For PhDs who do systematic reviews & quantitative analysis which Laptops are highly recommended? For efficient writing, endnote, spss, data storage?

Renjith R.

Syeda Zahra

Processor: intel core 5 or Ryzen 5 or higher

RAM: 8 GB or more

Storage: 256/512 SSD and 1 or 2 TB HDD

SSD can be used for loading OS and programmes. HDD is the safer option for data storage.

Screen size: 14" or 15.6"

14" is more compact, but 15.6 provides enough screen space. Choose the size according to your convenience.

You can buy an additional screen (22" or higher) to connect externally and keep it in your office or home. That will be a great option when you are working with huge data, charts etc.

New laptops have enough features, including USB ports, card reader, backlit keyboard etc.

Graphics cards: A 2GB graphics card would be an additional option, and it will definitely help to handle graphics data if you need to work with 3D graphics and videos. The more 'GB' (4GB, 6 GB), the better the graphics performance. But the size of the laptop will be increased. If you need a slim laptop with greater graphics, you may need to pay a higher amount.

I think for your need, 2 GB graphics would be enough.

I recommend buying an external HDD (not SSD) for data backup. I think 2 TB would be enough. (WD or Seagate are good, ensure password protection feature)

The laptop brand is a personal choice.

If you are comfortable with Apple, go for Macbook. But in my personal experience, the device is so limiting yet efficient!!

Muhammad Azam

For PhD students who engage in systematic reviews and quantitative analysis, it's essential to have a powerful and reliable laptop that can handle the demands of research, data analysis, and academic writing. Here are some recommended specifications to consider:

Processor: Look for laptops with at least an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor. These processors offer excellent performance for data analysis and multitasking.

RAM: Aim for a minimum of 16GB of RAM, which is sufficient for running multiple applications simultaneously and handling large datasets.

Storage: Opt for a laptop with an SSD (Solid State Drive) rather than an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). SSDs provide faster read/write speeds, which significantly improve the laptop's overall performance. Aim for at least 512GB of storage, but more if your budget allows or if you work with large datasets.

Graphics Card: If you plan on conducting complex statistical analyses or utilizing data visualization tools, consider getting a laptop with a dedicated graphics card. However, this is not a strict requirement for most SPSS analyses.

Screen Size and Resolution: A 14 to 15-inch laptop with a Full HD (1920x1080) resolution is generally a good balance between portability and screen real estate for working on research and writing.

Operating System: Both Windows and macOS are suitable for research purposes, but some specialized statistical software may be more readily available for Windows.

Based on these specifications, here are some laptop recommendations:

1. Dell XPS 15:

Processor: Intel Core i7 or i9
RAM: 16GB or 32GB
Storage: 512GB SSD or higher
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti (optional for complex data visualization)
OS: Windows 10

2. MacBook Pro 15-inch:

Processor: Intel Core i7 or i9
RAM: 16GB or 32GB
Storage: 512GB SSD or higher
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon Pro 560X (optional for complex data visualization)
OS: macOS

3. HP Spectre x360 15:

Processor: Intel Core i7 or i9
RAM: 16GB or 32GB
Storage: 512GB SSD or higher
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti (optional for complex data visualization)
OS: Windows 10

4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon:

Processor: Intel Core i7
RAM: 16GB or 32GB
Storage: 512GB SSD or higher
Graphics Card: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
OS: Windows 10

For data storage, consider investing in an external hard drive or a cloud storage service to back up and store your research data securely. As for the EndNote software, it is not particularly resource-intensive, so it should work well on any modern laptop.

Remember to check the specific software requirements for SPSS or any other statistical analysis tools you plan to use, as they may have specific hardware and operating system requirements. Always try to get the latest versions of the software to ensure compatibility with your operating system.

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