Help me choose my new laptop

**Shaggy** · 04-15-2008, 02:36 PM

My Compaq X6050 finally gave up the ghost last night. Over the past two months vertical lines had started appearing in random places on the display, and last night the display finally became unreadable when a weird "checkered" pattern ended up covering the whole screen.

This was the same POS lemon that I had trouble with over a year ago, which never did get fixed. So rather than throw money at a problem computer, I'm in the market for a new laptop.

Except, I can't decide exactly what to get. I'm looking at getting either a Dell with Linux pre-installed on it, or a Mac with OSX. My old laptop ran XP, because it just wouldn't behave with Linux.

I've done a lot of Linux system administration and am partial to it, except it's still not there with the application support yet. Specifically, stuff like Lightroom won't run on it. It also has troubles with hardware compatibility on laptops, but I'm hoping that getting it as a vendor-installed package would avoid that.

Mac OSX on the other hand has a lot more application support and is a *nix architecture (BSD, I think). But I'm a complete Mac Jong and don't even know what I'm looking at in the way of specs and stuff.

I wish I had more time to make a descision, but that laptop was my only computer so I'm now looking to make a purchase within the next week or so. Any advice would be great, especially about the Macs because like I said I know nothing about them, except that they seem to be really popular. Thanks.

**njfreeskier** · 04-15-2008, 02:48 PM

Bought a mac after being a pc guy for years. couldn't be happier. a lil difficult to deal with some microsoft applications, but other than that i love my macbook. compact, light, quick, comfortable to type and work on, and stylee as well. do some research as to what features you really want, and then go mac.

**focus** · 04-15-2008, 02:53 PM

IMO OS X is pretty intuitive, and once you figure it out much more efficient for the casual user. I wouldn't worry about not knowing how stuff works, unless you're like Gosey and incapable of doing a quick google search when you hit a hangup. Windows is extremely annoying once you're used to the Mac, even if you aren't a victim of the commitment escalation.

macrumors.com for lots of good info -- the buyers guide is valuable for when you're actually planning to buy. The refurb section on the Apple store will usually have the best deals.

Edit: parallels w/ coherence is pretty brilliant, btw, for windows only apps. Minor performance tradeoff, but if you're seriously affected by that tradeoff you'd know it and wouldn't be asking this question here.

I have a macbook, btw, that I got ~1 year ago. I wished I'd gone w/ the Pro before I used the Macbook, but have no such regrets now.

**wi3dzmin** · 04-15-2008, 02:54 PM

Get a mac. I heart mine.

**Wes Mantooth** · 04-15-2008, 04:21 PM

I love my mac. My sister just picked up a new Mac Book and I recommend that, I have the Pro fro a little while ago but the Intel Core 2 Duo is substantially faster and Leopard is great. I've been using mac for like 8 years now and once you get past the user friendly thing, you can really see the benefits of the operating system. Macs are much faster from my experience, I can get my computer from shut down to on the internet in about a minute whereas my pc which is supposedly a fast one takes about 10 minutes to start up and get an application running.
I also prefer macs for organizing photos, music, and all forms of visual design because they are based off a different font system which is geared more towards visual aspects as opposed to text. My only complaint is that it's much harder to get into a Mac and manipulate it manually than on a PC. Macs when they start to freeze or get fucked up, are harder to fix the problem from the outside. But, on the other hand my mac rarely freezes up, I've never had one get a virus, and all the serious problems I've had with computers have been with PC's, especially Dell's....

**Nathan Explosion** · 04-15-2008, 04:24 PM

Just don't fucking get a Dell. Two years down the line and my Inspiron is a total piece of shit. Somehow the switch which activates the monitor when you open the notebook seems to have gotten reversed and the fucker turns off when I open it 75% of the time.

**Poop~Ghost** · 04-15-2008, 04:49 PM

This is only good for today...

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...524&lid=663174

**Pegleg** · 04-15-2008, 05:06 PM

Ditto on all the mac recommendations. An added bonus is decent resale value, unlike most computers; I put my 4 year old ti-book on Craigslist and sold it within hours for $500.

**oftpiste** · 04-15-2008, 05:20 PM

+10 for mac with Parallels.

**Flexon Phil** · 04-15-2008, 05:29 PM

Macbook Pro.

**MOHSHSIHd** · 04-15-2008, 05:40 PM

Had a Mac like 15 years ago. It was the shit.

Then went all cheap and went through like 8 or 9 shitty ass PCs. All major brands, etc. They all blew cock.

I am back on the Mac wagon again and will never willingly touch a PC garbage box ever again.

**robnow** · 04-15-2008, 06:08 PM

All I have to say is DON'T do HP. Issues with mine within 6 months and customer service is the absolute worst. Got a couple cheap HP printer/scanners too and the same with them, issues and I dread ever calling HP.

Issues on the laptop include short battery life, even though the screen dims to save on battery power, battery lasted nothing after the first year(the one thing they did right is give me a new battery), the wireless does not have the range that other computers I have used can manage, adn I sent it back a couple times for an issue of it rebooting all the time and they didn't really solve the problem the first time.

**seldon** · 04-15-2008, 06:15 PM

I love my macbook pro, from '06 (intel core duo, not core 2 duo). The only issue I have is that I've fried my battery through using it so much, and I'm too cheap to replace it ($100). Thing works like a charm.

**Wes Mantooth** · 04-15-2008, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by seldon

I love my macbook pro, from '06 (intel core duo, not core 2 duo). The only issue I have is that I've fried my battery through using it so much, and I'm too cheap to replace it ($100). Thing works like a charm.

We have the same comp dude. My battery fried too but there was a recall on them. They're defective batteries and apple replaces them for free. Check your serial numbers and if they match up just contact them. Try this link:
https://support.apple.com/macbookpro15/batteryexchange/

**Bozo T. Clown** · 04-15-2008, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by Shaggy

I've done a lot of Linux system administration and am partial to it, except it's still not there with the application support yet. Specifically, stuff like Lightroom won't run on it.

You could set up your new laptop to dual boot Windows and Linux. My Inspiron E1705 is set up to dual boot Windows XP and openSUSE 10.2. Now I'd probably go with Kubuntu. If you'd like a dual boot machine, I'd recommend:

1. Choose a new laptop with XP or Vista.
2. Try out Live CDs of Kubuntu, Ubuntu, OpenSUSE with KDE and with GNOME. The Live CDs let you test drive different versions of Linux without putting it onto your hard drive. You can see which distro you prefer, Ubuntu or OpenSUSE, and which desktop, KDE or GNOME.
3. Partition your hard drive between Windows and Linux and install Linux. Howtos and forums at:
http://www.ubuntu.com/
http://www.kubuntu.com/
http://www.opensuse.org/
4. Linux hardware support for laptops has come a long way. But if there are any issues, with Windows running you can deal with them at your leisure.

**P-JO** · 04-15-2008, 07:02 PM

I have an ibook from 3 years ago and its still running great and I prefer it over any PC, so I can't imagine what the newer macs are like. Also if customer support means anything to you, Apple is excellent. Although my mac has had 3 problems, including the one now where the disc drive wont accept discs, the customer support is Excellent, and you have to get the 3 year protection plan, so worth it. Last time I had a problem with a dell 4 years ago I spent 2 hours talking to some Indian woman, while Apples support is based out of the US.

**schwerty** · 04-15-2008, 07:05 PM

Just get a Mac. You will be happy. Nothing else to it.

**powderhound100** · 04-15-2008, 07:23 PM

wow tons of mac people here

I have a macbook, and love it. depends what you want, desktop, I would maybe check this out http://www.psystar.com/index.php?&pa...mart&Itemid=72

if not, just see what you want for pro vs plain macbook.
and ya you can set up windows and ubuntu etc. and stuff on a macbook pretty well, my friend runs ubuntu sometimes

**AsheanMT** · 04-15-2008, 07:34 PM

Laptops are ghey.

Get a robot.

**wi3dzmin** · 04-15-2008, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by powderhound100

I would maybe check this out http://www.psystar.com/index.php?&pa...mart&Itemid=72

Other than it's likely to run into jailbroken-iphone-type issues with future OS updates, that box is nice. However cease and desist is probably coming in 3...2...1...

**Shaggy** · 04-15-2008, 08:25 PM

Holy fucking Mac support! now I'm really considering getting a Mac.

Originally Posted by robnow

All I have to say is DON'T do HP.
.
.
. (lots of issues deleted)

These are all the same problems I had with HP, I wish I had known. But at least I got to talk to people in India a lot!

Originally Posted by Nathan Explosion

Just don't fucking get a Dell.

Dell sounds a lot like HP. I was actually considering an Inspiron with Kubuntu on it, but given the huge support for macs in this thread, I'm really leaning that direction.

So now I'm off to research Macs, since it's a brave new frontier for me. At least I know what I'm looking for this time around; light, compact and no noisy fans. My x6050 had 3 fans on the bottom that made most wiring closets sound peaceful.

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

**AbsolutStoli** · 04-15-2008, 08:36 PM

yeah...mac. def. go for the extended warrantee plan though. my only problem with my macbook, besides having to relearn the os-x style of doing things, is that my HD crapped out a few months ago. i lost everything. it got fixed for free and everything, but it just sucks to lose all that data/music/movies...

so, word of advice, get a mac and a portable HD and backup backup backup.

**rfb** · 04-15-2008, 08:37 PM

I'll jump on the Mac bandwagon. Never heard anyone who has one who had anything but good things to say about it. This applies to the "casual" user as well as the "power" user.

I also have to agree with the "don't get a Dell" posts. They are the anti-Mac. I've heard plenty of people who have one complain about them, but I'm still waiting for the first person who has one to rave about theirs.

**kkerley33** · 04-15-2008, 08:47 PM

Guess it depends on your use.

If it is surfing the web, checking email, downloading movies...then go with the MAC.

If you are going to need to interface with an enterprise or network then look at Lenovo.

Those are the only two laptops will really even consider recommending depending on uses.

KAK

**jon turner** · 04-15-2008, 10:30 PM

I love my mac. Been a mac geek forever though. But, I have a few friends that do computer geek stuff for pretty large companies that are not mac friendly at all. All of them have cursed away their windows and even linux systems and take their personal macs to work everyday to do their computer geek stuff (mostly programming as far as I can tell). I think they had to make some minor adjustments and tweaks to integrate them into their work environment, but at least one of them has given their work laptop (PC) back to just work on their mac. Not too hard to integrate into PC environments anymore with a little research. All the independent software options for the mac are great as well. So many little apps to tweak and optimize mac os. command-space as a launcher is a bad ass shortcut as well - so simple and never thought of it until my friend pointed it out.

Unless you're a serious power-user, a macbook pro is not necessary and just get a macbook.