What laptop should I buy?
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M$13 Answers
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M$If you still prefer a PC / laptop then there are too many factors to consider.
Personally, I favour ASUS laptops but Toshiba are good too.
I personally avoid Acer laptops and whereas Dell are good, I feel they are expensive compared to others.
The main things to consider are:
Weight
Screen size
Speed
Ram amount / Maximum RAM
Graphics card
You should also listen to the speakers if you want to use your laptop for music. In general, laptop speakers are very poor but some are worse than others.
I'd love to give you a definitive answer but it's just not possible. Just make sure you know how you'll be using it and then determine how much power or space you'll need.
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M$
Apple computers provide not only what "simple" users want, but what I want as well... including everything in between. That said, it's easy to buy more Apple than what you need. Evaluate your actual usage (not your planned usage!) and buy based on that.
Years and years of experience with many operating systems.
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M$
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M$
They're an issue with XP, if you don't keep AV software up to date.
OSX isn't particularly secure. Macs have had a security through obscurity advantage for a while, and as more people have been running them, there's a bigger chance someone will write a nice, mean virus... and the majority of Macs aren't even prepared to deal with it.
From this article, see:
http://www.techworld.com/security/news/index.cfm?newsid=1798
And this:
http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/03/06/1446207&from=rss
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060306-6321.html
Note that Ars Technica and Slashdot are not exactly Apple bashing sites.
Vista solved the majority of XP's security issues. There are a couple viruses that hit Vista, but most have been targeted at XP. And the majority of the viruses that affect a lot of people are actually ones that have already been patched for - people that keep their systems un-updated are the biggest issue.
IMO, if you run AV software (Which is free, like Avast!) and Vista, the odds you'll get a virus are slim to none.
If you scour the internet for viruses on Vista, the majority of results you'll see are for a virus that worked on the beta of Vista in 2005, and some reports from mid 2007 about the first viruses targetted at Vista.
yeah...viruses are a real issue with windows.
You *really* do not need the top of the line processor or a crap load of memory.
Just get something that has a 2.4 ghz processor at least
(so it will handle HD video) and you will be all set.
Upgrade the ram and the processor in the future.
Trust me on this one its what i did myself for all the systems in our office.
Laptops are becoming more like desktops everyday.
Some are even now coming with interchangeable video cards.
Fujitsu's AMILO line will be a excellent choice ***ONCE THE AMILO XGP HUB ALLOWS THE LAPTOP DISPLAY TO UTILIZE ITS POWER***
Adon another video card in crossfire X inside the unit and bobs your uncle.
And at 1600 USD you can't go wrong.
Trust me on this one its what I'm doing myself.
The following picture isn't a picture of the amilo itself but does the same exact thing with its 3 display output capability.
Insert picture for affect.
http://budapest.mconet.biz/news_images/ati_xgp_970_20080606114558_969.jpg
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M$
A Mac can do anything that a PC can do at this point accept for heavy gaming. Macs are most favored for writing, editing, and editing audio or video. The Macbook pro is usually the best for the dollar and gives you the most options for under 2k
On the windows side of things there are thousands of choices although some of the higher end laptops have been coming out of Hp, Dell, and Lenovo all very inexpensive in this economic climate.
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M$http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/cart_detail.do?pageLink=true&bvLoadCart=1&action=add&disp_msg=0
This particular configuration is priced at $1,468.99 BEFORE you apply the following coupon:
NB4361
Which you can do at the checkout. this coupon will give you a (bloody) $350 instant rebate.
If you have any questions or would like me to help you build a different laptop, I'd gladly do so. I'm a geek :D
Harry
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M$
Oh, sorry. Try this one:
Remember to apply the coupon.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/load_configuration.do?destination=review&email_id=643076&jumpid=in_r329_emailconfig
Your link is broken.
That said, I know that there are some really great Mac experts on here that will give you better advice on what to get. However, it may help if you post what types of things you want to do with it (games, word processing, etc.) and how you will use it.
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M$
Nowadays, I would recommend buying an Apple notebook, even if you want to run Windows on it. There are several possibilities how to run Windows software on an Apple computer. You could run it in a so-called virtual machine in one window or you can set up a genuine Windows installation on your Apple hardware. You can have both in one. Or you could even buy a Mac notebook and run only Windows on it (and it would be very fast).
Summary: even if you are a Windows user and have reasons not to switch the operating system, Apple would be a great option. And I can promise: you (as 99% of everyone else in that situation) will love the Apple OS after only a couple of minutes and never go back.
To help you with the hardware decision: just go to a shop and _touch_ one of the new Mac notebooks, type something on the keyboard and look at the new screens. You will immediately notice the superior build quality. They may be a little bit more expensive than comparable PC notebooks, but they are definitely worth it and they will last longer.
When you make your decision about the hardware, forget the operation system. Just decide for the better notebook computer. If it's a Mac, no problem: you can even make it a Windows computer. (But Windows is not included).
http://p.beni.tv/bootcamp.jpg
Installing Windows: http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/bootcamp.html
Virtualisation:
VMware: http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion
Parallels: http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop
So true! But while removing the crap is indeed easy in some cases, there is some "trialware", spyware and adware (e.g. supplied by HP) that is really hard to get rid of because they hook really deep into the system and the manufacturer won't supply "clean" install CDs. I have seen cases where some bloatware could only be disabled to load but not completely removed by an average user. Most of it anyway can't be removed using the add/remove program. Some trialware is terribly messing up the registry and even using bootkit technology to reinstall after being removed. Removing all traces from the registry will take way more than 15 minutes. It's possible, but an average or unsavvy user is not capable of doing. And the recovery CDs supplied by HP will always reinstall it.
Some annoyed user even made some software to clean out your new PC from "trialware": PC-DeCrapifyer: http://www.pcdecrapifier.com :)
looks like everyone is saying mac!
It usually takes about 15 minutes to remove the crapware that comes with a new PC, and many makers sell their computers with actual CDs, so if you want to install Windows fresh, you can. It works a lot better when it's not piled down with crap. But, in reality, all that's needed is a couple minutes with MSConfig to click off all the crap that you don't want to load, you don't even need to uninstall the junk if you don't want to.
It is annoying, but it's why I build my own PCs (well, that and many other reasons) - that's harder to do with laptops.
I only worry about compatibilities of games/apps with mac rather than windows. I really want to play the sims 3 when it comes out. Most games/apps have mac versions these days though don't they?
Hee hee, I got addicted to my PC because of The Sims. I borrowed one from my dad and played almost all night. Soon, my mac got shoved in my office and my PC was set up in my living room. Eventually, I got rid of the Mac and I've been PCing my life away.
However, SIMS 3 will require:
FOR WINDOWS XP
* Windows XP (Service Pack 2)
* 2.0 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
* 1 GB RAM
* At least 6.5 GB of hard drive space with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content
* 128 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0
FOR WINDOWS VISTA
* Windows Vista (Service Pack 1)
* 2.4 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
* 1.5 GB RAM
* At least 6.5 GB of hard drive space with at least 1 GB additional space for custom content
* 128 MB Video Card with support for Pixel Shader 2.0
For computers using built-in graphics chipsets, the game requires at least:
* Intel Integrated Chipset, GMA X3000 or above.
* 2.6 GHz Pentium D CPU, or 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, or equivalent
* 0.5 GB additional RAM
So, if you are getting a Mac Laptop that runs windows, make SURE it will be able to handle this--Sims does take a lot to run.
Of course, you could also get a Mac and wait for the Sims 3 Mac Version. It is supposed to come out about 6 months later than the PCs
http://www.infinitesims.com/news/1383-sims-3-requirements-announced.html
Cleaning my Dell involved going to add/remove programs, uninstalling everything I wanted to uninstall, and using MSConfig to stop a couple things from loading. Frankly, I don't care if the registry isn't perfectly cleaned out in this case - as long as it's not actually loading the crap, does it matter? Furthermore, this can be done by a non-skilled user with almost no assistance. Furthermore, if she goes by my suggestion and buys a Lenovo, she won't have to deal with a ton of crapware. They come with a few things installed, but nothing like the $500 HPs at Best Buy. Not all PCs are created equal, you know.
If you haven't used Thinkpads much, you need to get your hands on one sometime. Not only are they built very well, they also eschew the abomination that is the touch pad (well, they still have them), and you get the ever-awesome trackpoint.
And if she tries to play games on the Macbook, they'll be very slow. The bottom of the line video chip will do her no good.
Inevitably, you can purchase more PC for less than a Mac, and that is still the case with the Lenovos. A machine set up to match the Macbook Pro in performance and features costs $1350 - same CPU, same amount of RAM, comparable video, slightly better battery life, same size, same hard disk size, the main difference being it has Vista Ultimate on it in this case (I put Ultimate on it so you get the backup features from Vista Business) - and it'll play a DVD out of the box with no additional software.
Typical use of vista:
Plug in a printer. It works if it is supported. If it doesn't work right away, Vista looks for drivers and installs them (works most of the time). If it doesn't find a driver for it but there is one, you need to go to the manufacturer's web site, download the Vista driver for your printer, and run it.
If you plug in your camera, it asks you what you want to do with it. Do you want to import the photos to your pictures folder? Click. Done. Want it to happen every time? Check a box, click, and you're done.
Most of the other user interface arguments focus on things like whether the universal menu bar is better or worse than having menu bars on the individual programs - and this can be argued ad in finitum. There are areas where the universal bar helps - you always know where your menus are for one, but if you have a lot of windows open, you need to hunt them down. Expose is something I don't partucularly care for - when my computer is in normal use, I frequently have 20+ windows open. I've used an expose equivalent on the PC to try it out. I willingly use it about twice/day. I have three monitors, and using expose forces me to scan through everything manually. The task bar isn't perfect either, but it functions logically, unlike the dock. On the dock, buttons do multiple things. You click on the icon to load the program, but clicking on it further will just load the same window. If you want to open a new Firefox window, you then need to hit the keyboard command, or go to the menu to open the file. On Windows, you click the quick launch button and a new window pops open, every single time, or click on the task bar, and the window opens, every single time. Windows overall has the less consistent UI, but there are areas where it is moreso than OSX, and Vista has been improved in general.
When you close many programs on a Mac, they're still running, even with no windows. Some apps on the PC minimize to the system tray, but if there's nothing in the system tray, and nothing on the task bar, it's not running. On the mac, if I run firefox, close it, it's still in memory. Or, in some programs, if I do want to exit the program and I do file -> exit, it very well could kill the other windows in the program.
This stuff isn't rocket science - you'll find some things that are easier on one than the other. The claim that Macs are OMG EASY and PCs are nearly impossible to use is utterly ridiculous.
It's a lot easier to make Vista look and feel like OSX than the other way around, too. See Switcher for expose, rocketdock if you prefer the dock - they work the same.
Is it worth $650 to have a system that works a bit differently, or having a slower performing machine for the same price? That's up to you.
Indeed! But right now, if you want to buy a notebook, Apple really is the way to go. It was not always like that and who knows how things are 2 years from now. But at the moment, it's the best choice.
Desktop PCs are still better for hard-core graphics-intense gaming with (not Sims 3) or if must run very specific, proprietary software.
Also nice: a Mac comes with most of the software you need for home use. A PC notebook (HP are worst at that) also comes filled with software. But it's all unnecessary "free" crap (called Bloatware) that will clutter and slow down your system. You actually have to pay more in order to get an empty PC (because manufacturers get money for installing bloatware).
Now, as for playing The Sims 3 on a plain MacBook: They have an NVidia Chipset now (the GeForce 9400M), but it is still an integrated graphics chipset. The webpage for the game says at least a GeForce Go 6200 is needed, so I think you will be okay. If gaming is important to you, a MacBook Pro might be worth considering as they do have a full discreet graphics chipset on board (9600M GT) ie: it has it's own RAM, so has much better performance. You can (by $1) stay within your budget with the low end MacBook Pro. :)
If you want to play The Sims right away, you might want to look into using BootCamp on the Mac so you can run windows on it too. Otherwise, it looks like Mac games developer Aspyr has been porting all of The Sims titles to the Mac, so a Mac version of The Sims 3 will happen, it's just a question of when. (I'm guessing Aspyr won't get hold of the source-code to start porting The Sims 3 until it's been released on the PC, so it might be a couple of months or more before the Mac version appears.)
I haven't been looking at PC's recently (not interested in them any more, except the wee netbooks), so I won't try to recommend a full PC laptop.
http://www.thesims2.co.uk/news.read.asp?id=1078 (The Sims 3 (PC) system requirements)
http://www.aspyr.com/ (Mac games developer, porter of The Sims series.)
http://www.apple.com/macbook/ (Apple MacBook page.)
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M$Now, if you're swinging for something light, comfortable, fast, and windows based. Lenovo has some seriously awesome notebooks.
x200s is the one to go with for ultimate portability and work power.
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:category.details?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087¤t-category-id=27260E1983734A91A115802FE145A51A
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M$The video card the one in the MacBook is most similar to in a PC desktop is a GeForce 8500GT (The MacBook uses a 9400GS). Here are a couple benchmarks that compare performance in how many frames per second the video cards can render:
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/gaming-graphics-charts-q3-2008/Assassins-Creed-v1-02,736.html
In this one, the 8500GT manages 5.8 frames per second. This is a game of average graphic intensity. 5.8 frames per second means that the game will jerk around and you wont' be able to see or control anything at all. Consider 30 frames per second an acceptable base line for game play, and 60+ ideal for smooth action.
In this game, the card does 2 frames per second:
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/gaming-graphics-charts-q3-2008/Crysis-v1-21,751.html
Or at lower graphical settings, 4.4!
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/gaming-graphics-charts-q3-2008/Crysis-v1-21,747.html
Apple likes to say that the Macbook's graphics are 5x faster. 5x faster than what, though? The previous Macbook's video chip was good for only very old games (7+ years old). 5x faster than very slow is still very slow.
The Macbook Pro will be significantly faster - it uses a video chip - the mobile 9600GT, which will perform about triple what the Macbook's chip manages to do. It will play any older game well (with boot camp and windows), and most modern games at fairly low settings. But it's $2000 to start with, and will offer similar gaming performance to PCs that cost far less money.
PCs might take a bit more learning, but they aren't as bad as some people seem to lead on. If you have any problems figuring something out, you can always get help here! If you're new to this computer stuff, you'll have questions no matter which way you go.
A powerful video chip makes for a huge compromise. They use a lot of power. This Asus will get very bad battery life, but perform roughly 9x as fast as the Macbook for games, and it's $1,350. It weighs .7lbs more than the MacBook Pro - it's not slvete, but it's not gigantic either.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220403
If you want a PC laptop that's built better than a Mac, Lenovo will fit the bill. You won't find many of them at Best Buy, though. This is the T500. It's a 15.4" laptop that's roughly the same size as the Macbook Pro, and will come similarly equipped for significantly less money... but it has a few major feature advantages.
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/seutil.workflow:ShowIncompleteURLPage
It comes with an integrated mobile broadband card. If you use AT&T, you can have the internet anywhere you have a 3G connection on your laptop. Yeah, that part does cost money. There's a $120 option for use with Verizon if you use them, and you can chop $30 off the price if you don't need either.
It has a decent video chip in it, but not as good as the Asus - actually about the same as the Macbook Pro's, it's an ATI HD3650. Like the Macbook Pro, it has switchable graphics - you can turn off the high performance chip when you want the best battery life... but on the Lenovo, you can do it without rebooting.
You can get it with an LED backlit screen ($50, and I do recommend it!)
It comes with Windows, which will work with all your current and new software, and you won't need to deal with booting in to two operating systems. It even comes with Vista and XP if you don't like Vista. My preference is Vista. It's shaped up to be stable, has minimal compatibility issues, and is far more secure than XP. You won't need to worry as much about viruses and stuff like that. It is a bit of a resource hog, but it's a good thing adding RAM is cheap. Once you have enough RAM, it's as fast as XP if not faster.
Upgrading it from the base spec is far cheaper than what Apple charges for upgrades, so you can spend more for more storage, or spend less if you don't need it, and end up saving a lot of money whichever way you decide to go.
It will get better battery life than the Macbook Pro with the basic battery. If battery life is a priority, you can upgrade to a larger one that'll last 50% longer. The T400 with the larger battery (keep in mind it does weigh more) can acheive up to 12 hours of battery life (real world is probably closer to 8-10). The T500 will top off around 10 with integrated graphics on, and closer to 7 with the powerful chip on. It's worth noting that games will probably cut battery life to 1/3 of what it can do normally.
Also note the 14" T400, which is just a bit bigger than the Macbook size wise, but weighs the same, is faster (faster video chip, faster CPU), will get better battery life, can be configured significantly cheaper and similar performance to the macbook, or more expensive and significantly more powerful than the base model)
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M$
Overall, the Asus I linked to will make for the best gaming experience, but it is a compromise in battery life to get there. It will run very hot, you will not want to use it on your lap, and it's somewhat gaudy looking to boot. I need to emphasize that it will blow the doors off of everything else here in a game, though.
The Lenovo T500 is a very nice machine, and is the Windows based equivalent of the Powerbook, only it's a lot cheaper and has more features, some of them possibly quite significant. And you can get a blu-ray drive on it if you want to watch HD movies on it, but that's not a very good deal on the Lenovo (It's $560 to add) - you can get one in computers from other companies for less.
The T400 fits in between the Macbook and Pro in most respects except for battery life. They're extremely nice machines. It would be so-so for playing games, though.
The Macbook is borderline at best for playing games, and is quite expensive for the level of performance it offers, but by and large is otherwise a nice computer. You will probably find the need to use Boot Camp to install Windows on it anyway to play a majority of games that are out. Odds are it'll be frustrating when you have to run games at low settings to make them play OK.
The Macbook Pro will be pretty good for playing games, though, again, you'll need boot camp + windows to really do it well. It'll otherwise be like the Macbook but faster, and at $2k, it is quite pricey for the level of performance it offers.
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M$
2.53 ghz core 2 duo
4 g ram
HDMI, eSata
$1599 (bet you can find it cheaper)
Wired Mag nov 2008
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M$
Yeah I think that's probably a good tip.