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Thread: Help me choose my new laptop
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04-16-2008, 07:57 AM #26
i just got a 15" macbook pro this past thurs and god damn i couldn't be any happier. i used macs all through school, even though i owned a dHell...i always wanted a mac and finally pulled the trigger. so freaking awesome. the battery life is killer with the LED screen and low power chipset.
Edit - like turner said, if you're not a serious power-user, get the macbook.
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04-16-2008, 11:51 AM #27
What do you want to spend. You cannot go wrong with a Lenovo Thinkpad, they are the most durable laptops made. Most come with a suspension system motion sensor that turns off the hard drive if it jolts too much, drains under the keyboard, an airbag system behind the monitor to protect it from abuse, etc.
Lenovo Thinkpad = Toyota Tacoma of computers = lasts forever
and they just came out with an entire computer run off of flash based memory system so there is no hard drive to deal with, I Think that that version lasts for 10 hours on a battery!
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04-16-2008, 02:45 PM #28
On that $399 I'd-like-to-be-a-mac box...
http://gizmodo.com/380488/psystar-ex...ks-like-a-hoax
fwiw.We're sorta like 7-Eleven. We're not always doing business, but we're always open.
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04-16-2008, 07:00 PM #29
got my g5 5 years ago, and it has performed amazingly--hasnt even slowed down with FCP 6, Illustrator, Photoshop, etc. all installed on it. Put in 2g worth of memory and it is now fast as hell. Not saying you should get a g5, but macs are well built, easy to use, and surprisingly built to LAST!! These PC companies count on you to be stupid enough to replace the thing every year when it gets a virus or slows to a crawl. Never again will I go with Dell, HP, etc. I think I'm a mac lifer now.
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04-16-2008, 09:45 PM #30
Gotta say I love my MacBook!
Leave No Turn Unstoned!
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04-17-2008, 08:28 AM #31
I feel so dirty. I just bought an iMac to replace the family desktop. So dirty...must shower. But, it's so clean. And pretty. And works focking great. OK I love it. And am anxiously saving up for a Macbook to replace my Dell laptop.
I HATED Macs for many many years. I'd used one off and on, being in the editorial/advertising world...they weren't awful but I found them to crash ALL the time and I didn't like not being able to get around the backside and fix whatever was wrong, a la PC's. Now with the Linux-based systems, Intel processors, cross-compatibility with PC files, etc., etc...and seeing how awesome the new iMacs and Macbook Pros* are we have in our office...well, I caved. And I'm pretty stoked I did.
*One of our Macbook Pros has been a giant lemon though - bad motherboard, bad hard drive, just a nightmare. Fortunately Apple took care of it though, eventually. Everything else has been great.I'm so hardcore, I'm gnarcore.
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04-18-2008, 06:30 AM #32
What he said^^^
I own a 1yo mac OS X and a 3yo Dell Inspiron (partitioned XP and Vista. Not that XP gets used anymore.)
I only use my mac for media applications. Photos, videos, music, etc, is all seemless and easy. I prefer my Dell, however, for work and daily internet use.
There just aren't enough software applications for my mac. I can't do my job without my Dell. My mac is for home/skype/video/yay. "I love my mac." for homework.
My Dell is for creating voice-recognition animations inside e-learning modules. My mac doesn't even work for those applications. It's impossible if the software isn't server-based. Buy a mac, and you've got what you've got... and it probably won't fail. (which is great for any applications created by mac and only mac.)
However, if you want to use software created by 3rd parties that cost more than any computer, you'll end up using a pc. The software I run on my 3yo PC runs nearly 6 grand. My mac would puke with those responsibities. (aside from the fact that it just wouldn't work with coworkers.) Oh, and my Dell (that everyone loves to hate) never crashes. But I run a clean machine. My mac doesn't crash either.
Look at it this way-
if you spend more money on software than hardware, buy a pc.
If you spend more money on hardware than software, and over-the-counter is sweet, buy a mac.
over-the-counter mac trumps over-the-counter pc.
Those who hate Dell, hate all PC builders. And that's fine. Over-the-counter is over-the-counter.Last edited by gaijin; 04-18-2008 at 07:03 AM.
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04-19-2008, 10:17 AM #33
Mac...
Dual boot XP and osX.
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04-19-2008, 11:32 AM #34Registered User
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My roommate must be the only person in the world who switched from PC to Mac and wants so badly to go back. He's a very casual user who doesn't want to spend the time it seems to take to find Mac-compatible versions of software that works great in Windows. He also would like to actually play a video game or two.
I consider myself fairly proficient with Windows, and I can keep my Windows XP installation running just as quickly and seamlessly as any Mac does. Macs are great in that they can manage themselves very well, something Windows does a pretty piss poor job of, but if you actually want to play with things and tweak everything exactly how you want it, I feel Windows allows for far, far more tinkering than Macs do.
Perhaps if I've spent more time working with OSX, and I will admit I haven't had much chance to play with it, I'd feel differently.
As far as PC's go, Dell makes decent laptops, (desktops no, there's no excuse not to go whitebox on a desktop, but laptops are a whole different animal). Check out the scratch and dent section of the Dell store and you can find some pretty bitchin deals. Acer and Toshiba also make good ones.
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04-19-2008, 01:52 PM #35
Just curious....what software? Honest question.
This is something a lot of people point to, but in casual-user world, I can't think of many examples. Also, if OS X just doesn't do it for you, you shouldn't have any problems getting xp or vista going on your machine. It's not like you're stuck w/ a useless hunk of plastic and metal.
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04-19-2008, 06:00 PM #36Registered User
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I have owned both macs and IBM's my entire life and couldnt be happier. The mac rules, i have had a g3, g4, g5, intel duo macbook, as well as a macbook pro. Leapord is unprecedented, dont cheap yourself and get a duo.
However IBM's are rock solid, for business i would never bring my mac, just to many other companies run on a PC platform and it is much easier to stay on the same page when you are working on the same operating system.
HP's should go to hell...to many problems to mention
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04-19-2008, 09:03 PM #37
Look at a
Dell m1330. I love this machine. I wiped out the dell part. same day I got it and installed Ubuntu.. This laptop is just phenomenal. It doesn't run Crysis but who cares?
I have somehow avoided being involved the the Dell tech support quagmire. I recently replaced a harddrive in an m140 for my roommate and spent 20 minutes troubleshooting over the phone, the tech made the decision, took my info, and shipped the new part while I was still on the phone. Got the drive two days later. Service with a smile. Strange? Apparently.
HP on the other hand... well, why don't we all agree that the person who decided that Tech Support could be outsourced overseas should be publicly flogged then executed with a penny loafer... rectally.
My 2 Cents. But go ahead, the Kool-Aid seems to be tasty these days.
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04-21-2008, 11:03 AM #38Registered User
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IBM sold the PC business to Lenovo about 3 years ago keeping a 19% share in Lenovo but that figure could have since changed .IBM has a 5 year commitment to fix lenovo hardware which is good cuz the infastructure is already in place to support the product ... when you get too many different vendors swapping services I think support suffers.
I seen IBM do stupid things too , like inventing the PC ,giving it away like the town tramp (mid 80's they REALLY didnt give a fuck )and almost missing the PC market
MAC IBM DELL ,every thing breaks ... everybody has some horror stories
IBM did Dell's hardware support at some point so I worked on some of their desk tops & servers but never LT's ,I thot dell was OK stuff .I got my kid a dell desktop in high school and 4 yrs later its still fine ,the GF's daughter just picked up and LT for < 600 delivered ... hell of a deal
One thing about MAC is that they seem to automagicaly talk to just about everything ,they just work ... you don't spend 2 days trying to get a MAC to talk to some obscure plotter or printer
IMO count on 3 yrs of service from any computer ... then be ready to buy another when it kacks
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04-21-2008, 04:14 PM #39
I have a family connection that works for IBM and used to be able to get Thinkpads for real cheap, but I don't think it's an option now. I'd like to get a Thinkpad. They're a bit spendy but not really any more so than a Mac, which seem to be really expensive for what they are.
The problem is, it doesn't seem like there are any brick-and-mortar establishments that sell Lenovo stuff, it's all online order. I can't wait 4-6 weeks to get another computer.
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04-21-2008, 06:27 PM #40Registered User
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that used to be called the friends & neighbors program where you could hook somebody up
I told my kid he could have whatever he wanted and he said dell was a better deal , and even tho I have IBM stamped on my ass ... I have never owned an IBM
4-6 weeks for a computer WTF ... dell was 10 days
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06-08-2008, 09:25 PM #41
Well, in the end I've ordered a Thinkpad T61. 2.5ghz Core 2 Duo, 800mhz FSB and 6MB l2 cache with a 160gb 7200rpm HD and 2GB ram... It's gonna be one fast little laptop. Total price, $1100 + tax. Free Shipping.
I went with XP, cuz from what I've read and been told, Vista is a nightmare. I might just try installing Linux and running XP under VMWare for Lightroom purposes anyways.
I didn't go with a Mac because I feel they're way overpriced for what they are, otherwise I probably would have made the switch.
Now I just have to wait for it to be delivered...
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06-09-2008, 06:22 PM #42
my guide to buying computers
want a laptop: go mac
want a desktop: build a pc with linux or xp
dont bother with vista
dell products physically fall apart... like seriously
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06-10-2008, 07:25 PM #43
^F that, Mac Pros rule. And I've never been anything but extremely happy with the iMacs I've owned.
On the video games, well, for bang vs. buck, your never gonna do better than an Xbox or Playstation.ROBOTS ARE EATING MY FACE.
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06-12-2008, 09:03 AM #44
I'm on a 5y.o. Dell C810 Latitude that I built from sabotaged parts. Only thing I've changed is the OS - Went from 2k to XP & I keep every part of it updated - only issue I have (and it's not, really), is a thin vertical red line on the left side of the screen. It's the ribbon that runs from the MB, & it's just never been important enough for me to bother fixing.
Spent over 10 years deploying nothing BUT Dell ~ both PC's & laptops. Sure, there were a few PITA systems here & there, but I never had a problem getting them repaired/replaced & overall, a FAR better experience than I've had dealing with IBM / (Lenovo), Toshiba, Panasonic or HP.
But geez, you Mac guys are an exciteable bunch!We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need? ~ Lee Iacocca
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06-12-2008, 09:11 AM #45
Unless it's a ThinkPad ~ everything (including support issues) were turned over to Lenovo & getting *older* ThinkPad support is next to impossible.
BZZZZZTT! -1. Toughbook.
In terms of longterm reliability, the nod probably goes to the TP, but you can literally throw a Toughbook across a concrete shop floor (ahem...for "product demonstration purposes only"). Never missed a beat.Last edited by EPSkis; 06-12-2008 at 09:26 AM.
We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need? ~ Lee Iacocca
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06-12-2008, 09:14 AM #46
MacBook Pro here. Love it.
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06-12-2008, 10:24 AM #47Registered User
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I'll give another endorsement for macbook. My girlfriend got one for dental school (the whole class got one included in their tuition with all of their books and software already loaded onto it, pretty f-ing cool).
I liked hers so much that I ditched my old POS dell and got the macbook. That was 2 years ago and my book is still running like a champ even after dousing it in coffee a few times (not recommended).
One thing I hate is that a lot of basic programs and downloads don't work on it. It could just be that I'm a retard but a lot of programs are useless on it. You will probably need to download firefox too because safari isn't compatible with most programs. Oh yeah and the dual USB's are so close together that many times you can't use two things at once. Sucks when trying to print something from a thumb drive.
I got the bonus 2 gigs of RAM with the dual core intel processors on mine too and it sure is nice when running multiple windows and programs. Fastest computer I've even owned for sure (but that ain't saying much).
With mac it's also just the little things that make it nice like the power cord that is magnetic so if you trip over it it doesn't ruin the power jack (this happened to a friends pc and cost a lot to fix).
Macs come with everything you need instead of having to add all the options like a pc. Yeah a base model Dell is cheaper but if you add all of the options that a mac comes with standard, the end price will be pretty comparable.
I know it sounds like I have a bunch of stocks in apple or that I've "drank the apple flavored Koolaid" just like every other starbucks drinking, Volkswaggen driving nerd out there but screw it, I like my computer.Last edited by shredgnar; 06-12-2008 at 10:28 AM.
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06-12-2008, 05:44 PM #48Registered User
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so probably they contract their support from india ,everybody does the india thing nowdays unless its not working in which case (specificly a printer whos name escapes me) I seen support revert back to the US because we couldnt understand the support people
I called IBM last month and some dude from india is answering the main switch board .I been out of it 3 yrs which is a longtime in the business ... hell thats the projected life of a laptop
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