I am looking for a new laptop which I'm partially going to use for playing poker (just 4 tables Stars) and the occasional solver analyses. Poker will be played using external monitor, keyboard, and mouse. In the past, through a docking station.

However, this laptop is also going to be used for academic work which is partially computational in nature and needs at least slightly above-average multi-thread CPU performance.

GPU performance is not a consideration. Not a gamer. In the past, I preferred Intel integrated graphics due to superior Linux compatibility. Not sure if that is still a thing.

As I'm doing some academic work, typing much and dragging that laptop around a lot, a solid keyboard, robustness, and a screen size in the 13.3-14 inch range is required.

I am usually buying stuff such as Dell Latitude, HP EliteBook, or Lenovo ThinkPad. Note that while I do some number-crunching, it is not so demanding that I need to shell out the money for a workstation laptop like an HP Zbook or Dell Precision.

Any ideas? I used to be somewhat clued up on PC hardware a decade or so back but I've been out of the loop for too long and don't know where to start looking.

I'm also pondering if it's worth waiting for the next-gen Intel CPU.

there's a new gen AMD mobile 4000 series cpus coming that will wipe the floor with Intel yet again

https://www.ultrabookreview.com/3603...4800u-laptops/

Thanks! The Thinkpad T14/T14s in a Ryzen config would indeed be a great fit for me.

ye, who doesn't like T series Thinkpads
the T460s I've had for 3 years is almost perfect

Here's what I normally recommend to people with generic preferences: https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-laptops/

Taking your specific feedback, I would be inclined to follow the "business laptop" advice, and upgrade the CPU some. Difficult to offer much more advice than that without a budget.

Just noticed your post right now.

Thanks and I agree with your general suggestions. My budget is somewhat vague. I'd prefer something in the EUR 1200-1400 range, but I might go as high as EUR 1700 or so for the right model.

And the mainstream models in your link are basically what I'm looking for. Doesn't need to something in the price class of a Macbook or Thinkpad X1 Carbon. So I think Thinkpad T series or E series may be the way to go.

My last two or three systems were Dell. The primary reason for my current E5470 was that few other than Dell offered a 14" matte FHD screen + good keyboard + real quad core (at the time not standard) + Intel integrated graphics.
But I'm likely not buying Dell for the next one as I'm not completely satisfied with the build quality.