I'm quite blunt myself. I'd just tell it how it is: "I'm not trying to be funny, nor create any friction, but this machine simply isn't fast enough for my work.

I'm quite blunt myself. I'd just tell it how it is: "I'm not trying to be funny, nor create any friction, but this machine simply isn't fast enough for my work. My own 7 year old laptop is faster — that's why I used it in the past, only to then get into trouble, for which I totally understand the reasons why. I'm so concerned about this problem, moving forwards, that I've even considered getting a loan to buy a better work machine, which is clearly daft, but that's how concerned I am. I'm even so concerned that I have posted anonymously on a website with many IT pros on it, asking for advice on the situation. Some of the folk simply suggested looking for work elsewhere, which I'd honestly prefer not to do. So instead I'm trying to talk to you about the problem, in the hope that you'll remedy it." Is there a proper way? Sure, if there is some internal company process for hardware acquisition. Otherwise, I think the proper way is simply to ask: be direct, clear and polite, and explain your concerns. In the past, I've worked at (UK) companies that have had the right mentality: that hardware is cheap compared to developer/engineer's time. Some places I've worked actually leased decent workstations for employees, instead of purchasing them. It works out cheap monthly, is good for cashflow and tax, hardware faults are someone else's problem, and upgrades are cheap/easy. Obviously, these latter points don't answer your primary questions at all, and might not be of much- if any- assistance. But if the company you work at is fairly small (edit: maybe company size doesn't matter), perhaps you can somehow put these points forward in conversation, for their consideration. Maybe consider looking for another job if they don't remedy the problem. Not providing adequate tooling for a given job, even if you are junior, is a pretty big oversight on their part, and might be an indicator that they're not great employers.