How many computers should a programmer have?

Hm. It depends on the sort of programmer. The writer uses C# (bulky Microsoft tools) and codes in a language that requires compiling. So his assessment is fitting for an ASP.NET or Java programmer, definitely.<p>I program in Python and PHP mostly, and my two-year-old Macbook is more than enough. 2GHz, 2GB RAM, 60GB harddisk. I run two Virtual OS (XP and Ubuntu) for cross-platform testing using Parallels virtualization, although never both at the same time. I've found that my computer runs just fine with my tools of choice: The usual day-to-day apps (Thunderbird, Firefox, Office 08, etc.), a local MAMP stack, TextMate or MacVim, Photoshop, Transmit (FTP), and a grab bag of other processes (Python, IDLE, Komodo Edit, etc.).<p>Never needed anything else. I have every browser, the major OS, a great local development server, the choice graphic tools, and good editors. The only other component is my shared hosting account with HostGator which runs twenty sites or so, has unlimited bandwidth, and generally is a very good production server for small-to-medium client sites and my own side projects.

"I don’t like to admit it, but even I am sometimes forced to use virtual machines." Who is this guy?

<p><pre><code> One for the Black Hat on his dark Aeron, In the Land of Mordor where the Lurkers lie. One Sun to rule them all, One Mac to find them, One router to bring them all and in the darkness bind them In the Land of Mordor where the Lurkers lie.</code></pre>

The correct answer is "as many as you need".<p>Personally, I use a MacBook and a Linux server over SSH. Between the two I get the best of both worlds.

As much as one needs. For me, I need more monitors than I need multiple computers.

I have two physical machines, but I use virtual machines all the time for testing purposes, I think most people do. I have no idea what he was talking about with being "forced" to use virtual machines, virtual machines have made testing a hundred times easier than it used to be

As many as you need. I am not a full time programmer, but in recent months I have gone from 2 desktops (one for audio/video and one linux desktop) and a work laptop to one personal macbook pro with an Ubuntu VM, Slicehost (Ubuntu) and EC2. Works fine for me, at least till I get gear acquisition syndrome again.

I've gone a bit over the top lately. I have my laptop for most tasks, a Mac Mini for development, a Mac Mini for crawling, and then a suite of servers for further testing.