Work Laptop Poo'd Itself

[Surrufus]

So, my day at work is pretty much stuffed.

My HP Probook 4540s has poo'd itself for what will probably be the last time.
This particularly sucks, because I just had a SSD put in it a few months ago, and it's been like a whole new computer since then.
Our usual IT guy will come past tomorrow morning, but from what I've told him, he's not confident he will find any solution I've missed.
To be honest I've had a pretty good run with this, over 5 years of daily use now so I'm not super upset.

So, it seems I will be in the market for a new Laptop, and I'm looking for recommendations before I go shopping.
I quite enjoy using full keyboard with a numpad, and most of the smaller laptops don't have one.
If I'm sitting at my desk, I've been using my laptop screen and an additional monitor, but the different sizes are irritating. Is dual external monitor use possible? Maybe with a dock?

I'd love to have a long battery life for when I'm away from my desk, but this is a lesser concern.
My German colleagues have the option of replacing the CD-rom with a second battery, giving them 7 to 11 hours of full use.
Who uses a CD-rom these days anyway?

I suppose at the end of the day the Laptop I end up with needs to be commercial quality, and not a recreational quality of machine ( assuming that there is a difference ).

Does anyone have any recommendations ( positive or negative )?

Thanks in advance,

Michael

[cripesamighty]

If you have the option, then definitely change out the optical drive for a second battery. You can always use an external DVD drive connected via a USB port. I bought one of these years ago when I was regularly using a netbook as it didn't have a CD/DVD drive and it worked a treat when it was required.

[Surrufus]

Most of the Laptops I'm looking at don't have optical drives, and have 2 batteries.
I actually have a USB optical drive at home, because my gaming rig doesn't have one, the watercooling res takes up most of the 5.25" bays.

The Lenovo X1 Carbon caught my eye very quickly, but the lack of a numpad, high price, and extended delivery time has thrown me off.

However, the Lenovo T570 appears to be the current leader ( from Lenovo anyway ).
Combined with a Dock, two monitors for my desk, mouse, keyboard, etc, I think it will be great!

I have also been recommended Dell, and HP as manufacturers for work computers.