- increase screen size to at least 15.5" because small screen is unusable for programming and for browsing modern websites with large font size and large pictures
- use IPS panel (can increase cost)
- make arrow keys full size (doesn't cost anything)
- add 7 keys for additional Cyrillic letters and 2 keys to switch between layouts (doesn't cost anything)
- add 3 USB ports and Ethernet (doesn't noticeably increase cost)
- increase RAM limit to 128 Gb (shouldn't cost anything, it is probably just a software limitation)
- use standard 3.5mm audio jacks
Using a better LCD panel can increase cost, so here is how this can be conpensated:
- use an older cheaper CPU. Newest CPUs usually have lower performance to cost ratio and therefore it doesn't make sense to buy them. Also why pay for 10 cores when most of the time you will be using 1 or 2?
- support cheaper HDD instead of SSD
- remove unnecessary speakers
- remove unnecessary keyboard backlight. Using laptop in darkness is bad for eyes anyway.
Also I am surprised that a modern i7 CPU that costs over $470 has just 12Mb cache. You can (probably) buy an old CPU with more cache for smaller price.
- increase screen size to at least 15.5" because small screen is unusable for programming and for browsing modern websites with large font size and large pictures
- use IPS panel (can increase cost)
- make arrow keys full size (doesn't cost anything)
- add 7 keys for additional Cyrillic letters and 2 keys to switch between layouts (doesn't cost anything)
- add 3 USB ports and Ethernet (doesn't noticeably increase cost)
- increase RAM limit to 128 Gb (shouldn't cost anything, it is probably just a software limitation)
- use standard 3.5mm audio jacks
Using a better LCD panel can increase cost, so here is how this can be conpensated:
- use an older cheaper CPU. Newest CPUs usually have lower performance to cost ratio and therefore it doesn't make sense to buy them. Also why pay for 10 cores when most of the time you will be using 1 or 2?
- support cheaper HDD instead of SSD
- remove unnecessary speakers
- remove unnecessary keyboard backlight. Using laptop in darkness is bad for eyes anyway.
Also I am surprised that a modern i7 CPU that costs over $470 has just 12Mb cache. You can (probably) buy an old CPU with more cache for smaller price.