"On a personal note, I'm far more comfortable with a proper keyboard and a big monitor (or two)" This is how I used my laptop for years (I still use big monito

"On a personal note, I'm far more comfortable with a proper keyboard and a big monitor (or two)" This is how I used my laptop for years (I still use big monitors, but I don't usually use an external keyboard now, although I'm thinking getting another cherry mx blue keyboard). When I'm working, I use the external monitors as the primary and the laptop screen for slack/documentation (since its not at nice eye-height). It works very well. I even know people who leave their laptops closed when they work, using purely external monitor and external keyboard/mouse. A laptop is just a portable desktop. But for programming, I'm much more comfortable in my environment using my tools and configuration (for example, I'm a colemak typist, vim is my preferred editor, etc). I mean, I think a machine should be provided in case the candidate doesn't bring one (or doesn't want to; or like you, prefers to use desktops), but allowing the candidate the option of using their own helps set them up for success as they can use their own familiar environment, while forcing people to use something unfamiliar may be setting them up for failure.