Laptop suggestion

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Deleted member 184142

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Looking for a laptop for mostly data logging my car.

Some requirements:

LONG BATTERY LIFE.

Would like no bigger than 15".

Backlit KB.

Actual buttons for mouse/pad, none of the integrated clicky pad BS.

Good cooling, or be able to work in hotter conditions, it's often placed on the floor in the car and sees pretty significant heat, as well as being used outside in the South Texas heat.

Windows only, software is only made for Windows.

Solid build, doesn't need to be a tank, but something that can take a few bumps.

Bright IPS screen, as stated above, it will be used outside often.



Things it DOESNT need:

Dedicated GPU.

Powerful CPU, it will be data logging, webpages etc only.



Thought about something like the XPS line, as they tend to rank very high on battery life, but most look almost passively cooled, with a super small fan/HS, over heating is something I would fear. Looked at some of the dual battery Lonovo setups, very tough etc, but from most reviews, even though they have 3-4 times the battery cap of the XPS line, they often only get HALF the run time. Others I have seen miss some of the smaller items like backlit KB etc, but hit everything else, until I see them in person and feel like if I lifted with one hand from a corner it would snap in half.

Budget: $1,200ish
 
Have you considered something like a NUC and a head unit with camera/video in? Or is that too much fiddling?

Edit: I just checked my NUC's power brick... it's 19V. Doh, forget it - unless you create a voltage multiplier circuit.
 
Gottfried Leibnizzle said:
Have you considered something like a NUC and a head unit with camera/video in? Or is that too much fiddling?

Edit: I just checked my NUC's power brick... it's 19V. Doh, forget it - unless you create a voltage multiplier circuit.
Click to expand...

Honestly not looking for something that will be stuck in the car, and having to wire up the OBD II port to the thing would he hard as logging and programming requires a custom cable (chipped) that is not very long and cost $350, it also requires a USB dongle to use the software, which is why it needs two USB ports at minimal. Also not looking to add extra power ports, this is not really a street car and most interior will be removed, or I would just use a 12v port to power a low powered laptop. I also need to be able to take the cable, USB dongle and laptop inside to wifi to be able to send my data logging files and/or view and work on them at home.

Back when the car was more street, I had thought about some kinda system like this, and a custom digital dash, however direction of the car has changed, and will probbaly change again.
 
Honestly you don't need the XPS laptops.
Inspiron 15 7000 series (currently 7570) fairly powerful machines with decent cooling and good battery life.
It's going to have a dedicated GPU (everything else that doesn't comes with a TN panel)
It's going to come with a nominally powerful i5 8250U (3.4Ghz IIRC).

The base $800 unit comes with a 256GB SSD.
The battery life (since it's not a 4K screen and isn't powering a hard drive) is decent.

Additionally, if you're really worried about cooling, spend $30-50 on a laptop cooling pad.
Runs off USB power, circulates LOTS of air. Should be fine.
 
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