Intel processor - 2.4 GHz or better 16 GB or more RAM 15-16" screen since 14" screen does not work for the software development Sleek body - ~1" or less in thickness Good build quality At least 1080p - 1920x1080 resolution the chiclet keyboard and preferably without the useless numeric keypad Preferably running GNU/Linux - porting GNU/Linux to a laptop can end up being painful) Preferably 16:10 or lesser - I gave up on this constraint since it seems all laptops come only in 16:9 nowadays, except Macs and Chromebook Pixel Lenovo, ASUS, or Samsung, none of them have decided to produce a good Linux laptop, which competes with Apple’s Mac Book Pro(MBP).