I almost called this "chasing a new laptop" since that's what I'm doing, but I decided to add the date because the current laptop I've using was built in March 2019 and got to me in May 2019. I've had an HP Spectre x360, my second HP Spectre, and I've really enjoyed it. I'm also amazed it still runs. On the last few trips, the two rubber strips that run along the bottom (acting as feet) started to peel away. I've never seen that before and I tried to re-attach them a few times, but that didn't work well.

Not a big deal, and I can live with that, but then during my Australian tour, the laptop started pausing and freezing a few times. It might be that there is too much software on there and needs a pave-and-reinstall, but I decided to check the age on the machine. That was when I realized it was five years old. It's been a great machine, but I don't think I've ever had a work laptop last that long with daily use. Of course, there was about a year during the pandemic when it was rarely used, so maybe its life lengthened during COVID.

In any case, I started looking around for a new one. My initial glance at smaller laptops has me considering these: another HP Spectre x360, the ASUS 14, the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon, and the DELL XPS 14. That's the short list, since I really want a Windows PC that can run SQL Server and tools locally. I've had a Macbook before, and in the past I could run a VM with Windows tools. I can run SQL Server now, but not SSMS, and I like running SSMS.

I'm just starting to look at some reviews, and think about what I need. I've had a i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD, which have served me well for the last 5 years. I don't think I need more, though 32GB is tempting for a memory upgrade. I don't do a lot of heavy development, so it's more about having the things I run be snappy in presentations with customers and at conferences.

What machines do you use and like? I've appreciated the durability of the last two HPs, so I'm leaning towards another. I do like the pointer on the Lenovo, so that's tempting. I'd like a touch screen as I use it regularly, though I don't need a folding 2-in-1 machine. A normal clamshell is fine.

If you have a recommendation, let me know. If you have a dream machine, make me drool over it.