5 Best Laptops for ArcGIS & Cartographic Software Professionals

If you are in the market for a new laptop, you’ll want one that can handle all your daily tasks. Whether you are a student, an office worker, or a self-employed business person, this article will help you find the laptop that best fits your needs.

With the release of the newest version of ArcGIS 10, it is not uncommon to see ESRI supporting the use of new technology. ArcGIS 10 introduces the technology of the Day One, which is an application designed for content creation. The application offers an interface similar to Adobe Photoshop, allowing users to create maps, images, and other content, similar to their Adobe Photoshop experience.

Finding the best laptop for mapping and GIS work has never been simpler. Combining performance with portability, design and affordability, our shortlist of the best laptops for GIS professionals is packed full of high-end machines, sleek ultramobile laptops and affordable portables to suit all budgets and requirements.. Read more about best laptops for gis students 2021 and let us know what you think.

What are the finest laptops for those who work with ArcGIS and cartographic software? To use the Cartographic or GIS or Geographic Information Systems program, you’ll need a powerful laptop.

There are many kinds of GIS software, such as ArcGIS and QGIS, but they all include collecting a large amount of complicated data and processing it quickly. As a result, an average laptop will struggle to do these activities.

It’s not simple to find a laptop with the processing power to run ArcGIS and cartographic applications.

The specifications should be capable of capturing, storing, analyzing, manipulating, managing, and presenting large amounts of data including some of the most sophisticated geographical data processing.

If you work in the area of Geographic Information Systems and Cartography, here are a few laptops that you might consider.

Professional Laptops for ArcGIS and Cartographic Software Users – Price

17″ (2560×1600) IPS Display, Intel 10th Gen i7, 6GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Military-Grade LG Gram Laptop

$1,698.00

$1,849.99

6 new items starting at $1,698.00

From $1,349.00, 4 were utilized.

8:25 a.m., September 8, 2021

9 Pro Samsung Notebook 2 in 1 Laptop, 15″ FHD Touchscreen, 8th Gen Intel Quad-Core, 2020 Newest Samsung Notebook 9 Pro 2 in 1 Laptop, 15″ FHD Touchscreen, 8th Gen Intel Quad-Core…

$1,289.59

8:25 a.m., September 8, 2021

ASUS ZenBook 14 Ultra-Slim Laptop 14″ FHD Nano-Edge Bezel, 8th-Gen Intel Core i7-8565U Processor, ASUS ZenBook 14 Ultra-Slim Laptop 14″ FHD Nano-Edge Bezel, ASUS ZenBook 14 Ultra-Slim Laptop 14″ FHD Nano-Edge Bezel, ASUS

$1,599.99

2 brand new items starting at $1,599.99

From $1,190.00, 1 was utilized.

8:25 a.m., September 8, 2021

Surface Pro 6 (Microsoft) (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB)

$694.95

$899.00

From $694.95 for 14 new items

From $449.99 for ten used

8:25 a.m., September 8, 2021

15.6″ Gaming Laptop, Inspiron i5577-7342BLK-PUS Dell Inspiron i5577-7342BLK-PUS Dell Inspiron i55 (Intel Core i7,16GB,512GB SSD),NVIDIA GTX 1050

$1,899.99

2 brand new items starting at $1,899.99

From $1,499.77, 1 was utilized.

8:25 a.m., September 8, 2021

The information on this page was last updated at 8:25 a.m. on September 8, 2021.

ArcGIS and Cartographic Software Professionals Give Reasons to Use a Good Laptop

ArcGIS and cartographic software are demanding applications, so you’ll need a powerful laptop to keep them running properly. To support the software’s capability, it requires more sophisticated features and specifications.

Apart from ArcGIS and Cartography, these powerful laptops will allow you to run all of your essential software applications with ease.

MAPublisher, MapInfo Professional, Maptitude, QGIS, and many more are among them.

These laptops will also satisfy all ArcGIS and Cartographic software needs to the greatest extent possible.

Imagery, spatial analytics, remote sensing, real-time GIS, mapping, 3D GIS, visualization, data gathering, and data management will all benefit from it.

A decent laptop will assist you in creating and mapping more precisely based on geographical data after thorough research.

It will also aid in the use of a variety of other apps on the Windows operating system.

You will be able to update and change maps, as well as view and query them.

Artificial Intelligence will also be of great assistance while working on those 2D and 3D visuals for Cartography.

All of these GIS activities are high-performance jobs that a standard laptop will struggle to accomplish.

You’ll receive a high-end CPU, the most RAM, a big storage space, and a high-quality graphics card when you utilize a decent laptop, ideally one of the five listed below.

It will also come with a number of sophisticated capabilities that are uncommon on a normal laptop.

System Requirements for ArcGIS and Cartographic Software Professionals (Minimum and Recommended)

An Intel Core i5 or AMD comparable processor is usually the minimal system requirement for ArcGIS and Cartographic software experts who wish to utilize a laptop.

It should have at least two cores, the capacity to hyper thread, and a base clock speed of at least 2.2 GHz. A minimum of 2 GB of RAM is required, as well as free hard drive space. A 12-inch screen with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and a powerful Intel or AMD integrated graphics card are also required.

However, such a laptop would fall short of providing you with the best performance and user experience. You’ll need a device with better specifications and settings for that.

It’s better to stick to the suggested system requirements rather than the bare minimum. This will improve the efficiency and future-proofing of your system.    

Minimum system requirements: Intel Core i5 CPU 8th generation or above| 8 GB RAM | 128 GB PCIe SSD or higher storage | Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 or Intel Iris Plus graphics chip | 12.3-inch screen or bigger | 1280 x 800 pixels screen resolution

7th generation Intel Core i7 or higher processor| 16 GB RAM | 512 GB SSD or larger storage | Dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 or higher graphics card | 15-inch or larger screen | 1920 x 1080 pixels or higher screen resolution

5 Best Laptops for Professionals Working with ArcGIS and Cartographic Software:

1. 17Z90N LG Gram – Overall Winner

Sale

LG Gram 17Z90N

 

In contrast to the other laptops on our list, this laptop will provide the greatest overall performance for ArcGIS and Cartographic software experts. The specifications and characteristics of this gadget will greatly assist them in their work. The CPU is a tenth-generation model, and the screen and storage are both bigger.

Characteristics 

• 17-inch display
• 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD storage
• DDR4 SDRAM (16 GB)
• 10th generation Intel Core i7 1065G7 processor
• Windows 10 Home is the operating system.
• GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics Integrated

Pros 

• The screen is both big and high-resolution.
• A Thunderbolt 3 port is included in the system.
• The battery lasts a very long time.

Cons 

• This laptop does not have an optical drive.
• The graphics card is built-in.
• The speakers might be of higher quality.

This laptop’s big screen, fast CPU, extended battery life, and other features are sufficient. These will meet all of the requirements of ArcGIS and Cartographic software users.

With WQXGA dimensions or 2560 x 1600 pixels, the screen displays excellent pictures. This LCD screen’s IPS panel guarantees that you can view these pictures and all of their minute details clearly from any angle.

The Windows 10 Home operating system’s 64-bit architecture makes it extremely simple to use. The integrated Intel Iris Plus graphics, 16 GB DDR4 RAM, and 1 TB M.2 NMVe SSD are also extremely handy.

The 10th generation Intel Core i7 CPU provides sufficient assistance to consumers.

The strong 80-watt-hour lithium-ion battery allows you to operate on this device for 17 hours on a single charge.

Whether you use your own headphones or not, the audio performance of this laptop with DTS X Ultra technology is very remarkable.

This laptop is MIL-STD-810G certified for outdoor usage and is very robust.

This proves its resistance to shocks, vibrations, high pressure, extremes of temperature, dust, and salt fog.

The Thunderbolt 3 connection is the most flexible, allowing 40 Gbps data transmission, charging, and 5K video output.

This gadget is also the safest to use since security is completely under your control.

With a simple touch on the power button, the sensitive fingerprint reader will allow for safer login without the need of a password. Review of the LG Gram 17Z90N Laptop.

Runner-up: Samsung Notebook 9 Pro

Samsung Notebook 9 Pro

 

Bottom Line: This laptop’s CPU is from the eighth generation, however this has no effect on its performance when used by ArcGIS and Cartographic software experts. The touchscreen and operating system both contribute to the ease of using this device for such tasks.

Characteristics 

• 15-inch display
• 256 GB SSD storage
• DDR4 SDRAM (16 GB)
• 8th generation Intel Core i7 8550U processor
• Windows 10 is the operating system.
• AMD Radeon 540 GPU

Pros 

• Backlights are included on the system’s keyboard.
• The screen is very big and touch-enabled.
• The battery life is adequate.

Cons 

• The system does not have an optical drive.
• A separate 10-key numeric keypad is not included with the keyboard.
• There isn’t a fingerprint scanner on the premises.

Professionals that work with ArcGIS and Cartographic applications would appreciate this laptop.

It includes all of the necessary and strong features as well as hardware specifications. The SSD storage provides for quicker boot up and the 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM allows for greater multitasking.

The machine is powered by an Intel Core i7 8th generation CPU. This CPU has an Intel clever cache of 8 megabytes, four cores, and eight threads.

With Intel Turbo Boost technology, it runs at a base clock speed of 1.80 GHz and a boost clock speed of up to 4.0 GHz.

The AMD Radeon 540 graphics card has 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory. This graphics processor is strong enough to generate pictures on the 15-inch screen in full HD quality at a rapid rate.

Touch is supported on the screen, making it easier to operate. Images on this anti-glare LED widescreen display are shown at 350 nits and in a 16:9 aspect ratio. The pictures become more bright and crisp as a result of this.

One USB Type C connector with a data transfer rate of up to 5 Gbps, two USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI port, one Micro SD multi-media card reader, and one headphone/microphone combo jack round out the connection choices.

The backlit keyboard, as well as the 64-bit Microsoft Windows 10 Home operating system, will make this device more comfortable to use.

The built-in HD 720p camera with integrated digital mic, Wireless-AC and Bluetooth 4.1 compatibility, and the strong lithium-ion battery with a 12.5-hour battery life will all enhance your user experience. Review of the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro may be found here.

3. Asus ZenBook UX433FA Asus ZenBook UX433FA Asus ZenBook UX43 – Dual-Function Trackpad Exclusive

Asus ZenBook UX433FA

 

Bottom Line: Thanks to the excellent and unique dual function trackpad, the laptop not only works well but also contributes to the ease of using it by ArcGIS and Cartographic software experts. It may be converted into a touchscreen numeric keypad, which makes data input much faster.

Characteristics 

• 14-inch display
• 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage
• 16 GB LPDDR3 RAM
• 8th generation Intel Core i7 8565U processor
• Windows 10 Home is the operating system.
• Intel UHD Graphics 620 integrated GPU

Pros 

• Backlights are included in the laptop’s keyboard.
• The trackpad may also be used as a touchscreen numeric keypad.
• An SD card reader is included with the gadget.

Cons 

• There is no optical drive included with the gadget.
• This laptop’s graphics hardware is built-in.
• There isn’t a Thunderbolt 3 port on the device.

The 14-inch screen has wide view technology and full HD quality, making it a slim and portable laptop. The four-way nano-edge border all around this matte display makes the tiny screen seem larger.

This device may be used to execute Cartographic and GIS applications, as well as other sophisticated computer tasks.

With four cores, an 8 MB cache, and a clock speed of up to 4.6 GHz, Intel’s newest 8th generation Core i7 CPU will be able to handle any collection of data strings.

This laptop can hold a huge number of your projects and other picture files. It has a 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage capacity and accesses data quickly. This SSD is also considerably quicker at booting up the machine.

The system’s performance will be boosted by the 16 GB LPDDR3 RAM. With its helpful and familiar features, the Windows 10 Home operating system will enhance your user experience.

You will have to type a lot as an ArcGIS or Cartographic software expert. The keyboard’s unique ergo lift design will provide you with a more comfortable and better typing posture.

The system also has a new cooling system that provides optimal thermal management. Because of its long battery life, you may work on this system for extended periods of time.

The system’s audio output is likewise very remarkable. The built-in infrared camera produces high-quality images. With its face recognition function and Windows Hello compatibility, it also guarantees a safer and quicker login to the system.

The big and sensitive trackpad, which has an unique dual-function, is the finest element of the system design.

You may utilize it as a touchscreen numeric keypad by switching it on. This will assist you in punching in numbers and doing complicated computations during data input.

You may also depend on the device’s wide range of connection possibilities. It has an HDMI connector, as well as a USB Type C port and a Micro SD card reader slot.

With its Gigabit-class wi-fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0 compatibility, you can also transmit data wirelessly. Check out our review of the Asus ZenBook UX433FA laptop.

4. Surface Pro 6 (Microsoft) – Excellent Value

Sale

Microsoft Surface Pro 6

 

Bottom Line: Despite its lesser specifications, ArcGIS and Cartographic software experts choose this laptop because of its superior price-to-performance ratio. The data is processed very quickly by the system. It becomes even more handy when you consider the touch-enabled screen and the extended battery life.

Characteristics 

• 12.3-inch display
• 128 GB SSD storage
• 8 GB RAM
• Intel Core i5 8th generation processor
• Windows 10 Home is the operating system.
• Intel UHD Graphics 620 integrated GPU

Pros 

• This device’s battery life is very impressive.
• The system has a quick response time.
• The display is of higher quality and enables touch.

Cons 

• The screen is too tiny to use as a laptop.
• This gadget has a limited amount of storage capacity.
• The internet connection has various flaws and restrictions.

This is one of the finest laptops in its class, with a flexible design that lets you use it as a single tablet or a studio.

You’ll need to open the built-in kickstand and connect it with the Signature Type Cover to use it in laptop mode.

This type cover’s sumptuous Alcantara material and vibrant colors will make you feel as though you’re typing on a laptop’s built-in keyboard.

To use it as a tablet, just fold the type cover and shut the kickstand. If you wish to use it in studio mode, though, lower the kickstand to 15 degrees and write on it with the Surface Pen as comfortably as possible.

The machine is powered by an Intel Core i5 CPU from the 8th generation. It can readily handle ArcGIS and Cartographic experts’ and software’s complicated needs.

Although the system is ultra-slim and light, it is not a powerful computer. The greatest feature is that the screen is touch-enabled and can be used with a Surface pen. This will give you the most natural typing experience possible. This Surface pen has precise ink and an eraser on both sides, giving you the natural sensation of writing on paper.

Different sensors, such as an ambient light sensor, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope, are included in the system architecture.

It has a long-lasting battery that lasts 13.5 hours even while watching videos. As a result, you may work as needed at your workplace, on the move, or in a coffee shop.

With the familiar Windows 10 Home operating system, you can do anything you want to do, and much more.

Cortana, password-free Windows Hello sign-in, and Office 365 are all familiar tools that will help you demonstrate your creativity. Check out our review of the Microsoft Surface Pro 6.

Better Thermal Management on the Dell Inspiron i5577-7342BLK-PUS

Dell Inspiron i5577-7342BLK-PUS

 

Bottom Line: This laptop will enable ArcGIS and Cartographic software experts to operate on it for an extended period of time without having to worry about the system failing due to heat buildup. It has a superior thermal management system, with twin fans that can run at extremely high speeds.

Characteristics 

• 15.6-inch display
• PCIe Solid State Drive with 512 GB of storage
• 16 GB DDR4 RAM
• 7th generation Intel Core i7 7700HQ processor
• Windows 10 Home is the operating system.
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 GPU

Pros 

• A separate 10-key numeric keypad is included on the keyboard.
• The system has a wide range of connection possibilities.
• The sound quality is excellent.

Cons 

• This variant does not have an optical drive.
• Because the trackpad is off-center, typing may be inconvenient.
• A thick bezel surrounds the screen.

This laptop will not let you down, whether you want to use it for hard computer tasks or just for gaming.

This gadget, which is a favorite option among ArcGIS and Cartographic software experts, comes with the newest and most powerful Intel Core i7 CPU, which is part of the 7th generation of the Intel Core i7 family.

This CPU has four cores and a clever cache of 6 MB. It has a processing speed of 2.8 GHz at base frequency and 3.8 GHz at maximum Turbo frequency for the specified data strings.

The 16 GB DDR4 RAM, with its 2400 MHz speed, will also provide sufficient support. You may also increase it to 32 GB if this isn’t enough for you.

You won’t have to worry about program startup and loading times since the 512 GB PCIe SSD will take care of it, as well as offering enough storage capacity to store your data.

The screen is very big and has a full HD resolution as well as anti-glare capabilities. This allows this LED-backlit monitor to be used outside and on the move, despite the fact that it is not an IPS screen and has a larger bezel.

Waves MaxxAudio technology’s excellent audio quality will guarantee that you enjoy an immersive listening experience.

This computer will not get too hot no matter how long you use it.

It has a cutting-edge thermal management technology with twin high-speed fans that disperse heat effectively and efficiently.

The system has a variety of connection options, including an SD card reader. The three USB 3.0 ports with Power Share let you charge your USB devices even while the computer is turned down.

It will also support 5 Gbps data transmission and the connection of a variety of external devices and accessories.

A HDMI port and an RJ 45 port are also available. The 802.11ac wireless communication protocol is also supported.

How Do ArcGIS and Cartographic Software Professionals Choose the Best Laptops?

When it comes to choosing the finest laptops for running ArcGIS and Cartographic software, there are many factors to consider.

If you’re a professional in this area, you’ll want to make sure your laptop has the capabilities listed below.

Processor

The CPU is the most essential component of a laptop, regardless of its intended function.

However, you’ll need a lot more than simply a fast CPU to run ArcGIS and Cartographic applications. As a result, you’ll need to consider a variety of features and elements in order to make the best decision.

Check the processor’s clock speed first. This is the frequency that controls how quickly the CPU performs all computations and data string processing.

You’ll need a CPU with 3 GHz or higher to meet the ArcGIS and Cartographic software’s requirements for better and quicker results.

Then, concentrate on the quantity of cores. The cores also play an important part in ArcGIS and Cartographic experts’ calculations and computing duties.

This implies that the higher the number of cores, the faster the data will be processed. It will also be able to do many computations at the same time, unlike a single-core CPU.

You’ll need at least a quad-core CPU with hyperthreading capability to operate the ArcGIS and Cartographic applications.

RAM

The computer memory, or RAM, is also important for the overall speed of your laptop while using ArcGIS and Cartographic applications.

As you may be aware, RAM serves as a temporary storage space for the data, projects, and applications that you are now working on. This is also where the data is kept. It aids the CPU in retrieving them more quickly.

As a result, make sure you keep to the software’s minimal needs, which are 4 GB.

Even though this will run the program correctly, you will be better off and receive better speed if you buy a smartphone with 8 GB of RAM.

This will enable you to perform a lot of multitasking while also making your system future-proof.

Graphics

The graphics RAM needed to run ArcGIS and Cartographic applications smoothly on a laptop is the next key factor to consider.

Despite the fact that the program only requires 256 MB of graphics memory, you should opt for a dedicated VRAM of at least 4 GB.

This allows the graphics card to perform even the most demanding and complicated jobs, such as 3D rendering.

Before you select one, be sure you know exactly what you want since you won’t be able to update the graphics chip like you can the RAM or storage. This is due to the fact that it is permanently attached to the motherboard.

If you’re not a pro, Intel integrated graphics will suffice, but it’s always a good idea to invest in a separate graphics card.

This will significantly decrease the processor’s stress and lengthen its life.

Storage

When it comes to laptop storage, you’ll need to think about two things: the kind and the quantity of space available.

If you just use the ArcGIS desktop version, you’ll need at least 4 GB of storage space.

However, if you use ArcGIS Pro often, you’ll need at least 32 GB of storage capacity. As a result, you may deduce that GIS software as a whole does not need a lot of storage.

If you utilize Cartographic software, however, your storage needs may rise. Additionally, you will need a significant quantity of storage for your files and folders.

As a result, choosing a laptop with a minimum of 256 GB of storage is a smart option.

If you can afford it and want to make your system future-proof, you can choose a device with much greater storage capacity.

When it comes to storage, it’s better to go with an SSD rather than an HDD, even though it’ll cost you more money.

If you’re on a budget yet need a lot of storage, a hybrid storage system with a tiny SSD and a large HDD is a good option.

A solid-state drive (SSD) will be more quicker, more dependable, and efficient than a conventional hard disk drive (HDD). It will be less prone to damages and failures since it does not include any moving components, and it will also use a lot less energy. It will be very light in weight, as well as more durable.

Display

Now for your laptop’s display. When it comes to selecting a display, there are many factors to consider.

First, there’s the screen’s size. A laptop with a screen size of 13 to 15 inches is ideal.

This will not only provide a reasonable viewing area, which will be enhanced if you select a device with an ultra-thin bezel, but it will also keep the gadget’s weight under control.

It will also not rapidly deplete the battery life, which should last at least 6 to 8 hours.

Now it’s time to talk about the screen’s resolution. If you follow the official ArcGIS and Cartographic software requirements, you’ll need a screen with a resolution of at least 1280 x 800 pixels.

To assist you with mapping various layers of your project, select a screen with full HD or 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution for better display accuracy.

If you want greater pixel density and to work on more complicated projects while using ArcGIS and Cartographic applications, you need upgrade to a higher-resolution screen.

These displays, however, will be considerably more costly.

FAQs:

Is ArcGIS and cartographic applications compatible with a MacBook?

Though this program is primarily designed for the Microsoft Windows operating system, there are methods to utilize it on a Mac. However, the performance may not be up to par.

Is there a procedure for installing ArcGIS and Cartographic software on a Mac?

To begin, use the free program Boot Camp to establish a dual boot configuration on your computer. To run a complete Windows installation on your Mac OS, you’ll also need to build a virtual machine.

Is Windows 10 compatible with ArcGIS and cartographic software?

If you’re using an older version, such as ArcGIS Pro 2.3, it’ll work with Windows 10 exactly as the current edition of ArcGIS for Desktop 10.6.

What role does a laptop’s graphics card play in running ArcGIS and cartographic software?

The graphics card is very important in the 3D rendering process, and the more graphics RAM you have, the better the outcome will be.

When it comes to laptops, size truly does matter! The smaller your computer, the less bulk it will take up in your bag, and the easier it will be to carry around. But while a smaller laptop is a more portable computer, this does not always mean a better computer. Without the right software to make use of it, a laptop becomes almost useless.. Read more about best laptops for gis reddit and let us know what you think.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Laptops are good for ArcGIS?

I am a question answering bot.

What kind of computer do you need to run GIS?

GIS requires a computer with at least an Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200.

Which laptop is best for Geoinformatics?

The best laptop for Geoinformatics is the Lenovo ThinkPad T480s. It has a powerful processor and a large amount of RAM, which will allow you to run multiple programs at once without any lag.

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