The E-series Dell laptops tend to be a little unreliable to dock. I don't know much detail on this, but I know that those folks who are replacing laptops on campus this year are looking for any other alternative than having to go with the E-series. I have a D830 Latitude for work and it's fine, but I don't think you can get them anymore.
I'd think about how you're going to use it, really. My work laptop is a straight up laptop with a slightly wider than standard screen and for most non-docked work, it's fine, but trying to pull a full day working on it out of dock (and therefore without my keyboard, mouse and monitor) drives me a little batty. My personal laptop is an HP entertainment something or other and it's a full size keyboard with keypad and wide screen. It's about 7.5 pounds, but *much* easier to work with as a stand-alone machine for long periods of time. It's not a laptop that is easy to travel with, though - in addition to being heavy, it's just plain big.
I'd also verify that you'll be using your own computer as a work computer when you work from home. If all I need to do is check email, I can work from my personal laptop, but if I need to log into the VPN, I have to do that from a work computer - they won't install the software on a personal computer because they can't control what else will be on the system that might compromise things. If you're doing anything that requires any sort of security or transmission of data, I'd be *very* surprised if they didn't issue you a machine with which to work from home.
no subject
I'd think about how you're going to use it, really. My work laptop is a straight up laptop with a slightly wider than standard screen and for most non-docked work, it's fine, but trying to pull a full day working on it out of dock (and therefore without my keyboard, mouse and monitor) drives me a little batty. My personal laptop is an HP entertainment something or other and it's a full size keyboard with keypad and wide screen. It's about 7.5 pounds, but *much* easier to work with as a stand-alone machine for long periods of time. It's not a laptop that is easy to travel with, though - in addition to being heavy, it's just plain big.
I'd also verify that you'll be using your own computer as a work computer when you work from home. If all I need to do is check email, I can work from my personal laptop, but if I need to log into the VPN, I have to do that from a work computer - they won't install the software on a personal computer because they can't control what else will be on the system that might compromise things. If you're doing anything that requires any sort of security or transmission of data, I'd be *very* surprised if they didn't issue you a machine with which to work from home.