company laptop's

cronos

You know when a company list's a laptop as part of the benefit package. Are they usually any good?

Feelgood

cronos wrote: »

You know when a company list's a laptop as part of the benefit package. Are they usually any good?

Depends on the company, if its a multinational they tend to change their laptops every 2-3 years and if the company are giving you a laptop it generally means that they want you to have email and application access remotely.

The majority of business applications like Lotus Notes, Outlook, Oracle database clients, etc etc require a decent laptop to run so chances are you will have a fairly decent one.

They will probably tie it down like fcuk though so I wouldn't be planning on using it for games or anything mental though....

farva

I take it that your talking about the BP laptop? I can find out what kind of laptop BP give people for you if you want.

qwertz

Maybe they expect you to be available 24/7?

chris85

qwertz wrote: »

Maybe they expect you to be available 24/7?

From a laptop? :rolleyes: Mobile phone would sort that issue out

cronos

farva wrote: »

I take it that your talking about the BP laptop? I can find out what kind of laptop BP give people for you if you want.

Well I didnt want to mention BP specifically as over the few weeks I have been on boards I have noticed that people dont generally mention company names and I wouldnt want to be causing BP any hassle. Also I expect that most companies prob gives out similar types of laptops.

The only reason I care is that I am thinking of buying a computer. If the company laptop is good I would get a desktop and use the company laptop when I am on the train.

Here is the laptop I am thinking of getting, obviously I dont expect any company laptop to be anywhere near this spec. (as their would be no need for a company computer to be like this for work unless you were a game developer) But with the price of the dollar against the euro you cant loose at the moment. However a similar spec desktop would prob be a lot cheaper so that is the reason for the question.

Look at the spec its class for a laptop I would be happy to hear what anyone thinks of the laptop.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834201001

Farva if you happen to be talking to your friend from BP that would be great but if you dont see him that often I dont really want to be putting you out. Thanks

nesf

cronos wrote: »

Well I didnt want to mention BP specifically as over the few weeks I have been on boards I have noticed that people dont generally mention company names and I wouldnt want to be causing BP any hassle.

Usually we recommend people not to name who they work for because a) it could get them in trouble if they rant about work some day and b) some other opinion you give on a different forum could some back to haunt you if your workmates figure out who you are. Generally, you get good enough advice when you just give the rough area you work in and the size of the company.

You can sign off with your real name if you want, I just wouldn't advise it for most people.

the_syco

The way I see it: when will you be using your machine, and when will you be using the companys' machine?

I ask as if you plan to use your notebook at home only, get a PC. Better bang per buck, and less restrictions.

cronos

the_syco wrote: »

The way I see it: when will you be using your machine, and when will you be using the companys' machine?

I ask as if you plan to use your notebook at home only, get a PC. Better bang per buck, and less restrictions.

True but the price of the dollar is a factor here. As you can easily bring a laptop back with you from the US but you would have to pay for a desktop.

dudara

Laptops are generally given these days in place of PC's i.e. in companies who use hot-desking or where employees travel a lot.

We have decent spec Toshibas as we often work out of the office and hot desk when in the office. I personally don't see the laptop as a perk. I don't use it for personal reasons - it's necessary for my job, not a perk.

tk123

My company gives people laptops - in our place unless you're in management they're crappy mimium spec - eg €500 Dells and in IT we get hand-me downs for on being on-call - usullaly ones that management dont like anymore and have wrecked(!). Bear in mind the laptop you get will probably be locked down like a desktop would be in the office so restricitions on installing stuff, internet access etc.

qwertz

If he/she gets a lappie then it's quite likely that he/she gets a mobile as well

chris85 wrote: »

From a laptop? :rolleyes: Mobile phone would sort that issue out

Tom Dunne

I always find it amusing when companies put a laptop as a "benefit".

My "benefit" right now is "enabling" me to log into a client site on Good Friday evening to check the status of their system.

ceidefields

There is no way a work laptop could be listed as a "benefit". It's like classifying business trips under "holidays".

Anyway, why not just hold off until they give it to you? That way you can take a look and if you don't like it, buy your own laptop.

dudara

Tom Dunne wrote: »

I always find it amusing when companies put a laptop as a "benefit".

My "benefit" right now is "enabling" me to log into a client site on Good Friday evening to check the status of their system.

+1

When I started, our lead partner and I were having a chat and he said how great the company was for giving us laptops!!

I have two other laptops at home that I use for personal stuff. You can't do personal stuff on a work laptop.

kaimera

thing with a work lappy is that it supposed to be used for work related stuff.

IT wont support any sw you put on as if it were for personal use. Also, as 'decent' spec as it may be, there is a good chance that the company required software will bog it down anyway and you'd be better off using your own personal lappy imo.

farva

cronos wrote: »

Well I didnt want to mention BP specifically as over the few weeks I have been on boards I have noticed that people dont generally mention company names and I wouldnt want to be causing BP any hassle. Also I expect that most companies prob gives out similar types of laptops.

Sh1t sorry, fair point. I should have been more careful, but I was just trying to help.

cronos

farva wrote: »

cronos wrote: »

Well I didnt want to mention BP specifically as over the few weeks I have been on boards I have noticed that people dont generally mention company names and I wouldnt want to be causing BP any hassle. Also I expect that most companies prob gives out similar types of laptops.

Sh1t sorry, fair point. I should have been more careful, but I was just trying to help.

O no dont worry about it I think I posted it a good few times already so the cat is prob well out of the bag anyway.

nesf

cronos wrote: »

O no dont worry about it I think I posted it a good few times already so the cat is prob well out of the bag anyway.

If you assemble a list of links to all the posts linking you to BP I can edit out all the places where it mentions you to it, if you want.

Dingatron

I always find it amusing when companies put a laptop as a "benefit".

I hear ya. I would have considered it be a huge perk if they didn't give me one at all. Especially at 05:30 this morning. I don't use mine for any personal stuff although they do allow Internet access from it which is bizarre considering the access it provides into all the companies systems.

Raskolnikov

dudara wrote: »

When I started, our lead partner and I were having a chat and he said how great the company was for giving us laptops!!

Yep. While I don't mind being given a laptop so I can take work home with me, I'd be rather annoyed if the company tried to pass it off as a perk!