According to GM ,a  laptop for Programming generally should have Windows 10 Pro with a  I3, I5, or I7 processor with a generation 6 or higher Processor. I think I will have to tell GM to shove it up their @zz and I'll chance  an old I-3 generation 2 laptop relegated to programming with a new  500gb SSD and a upgrade install of Windows 10 pro and buy a $5 key online. It's something I'm rarely going to use too  much anyhow. Why would anyone ever consider using a pricey new laptop with all your information, photos, videos etc with Virus protection turned off to do programming with? I'm hoping an I3 PC with a SSD can work as well as a I5 one with a conventional hard drive.

GM doesn't say that if it doesn't meet the recommended specs that things aren't going to work out for you, but they set lofty requirements and won't provide any support if you have a programming issue and see if what you are using doesn't meet their specs, so right away they know they'll be able to get out of supporting more than 2/3 of techs running into any programming issues and tell you the cause is on your end , LOL.