Thanks @itbs!
On the laptop is fine for now I’d say. Please also note the ideas here: Standard software for an OTS machine
Update for everyone: so far the previous attempts to manage the software on our laptops haven’t really lead to results. @itbs was to kind to help with installing an operating system on some of them. So a streamlined approach is still pending but we’re now having the first few laptops available with an ubuntu on it that can be used.