Introduction
As Cyber Security students and professionals, your studies and jobs are way more specific when compared to those practicing engineering or basic Computer Science. You would expect to learn coding as well as Cyber Security-specific software, therefore, your computer usage and needs will be very different as well.
Choosing an Operating System for your computer is up to you when it comes to coding. However, for penetration testing and similar tasks, we would recommend using a Linux distribution like kali or parrot-os. You will most likely be running a single computer with two different operating systems. Choosing the perfect computer for cyber security, however, can be a really challenging task, especially for those who aren’t well aware of modern computer trends.
This article will help you determine what you need to look out for when purchasing a laptop so that you can make an informed decision.
RAM and storage are probably the most important aspects when purchasing a laptop. Not only is the combination vital for your day to day tasks, a fast computer is a must for running virtual environments such as VMware. For most people, 8 GB is more than enough, however, for cyber security professionals we would recommend at least 16 GB of RAM, if you want everything to run smoothly. If you want to future proof your laptop you can also go for 32 GB, but it’s not necessary.
Other than heavy programs, you’ll also be storing personal stuff and coursework documents if you’re a student. Having at least 512 GB will make sure that you don’t run out of storage anytime soon. Moreover, if you have an external storage device like a Harddrive or SSD, then that’s also really beneficial, not only for having extra space but also to have a copy of your work handy at all times.
If your budget doesn’t allow for 16 GB memory or 512 GB storage, then make sure that your laptop has a good upgrade path so that it doesn’t become obsolete anytime soon. Having a good upgrade path is necessary since you want to invest in a device that lasts you a while.
Lastly, we would like to discuss MacBooks. The debate about MacOS vs Windows vs LINUX is a really long one and depends on personal preference. They’re awesome machines, but also cost a pretty penny! if you have a limited budget then it is a good idea to go for a Windows machine. Macs don’t provide you the same bang for your buck when compared to Windows laptops. However, if you have the money and you’re already used to working on Macs then there is no better choice than a MacBook!
Top 2 Laptops for Cybersecurity Students and Professionals.
1.Lenovo ThinkPad E15
This brand new laptop is upgraded from a base model. The manufacturer box is opened and resealed to install the parts to achieve the specifications as advertised. One-year warranty for upgraded RAM / SSD from Issaquah Highlands Tech. One-year original warranty for remaining components from Lenovo. 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, with bonus IST HDMI Cable
Intel 10th Gen Core i5-10210U with UHD 620 (4 cores 8 threads, base clock speed 1.6GHz, max turbo to 4.2GHz, 6MB L3 Cache)
The Latest ThinkPad E-series E15, A Successor to E590, Features 15.6 Full HD (1920x1080) TN Anti-glare 220nits Display,Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 - Supports external digital monitor via HDMI or USB Type-C, Max external digital monitor resolution: 4K(3840x2160)
No Optical Drive, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C (Power Delivery and DisplayPort), 2 x USB 3.1 Gen1 (1 always on), 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI 1.4b, 1 x RJ-45, 1 x Audio Combo Jack, Non-Backlit Keyboard, Fingerprint
Windows 10 Professional 64-bit, Ideal for Student, Home, Professionals, Small Business, and School Education.
Pros.
Slim and Sleek perfectly designed for study purpose
Backlit keyboard for cyber security majors degree
Excellent speakers
Multiple connectivity ports
An anti-glare IPS display quality screen
Cons.
No USB-C port
No Optical disc drive
2.Apple MacBook Air
Apple MacBook Air with Apple M1 Chip
13 inch display screen
16 GB of RAM
512GB SSD Storage
Space Gray (Latest Model) Z125000DL
A lot of technical people, especially those involved in Computer Science, prefer Macs over anything else. They are undoubtedly great machines if you get the right specifications. We will be particularly talking about the MacBook Air with the M1 processor. The “Air” lineup is meant to be a bit more budget-friendly version of the MacBook Pros. Both of them provide similar experiences, therefore a lot of people gravitate towards the Air. Apple has greatly improved and revolutionized their MacBooks, which is part of the reason why we were so eager to put one of them on our list.
The M1 processor is a new series of ARM-based CPUs that Apple manufactures itself. The same ARM architecture is used on iPhones and iPads, and since they are unarguably the best performing devices in their categories, people had high hopes for the new MacBooks as well. Although it should be mentioned that ARM isnt resitricted to just Apple, they are the ones who are industry leaders when it comes to this technology.
The MacBook Pro and Air have the same processor with the only difference being that the M1 on the Air has two of its cores disabled. The reason for this is that the Air doesn’t have any fans so this is done to maintain the temperature and avoid thermal throttling. The fact that both the Air and Pros have the same processor just goes to show how powerful these processors really are!
For context, they compete with and even in some cases manage to outperform the 10th generation i7 processors found on the MacBook Air. They even manage to outperform the 10th Generation i9 in some use case scenarios. These processors are so powerful that they even manage to keep up with modern desktop-grade CPUs.
We mentioned that the MacBook Air doesn’t have any fans. It’s probably the only high-end laptop to not have so. One would expect that its thermal performance would take a hit from it and it actually does. This can be seen as it starts to dip in performance much sooner than the MacBook Pro. However, despite that, it still manages to perform on-par with Windows alternatives when it comes to Thermals. Having fans would’ve been beneficial, but in order to differentiate it from the MacBook Pro and to keep it thin and affordable, we think that it’s an acceptable decision. Clearly, these chips are revolutionary when it comes to performance.
Another great advantage of ARM-based processors is their energy efficiency. Usually, ARM processors consume much less energy than their x86 counterparts therefore they have much better battery life. This can be the fact that the Air can last for as long as 18 hours on a single charge which is by-far the best battery life we have seen on any laptop. What’s even more impressive is that the Pro can last 20 hours, which is absolutely insane!
Both the MacBook models can easily last 2 to 3 days without any problem which is unseen from any other modern laptop. Despite all the great things we said about ARM there is still one thing that some may be a bit apprehensive about and that’s app compatibility. ARM CPUs are pretty new so they are not fully compatible with all applications.
Luckily, MacBooks are popular enough for developers to quickly adapt. Apple has introduced an emulation process that allows non-native apps to run on these machines. It’s called Rosetta 2, which is named after Rosetta which was first introduced when Apple computers shifted from PowerPC to Intel x86 a long time ago.
As for the storage and RAM, you get 16 GB and 512 GB respectively. Luckily both of these are super-fast as you get a very fast SSD, as well as LPDDR4X RAM type at 3733 MHz, which will make the overall PC experience much smoother. This should be enough for most users; however, the downside is that neither of them is upgradable.
Apple has made sure that all their devices, including the MacBook, aren’t user serviceable. This means that if you run out of storage a few years down the line, you would either have to install an external storage device or have to just live with it. It also means that if you run into a problem with your device, you’ll have to directly take it to Apple rather than fix it yourself or have a 3rd party do the repairs.
The display on the MacBook Air is absolutely gorgeous. Their 13.3 inches, 2560 by 1600-resolution Retina displays are pretty much the best in the market considering that they look the best and the sharpest. Not only that, they have amazing color accuracy as they cover 25 percent more than the sRGB Color Gamut. Color accuracy doesn’t matter that much when it comes to Cybersecurity, but if you plan on doing Graphic Design on the sideline then this can be a great asset. Moreover, having a good-looking display enhances the overall user experience.
A major disadvantage that MacBooks have is their lack of ports. You only get 2 USB-C ports, although these are high-quality since they can be used for charging as well as attaching external displays. You’re almost definitely going to have to buy an external dock to get access to more ports.
There are a few additional noteworthy features that are MacBook exclusive which may determine your purchase decisions. For starters, they have the best trackpads on any laptop. The keyboard is backlit and feels pretty good to type on. You also get the option to instantaneously wake up your device from sleep, which is a feature that was introduced just this year and is only found exclusively on the M1 MacBooks. Lastly, MacOS in itself has many amazing features like seamless integration with other products from the Apple ecosystem.
Pros.
One of the best performances on any laptop
High quality and quantity RAM and storage.
18 hours of excellent battery life
Amazing display
Instantaneous waking up from sleep
Excellent trackpad
Amazing backlit keyboard.
Cons.
Non-upgradeable storage and RAM
Difficult to repair
Only 2 USB-C ports
Slightly boring design
High Price
Reviewed by Wiki Ads Pedia
on
June 11, 2021
Rating:
