Many of the things we use on a daily basis, we don't really even understand how it works. One thing that comes to mind that many seem to spout on about without being totally informed, is the mystical "cloud". Now, what the heck is the cloud exactly? Well, nowadays, it's where all your data is, ranging from documents, music, photos and videos, and countless other pieces of information all stored up in the cloud. Still don't get it?
Well, frankly, me neither. But what I do know is that it's a vital tool and platform which many have adopted to and it's all thanks to something called "virtualization". With that in mind, we're going to be highlighting some of the very best laptops for virtualization for all of you out there looking for a dependable laptop to handle your virtualization software.
But of course, before we get to that we're going to have to go a little more in depth into what virtualization is really all about.
What is Virtualization?
Earlier I equated cloud computing to virtualization, and in actuality, this isn't exactly true. But virtualization is one of the fundamental technology to get cloud computing up and running. Virtualization is basically creating and running a virtual instance of a computer system using a singular machine layered in its hardware. One of the biggest use cases to virtualization is running multiple operating systems on a single laptop or desktop computer. What this means is that now essentially, you've got two (or more) computers processing and computing whatever it is you need to do, for the price of one. You know, something like when someone with a MacBook Pro ends up dual booting Windows to use some apps you just can't get on a Mac?
Yeah, something like that. What happens internally during virtualization is your laptop or desktop computer emulates a virtual machine which runs side by side with the original system. Running virtual machines also means you'll be sharing your computing power and hardware along with other resources it may need. But why? Why would someone go through the trouble of doing all this?
Well virtualization has many great applications and usage patterns that make it useful. You can access apps and programs not available on your original operating system, or maybe you need better control of your system to segment and allocate resources into smaller parts, it even saves you money, is better for the environment, and overall an easier way to deal with moving parts. If you run virtual machines rather than physically going to find something wrong with a system on your network, you'd probably be saving yourself a lot of time.
But all this sounds important doesn't it? Are the best laptops for virtualization really going to be sufficient for this? Well let's get into whether a desktop or laptop is best for virtualization.
Desktop vs Laptop
Again, this isn't really a clear cut answer as it truly depends on who and what form of virtualization you're going to be using. As per my experience, most normal, everyday workers who may be accessing virtual desktops, cloud computing, etc. do so from the comfort of a laptop. Unless you were situated at a workstation in the office with a desktop, then I'm not quite sure what to tell you. But I will whole heartedly say that a laptop these days are pretty powerful. Powerful enough to handle virtualization software and hypervisors like Virtual Box, Hyper V, VMware Workstation, etc.
If you were just looking for a best laptop for virtualization to access multiple operating systems, a laptop should be more than sufficient for your needs. Considering that a virtual machine is more than likely to save you a couple of bucks, maybe think of investing in a laptop with some higher tiered specs. Something like a hexa-core processor, huge RAM and storage capacities, etc. will run virtual machines like a dream with limited effects to your overall performance.
To me, a desktop in this day and age is pretty limiting unless you needed it for some heavy usage like gaming, professional editing and what not. It really does depend on the type of user and what you're looking for. At the end of the day though, laptops for virtual machines are going to be pretty powerful (unless you were on a tight budget) so no need to worry on that part.
While we're on the topic of specs and what not, let's take a look at the type of specs we'd recommend you find in the best laptops for virtualization.
Recommended Specs
Above we've stated some of the pertinent specs you're going to have to be on the look for. For the most part, these are flexible depending on budget and what you're looking for, but you're going to want to try and stick as close to these specs as possible. Running virtual machines and multiple operating systems as well as a hypervisor (program to setup virtual machines) will take up quite a bit of resources. If possible, try and get the best your can afford to mitigate any slowdown, lag, and bottlenecks. That being said, let's start off with what operating system you should be running as a base for your virtual machine machine. Get it?
Operating System
The operating system is mostly up to your personal preference considering that you're going to be using the laptop for virtualization anyway. Seems kind of counterproductive to worry about operating systems when talking about virtualization huh? Well actually, the base operating system your the best laptop for virtualization comes with is pretty important.
Why? As this dictates the type of laptop you get, as well as the power potential. Considering that most laptops and desktops around the world utilize Windows as the operating system of choice, Windows 10 is going to be our most recommended OS. If you were the kind to pick up a MacBook Pro though, do check out the latest in Apple's lineup as its a pretty impressive piece of hardware.
You're probably going to be using the laptop to run a virtual machine anyway, so not too much to fret over here.
Display
The display is an important part of any laptop, and it's probably going to play quite the factor in your overall satisfaction of the best laptops for virtualization. That being said, you should look for a laptop with at least a Full HD display resolution of 1920 x 1080 as this is one of the most common displays you can find, and has a good combination of clarity, overall vibrancy and sharpness. One thing I will say is fully avoid a HD display simply because in this day and age, it simply can't keep up.
Other than the display resolution, the other spec you're going to need to consider is the screen size. This is mostly flexible and really depends on what kind laptop you're looking for; more into portability and smaller form factors? Get a smaller display like a 13.3-inch or 14-inch display. Want more screen real estate for your money? Get a 15.6-inch laptop or above. There are a bunch of options out there, making the search for the best laptops for virtual machines that much easier.
Processor
One spec that the best laptops for virtualization will need to really power up is going to be the processor. Your processor is essentially the brain of your laptop, and as such, any laptop for virtualization worth its salt will come with a pretty powerful processor. This could relate to a number of different processors, clock speed and core counts, but to make it easy we're going to recommend finding at least a quad-core Intel Core i5 processor as the base variant.
Frankly, you're probably better off with a powerful quad-core processor Intel Core i7 or hexa-core Intel Core i7. Another thing you're going to want to be on a look for in terms of your processor is how recently it was released. A general guide would be to find a processor that's 8th Gen Intel Core or newer. This is a very simple way to solidify your laptops performance, especially since it's going to be running multiple operating systems at any given time. An 8th Gen Intel Core i5/i7 should be the minimum you aim for.
Don't forget that virtualization and virtual machines will share your one laptop's resources, while essentially running two operating systems at a time. Definitely not a bad idea to invest a little extra in this spec.
RAM
The processor is definitely not the only indicator of performance on your laptop for virtualization and virtual machines, and one other important spec is going to be the RAM capacity the best laptops for virtualization will house. We're going to recommend you find at least 8 GB RAM as a base capacity, but if you've got the cash, it really wouldn't hurt to invest in a little more such as a 16GB RAM or 32GB RAM capacities.
This is because how much RAM you have will indicate just how smooth your virtualization processes and virtual machines run. You could theoretically wing it on a lesser RAM capacity, but what you get in return is a choppy, slow, long-loading virtualization experience. And to be honest, if you're working with virtualization hypervisors and programs, you're probably the type of person to fully abhor lag and load times.
8 GB RAM is good enough, but to have peace of mind, I whole heartedly recommend finding a little extra RAM.
Storage
How much storage space your laptop for virtualization will have is really up to your personal usage patterns. Depending on the user, you can get less or more and not feel too much of a hit to your daily performance. Some users are more inclined to use cloud storage platforms or use an external SSD storage space. That's all fine and dandy, but really, you should have a pretty good storage capacity on-board just to mitigate any untoward scenarios.
As such, we're going to recommend finding at least a 512GB SSD storage to ensure consistent performance, and if you needed to, you could store everything locally on your laptop without having to worry about external forces corrupting data or leaking information. Of course, virtualization and virtual machines will also take up some space so you're going to need to manage your operating systems and all the programs you have on your laptop.
Depending on the overall laptop specs, you may find that some of the best laptops for virtualization we'll feature on the list with either more or less storage. Think about how you're going to use your laptop storage space and you'll figure out how much you're going to need. At a minimum though, at least a 256GB SSD is recommended. And oh, one more thing, try and stay away from HDD storage as these days, they're pretty slow at loading things up. HDD storage just can't match up to an SSD storage speed potential.
Graphics Card
Usually, a graphics card is an important part of any laptop but this time around you don't really need to look for anything to high powered to run virtual machines. Thanks to that, we're going to recommend you find any number of modern, relatively powerful integrated graphic cards available. Virtualization doesn't really require much GPU power which is a good thing for us. A dedicated graphics unit also usually means your laptop is going to be higher priced.
Now that we can basically ignore this spec, no need to look for a dedicated graphics card which would save you some money in the long run. Though if you were the type to look for a gaming laptop for light gaming or maybe graphic design / editing software, you may want to check out some of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX graphic processors to get some decent performance.
While all the specs we've outlined above are the most important, there are a few more quality of life, additional features you could consider to optimize performance on your dedicated virtualization laptop.
Considerations When Looking For A Visualization Laptop
Who Needs To Use Virtualization?
Well there are plenty of great uses for virtualizations that you probably didn't even know. There are many different types of users that can benefit from running two operating systems simultaneously. Some examples of use cases in this scenario would be for students and IT professionals looking to run older versions of software that might not work as seamlessly on newer OSs.
For IT professionals and software testers, you can even use virtualization to create a 'saved state' in your virtual machine just in case you run into any issues and needed to load things back from when the laptop was actually working. Server administrators can use the same method to see if there will be any potential problems when running newer, updated versions of software on the operating system. Or maybe you were keen on trying out Linux on your macOS or Windows laptop.
With virtualization, it's a much easier process to revert back to normal without the need to repartition your laptop hard drive. I can see this being an easier way for students and professionals to run multiple OSs at any given time rather than fully switching to one with no way to turn back (without any problems that is).
There are actually many more potential use cases that I think many users can stand to benefit from. Whatever the case may be, if you follow our hardware configuration recommendations above you should be more than capable of creating a virtual machine without much problems.
Battery Life
A good battery life is quintessential to all laptops, because frankly, a short battery life should be a thing of the past at this point. It's best you find laptops with a long battery life because this equates to how long you can use the laptop without being tethered to a charger. It's understated how important this feature is, and can totally revolutionize the way you work if done right. A good battery life makes all the difference when you're out and about on your day. It also means you don't need to lug around a huge, burdensome charger around. Sounds good, right?
Backlit Keyboard
Along with a long battery life, another feature that many seem to disregard is the backlit keyboard. A backlit keyboard makes your laptop that much more versatile. You can get work done in more scenarios, lighting situations and environments with this handy feature on board. Plus, it adds that premium feel to all laptops, so why not.
Phew, quite a lot to go over huh? Well now that we're done with that, let's get straight into the search for the best laptops for virtualization!
The 5 Best Laptops For Virtualization
1. Acer Predator Helios 300
The first laptop we're going to be featuring is a heavy hitting gaming laptop that should be more than sufficient to handle all your virtualization needs. The Acer Predator Helios 300 comes packed to the rim with stellar features and honestly, a pretty reasonable price point for all you're getting for it. Starting things off is the 17.3-inch display with a 1920 x 1080 FHD resolution which is also capable of a speedy 144Hz refresh rate. This makes everything you do on screen look much smoother, which should be useful for users looking to do some gaming on this beast.
On the internals, the Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop has a great setup starting with a 9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750H hexa-core processor with a max 4.1GHz clock speed. Supporting the Intel Core i7 processor is a 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD storage capacity, making for a solid, complete spec sheet. For the graphical performance, the Acer Predator Helios 300 uses a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti GPU with a 6GB GDDR6 VRAM.
A few extras the Acer Predator Helios comes with includes a 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard, Waves MAXXAudio, dual-fan Aeroblade 3D cooling, a full array of ports including Thunderbolt 3 port, and 6 hours of battery life.
2. Lenovo ThinkPad E14
The next laptop we're featuring is going to be the choice for many a consummate professional thanks to the brand's dominance in the sector; the Lenovo ThinkPad E14. The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 comes with the standard industrial, durable look of the ThinkPad laptop lineup and doesn't do anything too exciting there. But what you get is a no nonsense laptop made for work. The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 business laptop features a 14-inch FHD display with 250 nits of brightness and accompanying slim bezels on the sides of the display with a noticeable chin at the bottom.
The internal performance is where this laptop really starts to shine, earning it a spot as a best laptop for virtualization. The laptop comes equipped with a 10th Generation intel Core i5-10210U processor, 16 gigs of RAM, and a 512GB SSD storage capacity. When you compare the price to some of the other laptops on the list, you start to see the great value you get here with the Lenovo ThinkPad E14 business laptop. A recently released processor, sufficient RAM and storage for the price of a mid-range laptop. That's a hell of a deal if you ask me.
The ThinkPad comes with a few extras to sweeten the deal including Windows 10 Pro, HD Webcam, HD Audio speakers, a full array of ports, and up to 10 hours battery life.
3. Acer Aspire 5
Our next laptop on the list is a top contender as being the best cheap laptop for virtualization around with a complete package and uncompromising features for a significant discount; the Acer Aspire 5. The Acer Aspire 5 has a lot to love, starting off with the simplistic, minimalist design with a silver/grey color scheme contrasted by the black on the display frame. The display on the Acer Aspire 5 is a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display, a standard panel which doesn't do too much to excite the user. But it's functional, with solid sharpness, clarity and color vibrancy.
For its performance, the Acer Aspire 5 laptop comes with a pretty solid spec sheet. Starting things off, the laptop comes with a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor, 8GB RAM and a 256GB storage capacity. The GPU is just a Intel UHD Graphics so don't expect too much from that front. And while I understand this isn't a Core i7 processor, with a max 3.6GHz clock speed 4-core setup, can't complain too much on that front. It's got everything you need out of a laptop, making this a solid choice as a best laptop for virtual machines.
The laptop does have a few more tricks up its sleeve to entice buyers including a back-lit keyboard, fingerprint reader, HD webcam, and up to 8 hours battery life.
4. ASUS ROG Zephyrus S
Our next entry to the list is going to be another highly capable gaming laptop, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S. Another brilliant performer with a unique look and aesthetic that's sure to satisfy all your virtualization needs. The first thing you'll notice about this laptop is the keyboard setup which is squished to the bottom to make way for the cooling setup. On the display, you're getting a 15.6-inch FHD display with a 144Hz refresh rate.
Onto the internals is where we start to get a better picture of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S's power potential. The first thing you need to know about this laptop is going to be the 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750H processor, the predecessor to the Intel Core i7-9750H we saw earlier. This one still matches up though, with a max 3.9GHz clock speed. The supporting specs include a 16GB RAM variant and 512GB SSD storage to ensure dependable performance when you're running multiple operating systems. The laptop also comes with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 for some gaming and/or design and editing work.
The laptop has a few more great features to complete the deal including a 4-zone ASUS Aura RGB keyboard, ROG Active Aerodynamic System, 12V fans and anti-dust tunnels, a full array of ports and up to 7 hours battery life.
5. HP Envy x360
The last laptop we're going to be featuring is going to be one of the best HP laptop for virtualization you can find thanks to it's formidable performance and versatility. There are a bunch of variants to choose from and this variant of the HP Envy x360 is actually the cheapest they've got. Even so, just because it's a little cheaper than expected, don't underestimate this beastly performer. First up, we're going to be checking out the display which is a 15.6-inch FHD touchscreen display and actually is capable of transforming into a tablet thanks to the 360º hinge. This itself makes it a more worthwhile purchase as it's a 2-in-1 laptop, the only one we've seen thus far.
Under the hood though, the HP Envy x360 is nothing to scoff at with powerful performers backing things up. The laptop comes packed with an AMD Ryzen 7 4700U 8-core processor which actually has better performance than some of the recently released Core i7 processor lineup. To support the processor, the laptop uses an 8GB RAM variant and a humble 256GB SSD. The HP Envy x360 also comes with an AMD Radeon integrated graphics GPU which should be capable of light gaming sessions and design work.
The laptop comes with a few more extra features including a HP sleep charge, triple speaker setup, B&O audio tuned speakers, a back-lit keyboard, fingerprint reader, and up to 10 hours of battery life.
Conclusion
We've gone through a whole host of laptops out of the best laptops for visualization money can buy, but now we've got to pick just one as the undisputed best of the best.
This time around, our winner is going to be the Lenovo ThinkPad E14!
This laptop is performance personified with a fantastic spec sheet with a great processor, sufficient RAM and storage capacities and durable build quality. Not to mention that it's got the perfect industrial look for the IT professional not looking to stand out in the office. It's got everything you need at a great price, making it an easy choice as one of the best laptops for virtual machines you'll find.
