Workstation powered by laptop

[Lucifer02]

Hey guys so I'm going to be moving to Canada to start with university in a few months and I want to budget a few things out, and am here for a few opinions.

My usage of said devices will be

1. Research work for University, (I like to open a lot of tabs at once like 20-30)

2. Coding basic stuff for websites or databases

3. stock market (will open a few live graphs with real-time data and a few measuring 'devices')

4. light gaming (main games include league of legends and fortnite and all those mid level games would be a huge plus if i could play a few simulator games like plane simulators and another huge plus for games like battlefield doesn't have to be ultra graphics, medium for this would work)

5. will be using for a good 3 years and would be best if 4 with optimal use is possible

Now for me I've been using a desktop for about 5 years and don't like laptops much but since I have to be mobile in university will most likely have to change my ways and one thing I don't want is a 10 tonne laptop which I have to carry around the campus. So light-weight or mid-weight, then I am torn apart choosing between i5-8th gen and i7- 7th gen( but this does have the advantage of hyper-threading which will be required most likely for the stock market apps). 8 GB ram is the minimum requirement but would like to aim for something around 12-16 GB as usage will increase as years pass and don't want my laptop to be below the thresh-hold. Oh must be a windows laptop, and for graphic cards I was thinking that I'd rather buy an external GPU and another monitor and whenever I'm in my room my laptop can be my literal CPU. So graphic card for laptop itself isn't that great a deal it's a whatever.

So what are my options in terms of which laptops are good to buy with these specifications while trying to save money wherever I can. (Note: it has to be a good looking laptop)

I saw this laptop but I feel I can get a lot cheaper laptop as I'm willing to save up on the graphic card side.

What kind of GPU do you think would be required and which e-gpu stations do you recommend? (don't really care about the aesthetics of this as it'll be kept below a desk most likely)
Also what kind of monitor in the cheaper end do you think would be nice, at this point I use a Samsung SyncMaster 2033 which can't go above 1920x1080 (I know it's a sad situation but I've been waiting for this moment). Plus please not I don't want to splurge too much into a monitor as I'm used to bad graphics and don't mind average graphics. My dream is to have dual monitors at one point in my life if I'm able to save up for it in the future so if that is compatible another plus not really a priority though.

Do you think I'm over estimating what I require? If so where?

I don't really have a budget but what do you think my estimated budget will be as this is me literally planning at this point?

[brob]

Something with specs like https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CTHLX8C/ref=s9_acss_bw_cg_PCLTMC_2e1_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&pf_rd_r=TKHTEVNHGGMYJ6WHA03M&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=82c48ab2-9e72-4888-81f6-29d5ed5556cd&pf_rd_i=565108 should be sufficient for needs. Has enough for coding and web design. Add a 2560x1440 or higher resolution monitor for more display space.

[Lucifer02]

11 hours ago, brob said:

Something with specs like https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CTHLX8C/ref=s9_acss_bw_cg_PCLTMC_2e1_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&pf_rd_r=TKHTEVNHGGMYJ6WHA03M&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=82c48ab2-9e72-4888-81f6-29d5ed5556cd&pf_rd_i=565108 should be sufficient for needs. Has enough for coding and web design. Add a 2560x1440 or higher resolution monitor for more display space.

This laptop seems like it's gonna weigh like a tonne, as I mentioned I'd want a laptop I can move around easily with.

[brob]

I did suggest something with specs similar to the link. But do you really consider 2.5Kg too heavy to cart around?

 

If you want a similar level of power in a lighter package, just spend more.