1TB HDD Hard Drive
- Intel UHD Graphics 605, HDMI, HD Webcam, DTS Studio Sound, Intel HD Graphics 620
- 1 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0, 1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Win 10 Home 64-bits, No DVD Optical Drive
- Best Laptop For GIS In 2024
Amazon.com Return Policy: You can return any new computer purchased on Amazon.com that is “dead on arrival”, that arrives damaged or is still in unopened boxes, for a full refund within 30 days of purchase.
Amazon.com reserves the right to prove “dead on arrival” returns and impose a fee to the customer equivalent to 15 per cent of the product’s sale price if the customer misrepresents the product’s condition.
Any returned computer damaged by customer misuse is missing parts or is in a non-salable condition due to customer handling will be charged a higher restocking fee depending on the product’s condition.
Amazon.com will only accept returns from desktop or laptop computers up to 30 days after shipment.
Best Sellers in Laptop Computers
New, used and reconditioned products purchased from suppliers in the MarketMarket are subject to the return policy of the individual supplier.
What makes a good Laptop for GIS 2024?
Now that you know what you want your laptop to look like on the outside, it’s time to consider what you’d like to see on the inside. If you’re buying this laptop merely to use programs like Microsoft Office, an internet browser, and iTunes, then you won’t need a lot of power from your system.
Today, laptops on the retail MarketMarket come equipped with Windows 7 as an operating system. Unlike their Vista counterparts, a couple of years back, they will be designed to run the operating system smoothly.
That being said, a good benchmark to set for your system will be 4GB of RAM, preferably DDR3, A quality dual-core processor (avoid the Intel Celeron series, for example), and then a hard-drive-based one how much you plan to store on your computer.
Typically, hard drives from 250 – 500GB are the most commonly found on lower to mid-range laptops, and that should be more than sufficient storage space.
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If you plan to use more intensive programs, such as Graphic Design software, Music editing software, or anything else that will create an intensive load on your system, you’ll want to take a closer look at your Processor.
Best Laptop For GIS
A processor that boasts dynamic performance enhancement, such as the Multithreading feature offered in the Intel I series of processors, is a good choice for this.
The cores of the i3-i7 processors are designed to divide tasks into threads within each processing core, allowing your system to think it has more cores to work with, the result being that it can force a little extra power out of your system in a pinch.
Another handy feature to watch for is the size of your L2 and L3 cache. The larger the cache, the more your system can do without slowing itself down to access more distant memory sources, which means quicker response times to whatever you need to access.
If you’re buying this system specifically for gaming high-definition multimedia or 3D modelling, you’ll want to consider the Graphics Card your system will come with.
For the most part, 1GB of video memory in the graphics card should be more than powerful enough to handle your needs, but it would be wise to check the specifics.
Requirements of the game or software you’re installing, and ensure the features you need are included in the card’s design.
Finally, the battery life of the laptop could be important as well. If you plan on using the laptop in many places with no power sources, you’ll want a laptop with a longer-than-average battery life.
Considering the average battery life of a laptop varies from 2-4 hours, this can be a very important decision for the commuting over-achiever or social butterfly.
The Hard Drive of a Laptop stores all your data.
Where to go from here?
So you’ve finally decided on a laptop that fits all your needs. It’s the right size, has the NUMPAD on the side, doesn’t weigh too much, and is a sweet charcoal grey shade.
Now that you’re ready to dish out on the system, it’s time to consider everything else you will need to work at maximum efficiency.
For software, consider again what you’ll be doing with your laptop. If you’re planning to take it online in any capacity (and who isn’t these days), you will want a reputable Antivirus program.
One of the best right now is from a company called Kaspersky. As of this writing, it has been found to locate and quarantine/remove the largest library of malicious software of any Antivirus in the retail market market.
The internet security package also includes metrics to protect your identity online from online phishers. This can be important if you access your bank information or log into sensitive company assets online.
Another must-have for business and school is the Microsoft Office suite. Microsoft Office comes in many packages, and the one right for you depends on your work needs.
Best Laptop For GIS in 2024
Best Laptop For GIS In 2024
Most users will find the Home and Student offering enough, featuring Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. This allows you to create professional documents and resumes, organize slide show presentations, and create powerful spreadsheets.
Other popular programs included in other Office suites are Outlook, a program used to organize e-mail in ways most internet services can not, and Access. This program can create Databases for organizing and storing information on anything from sales records to your Elvis Presley collectables.
Make sure when purchasing a copy of Microsoft Office that it has every program you need to succeed.
Graphic designers or photography buffs will want to use photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop. A music producer will need a program to record, edit and store music.
Gamers will need to shell out for their latest digital fix, and Web Designers will likely want to purchase a license for Macromedia Flash or Adobe Dreamweaver.
What about Accessories? Best Laptop For GIS In 2024
So now you have a laptop and software to go with it. What else could you need? Well, for starters, what do you plan on carrying it in? Laptop bags come in several varieties.
Slipcases for storing your system in a backpack or briefcase, messenger bags for carrying your laptop and a couple of needed accessories, and larger briefcase-style bags to carry your laptop and work materials.
They come in all sizes to accommodate a laptop of any size, so be sure the bag you’re buying will hold the 17″ widescreen you purchased.
Another accessory to add to your list is a wireless mouse. Most people (myself included) do not like the touchpad that comes with your laptop, so by plugging a receiver into a USB port of your laptop, you can replace that dodgy pad with a traditional mouse, AND you don’t have to untangle 4 feet of wire first, either.
Other input peripherals include a NUMPAD if your laptop keyboard doesn’t have one or a Tablet for sketching or signing documents.
If you plan on listening to a lot of music, voice chatting, or even taking verbal notes for your to-do list, consider purchasing a USB Headphone/Microphone combination.
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If you want to add video conferencing or create video blogs to that list, you’ll also want to purchase a web camera. (Many laptops have a camera and mic built into the screen). Invest in an external hard drive if you’re storing a large amount of data or storing sensitive data you can’t afford to lose.
They store at least as much data as your laptop and can even back up your entire system on a scheduled basis. Plus, they’re simple to install and can even be portable to take with you wherever you go.
A wireless printer is a good addition to any laptop purchase if you will be printing a lot and working in different areas of the house.
They’re no longer more expensive than their wired counterparts, and the added range and flexibility more than make up for the money spent.
Make sure you weigh the cost of the printer with the cost and yield of its ink cartridges. Typically, the cheaper the printer, the costlier the ink to sustain it.
Finally, if you’re not yet wireless at home, there’s no better time than now. Your laptop will come with a wireless adapter, so all you’ll need to pick up is a Wireless Router.
For the cost of technology, spend the extra $10 and opt for a Wireless N system. Best Laptop For GIS In 2024
It has a faster wireless download speed and a much larger signal range, allowing you to update your Facebook status from the bedroom or destroy your best friend’s Town Hall from the comfort of your lawn chair.
Remember that any wireless router you purchase has at least 4 Ethernet ports, so your wired desktop and gaming consoles can still be connected to the network.
Most of your accessories will connect to your Laptop using a USB connection.
The Router Goes Where?
So now you’ve finally made your big shopping list of everything you’re going to need to get back to school in style this year, and looking at the list, you’re starting to wonder how you’re going to get it all installed, set up, and be ready in time for the start of your classes.
It’s time for you to consider the last step of buying a new system… Any retailer worth their salt can assist you in setting up a new laptop. They’ll power it on, install your hardware titles, install your printer’s drivers, and in some cases, they can even go as far as driving to your home and setting up your wireless network.
Suppose configuring your home computer, new Laptop, Xbox 360, and iPod Touch to a single network frightens you. In that case, paying and having it all professionally installed and configured may save you hours of frustration.
One last thing to consider as well as protecting your investment. If you’re starting from scratch, you’re likely spending nearly a thousand dollars on your new set-up, and in some cases, even more.
And though adding another expense to the already daunting list you’re prepared to shell out may seem like a bad idea, the next consideration can save your butt in a pinch.
What I’m talking about is the dreaded Extended Service Plan.
Unfortunately, used car salesman and commission-based Electronic stores have given ESPs a bad rap.
The Extended Service Plan protects your investment from the limited warranty provided by the major electronic manufacturers.
The Year Limited Warranty provided by HP or Dell covers the manufacturer’s defects only. Unless the issue can be traced directly to being a flaw in the manufacturing of the product, HP or Dell will deny you any assistance or monetary compensation for the system. And believe me, they will do anything to convince you that they didn’t mess up.
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- What is GIS?
- Top 5 Best Laptops for GIS. Huawei MateBook X Pro Signature Edition. Asus ZenBook 14. Microsoft Surface Pro 6. New Apple MacBook Pro. Asus Vivobook S14.
- Best Sellers in Laptop Computers
- Best Laptop For GIS In 2024
What does that mean for you?
Well, without assistance from an Extended Warranty, the odds are good that you’re stuck with that Laptop with the dead hard drive and faulty screen.
The extended warranty, however, will protect your Laptop against any damages and defects incurred during the life of the warranty, typically between 2-4 years.
This means that if a year and a half down the road, the cheap hard drive that HP placed in your Laptop dies out, you can call the company that you purchased your warranty from and either get your Laptop repaired, get it replaced, or get your money back (less the money spent purchasing the warranty).
In most cases, the warranty cost is less than even the cost of buying the replacement part, let alone replacing it.
I hope this guide has helped you purchase a new laptop for Gis and everything you’ll need to go with it.
I spent a lot of time writing this from first-hand knowledge, and any feedback you can provide will be most appreciated. Happy hunting, and I’ll see you online!
Best Laptop For GIS In 2024