What would you do? Own ThinkPad vs. company notebook

[zaqrack]

I'm asking for your advice, as I'm a bit lost...

I have a wonderful X40, with 5 hours uptime, 40Gb HDD, its lovely to use with the Linux I'm running on it.

I also got a new job, which involves a lot of intercontinental air travel (duration: ~2 weeks each), and also mandatory windows usage. I got a notebook from the company, a shiny new 15,4" HP monster, which is not unbearable on the weight side (1kg more than my X40), but the size (and the lack of the trackpoint) is quite uncomfortable for me. It has Vista, and is a lot more powerful machine than my own (Core2Duo, 160Gb HDD, 4hours uptime), though I mainly need it for office purposes.

My options:

1. Use the HP only for job and travel, and the TP as a personal machine. This is a bit awkward, as the small portable TP would sit mostly at home, and I'd have to carry the HP with me. I could have my personal stuff and job stuff separated when needed. The HP is managed by the company, so less hassle and trouble. On the HP's 160GB I can easily put all my personal stuff as well, without my comfy linux of course.

2. Use the HP for the job at the office, install Windows on a separate partition on my TP, and use it for travel purposes. This would be manageable (I guess) with a decent usb drive / SD card and some synchronization software. I would always have my personal stuff with me when travelling, but I'd be lacking disk space after a while for sure (which can't be extended much on the X40...) I would have to manage my computer settings myself which can be troublesome, and there is a slight chance this solution would annoy my boss.

3. Use the TP all the time and totally annoy my boss, that they bought a notebook for nothing - not a real option

Should I try to get used to the HP and separate work&personal stuff and leave my TP not used at its full potential, or should I risk some troubles for my beloved X40 and my convenience?

[Kyocera]

I'd hate to but I'd have to use the HP, let them take care of the image and all that encompasses, software, AV, etc.. If something breaks/crashes and data is lost they can't blame your machine or your software and they'll get it fixed. Having work data on a personal machine (even on a separate partition in your dual boot scenario) and vice versa (personal data on a work machine) in some organizations is not even an option, if the drive crashes it'll be on them to either recover the data or not.

Keep the X40 clean and new for resale purposes later on.

[bhurley]

I agree with Kyocera.

In my case I have a good excuse for using a personal machine for work: when I started as a remote employee with my company (in 1999) the computer they gave me was a joke: a used Windows 95 box on its last legs, which crashed six or seven times a day, had no CD burner or USB ports for making backups, etc., and when I asked for a better machine I was told I'd have to wait at least six months. So I bought my own and have used my own computers ever since. The other advantage for me is that if I need new software or hardware in order to complete a job for a client, I can buy it immediately rather than going through the bureaucratic process of approval and purchasing in my company, which can easily take a month or two.

I think it was the right decision, but it has cost me a LOT of money over the years, because company policy is that you are not reimbursed for software purchased for your own computer. That means I've spent thousands of dollars on expensive programs such as MS Office, SigmaPlot, Acrobat, Dreamweaver, etc., as well as spending my own money on the upgrades to new versions of those programs, plus having to deal with all the support issues, backups, etc. on my own. Not to mention buying a new computer every five years or so. Our company's helpdesk is not allowed to provide me with support since I'm using my own computer. I once had to call Microsoft for to help with an intractible problem I was having with Windows 2000 Professional that was not covered in the Knowledge Base, and they charge $200 per call. The numbers add up.

On the one hand, it means that if I lose my job I am fully equipped for freelancing with no transition time, but I'd have a lot more money in the bank if I had used a company machine.

In your case, since the company machine is a decent computer, I'd go with that and keep the ThinkPad for personal use.

[joester]

What do you suppose would happen it the work computer's BIOS settings mysteriously looked for a USB boot first?

Without a USB drive to boot from, nobody would be the wiser and nothing would really be changed on the computer itself.

An external drive with your comfy Linux would be all you need.


Joe

[pianowizard]

I too think that you should use the HP for work-related stuff, even when you're traveling. I suggest looking into the following to try to make this laptop as mobile as possible:

1) Does it have an "extended" battery? If it does, replace it with a smaller one.

2) HP makes AC adaptors of different wattages. The high wattage ones are bigger and heavier than the low wattage ones. Find out whether your laptop can use a lower wattage adapter.

3) If you don't need the optical drive while traveling, remove it.

[dr_st]

I'm surprised at any business that hands out 15.4" monsters as work laptops to its employees. Sucks.

[JonathanGennick]

Like bhurley, I use my mostly own hardware and software for work. But generally that's not going to be an acceptable solution in the corporate world. Thus I also agree w/bhurley's first statement: take the corporate laptop.

However, I would also sit down w/your new boss and ask for some input into the model that they buy you. You're traveling a lot, right? That's a good argument right there for a thinner and lighter machine. Since your company buys HPs, perhaps you could get them to consider the NC2510p. The NC2510 is small and light, similar to the X series. I'm an X series user myself, yet I've been very tempted by the NC2510p and it's predecessor the NC2400.

BTW, the NC2510 has a trackpoint too.

Good luck. Congrats on the new job.

[mpcook]

Like bhurley, I use my mostly own hardware and software for work. But generally that's not going to be an acceptable solution in the corporate world. Thus I also agree w/bhurley's first statement: take the corporate laptop.

However, I would also sit down w/your new boss and ask for some input into the model that they buy you. You're traveling a lot, right? That's a good argument right there for a thinner and lighter machine. Since your company buys HPs, perhaps you could get them to consider the NC2510p. The NC2510 is small and light, similar to the X series. I'm an X series user myself, yet I've been very tempted by the NC2510p and it's predecessor the NC2400.

BTW, the NC2510 has a trackpoint too.

Good luck. Congrats on the new job.

I also recommend the 2510p. I have one (employer provided) and it is a very solid and very portable unit. I am an "X fan", have had 3 or 4 of them, and have one now. But surprisingly, I find the 2510p to be an acceptable alternative, almost as solid as an X3*. ALso, weighs about the same, and has internal CD/DVD RW.

I would not be tempted to use my X32 for work, too much potential for problems with IT, access, and etc. I want my company to handle all of the issues that arise. My X32 stays at home, mostly in the docking station, and I use it for everything non work. I of course can access email, thinkpads.com and etc while traveling with my 2510p.

The decision is really totally dependent on how your company and it's IT dept operates, and what the risks will be. In my company, I would be beheaded if they found me using a personal laptop for business. Vice versa is almost as bad.

Mike

[zaqrack]

thank you for all your tips and replies!

Equipped with your knowledge I talked to one of my bosses about this topic, and he told that they'd rather like me to use the company machine.
And after reading your advices I agreed with him, I don't want to risk to happen, that a day I can't do my work because my own machine (which has no warranty anymore anyway) is not working properly.
This is a relatively small company, no IT department or such, which means the bosses are quite direct, and open to ideas. I have a feeling that for my next machine (when I won't be total newcomer) they will also ask for my requirements too - given the fact that the employees use HP machines, but the bosses both have ThinkPads, I see a bright future Until then, I'll get along with the HP, which isn't bad at all - just big, and not a ThinkPad.

[dsigma6]

I was given a Dell 17" notebook at a job I had 2 years ago. I set it next to the R40 I had at the time, and nearly vomited. I gave the Dell back and quit the job.

[dsigma6]

Ooops...Double post...

As I was trying to say by editing my last post (instead I quoted it...lol)...

Mike speaks the trooooof. Definitely don't risk it.

[t20user]

I understand your dilemma.

A few years ago I was at a customers site with a coworker. She had the company provided Dell, and I my T20. One of our cutomers ogled my Thinkpad and asked why I got the IBM and she got the lowly Dell. I replied because its my personal machine. It was kind of funny, but my boss didn't like it.

[zaqrack]

Just a quick update how the problem was solved:

I worked with the HP for 6 months (developed quite some muscles while carrying it ), until an upgrade was necessary for some of my coworkers.

I made a deal with my employer - the coworker got my almost-new HP, and my X40 was bought from me for by the company to have in its own stock listed.
So now I basically don't own my X40, but I can use it for work&personal purposes. All possible repair and software issues are covered and dealt by my company and when an upgrade is necessary and my TP gets replaced I'll be the owner again.

Nice win-win deal IMHO, they saved some money, I have less trouble with maintenance and can use my beloved ThinkPad.

[kunfuchopsticks]

I'd use what they give you. But the question is: why did the boss give you 15in notebook when you work " involves a lot of intercontinental air travel (duration: ~2 weeks each)?"