Equal parts higher-ed IT, web dev and support; with a dash of freelance consulting thrown in for good measure. (Oct/19: Seeking change of pace. Not afraid to take a step back in order to move ahead!)
I'm partial to Lenovo Thinkpads for their build quality and that they can accommodate basic upgrades. You have an ample budget, perhaps look at the T-series, or the X-series if portability is really important.
I have a Thinkpad T520 which is still going strong after 5+ years. I opted for the best processor and screen resolution that I could afford then, as time went on, I maxed out the RAM, swapped the HD for an SSD, added a micro-SSD to split the OS boot and data drives, and lastly picked up a docking station.
I'm partial to Lenovo Thinkpads for their build quality and that they can accommodate basic upgrades. You have an ample budget, perhaps look at the T-series, or the X-series if portability is really important.
I have a Thinkpad T520 which is still going strong after 5+ years. I opted for the best processor and screen resolution that I could afford then, as time went on, I maxed out the RAM, swapped the HD for an SSD, added a micro-SSD to split the OS boot and data drives, and lastly picked up a docking station.
I'm still pretty happy with my Thinkpad T430, so I can only second that.