Patrick, I gave you some opinions about computers from the alternatives you emailed me about. Feel free to share those, and my opinions if you like. Let us know what you chose, finally!
FWIW:
1. Win10
2. Screen resolution capable of 1920 x 1080 (i.e. HD quality), though, you need at least a 14" screen to see the RDSS 3 panel layout without going blind (or be under 30 years old ...)
3. Intel i5 or i7 chip for good speed and min 4 Gb memory (8 Gb is a nice sweet spot)
4. RDSS needs very little disk space (say, 2 Gb for the life of the computer) so any disk storage you get will be for whatever else you want to do with it
I
LOVE the
Microsoft Surface 4 tablet, but getting the i5 or i7 processor and 8Gb memory and 256 Gb memory puts you over the $1500 mark (at least in Canada, but our dollar is heading south faster than the 'snow-birds' are these days
).
You suggested a 15.6 inch screen HD laptop with enough storage for the Library of Congress, for < $1000 so that sounds like 'such a deal' to me! Again, let us know - better: show us some screenshots of some races you're working, when you get things up and running!
Take care,
Ted