Laptop, decisions...

[scorpionldr]

Why not just build a tower for work and keep the MBP for play? Or do you need to travel a lot and run your programs on the go?

If that's the case, Asus > Lenovo > Samsung, IMHO.

That would require flexibility.....something laptop users lack. I should know being a long time laptop user...dude, how often are you going to be lugging your computer (yep went to that word) at all?

You could build a small upgradeable monster out of parts for less than a laptop. With a laptop everything needs to be optimized to run *that* system on *that* hardware.....and that makes paying rent a harder task....

 

[TOOL460002]

I would actually recommend HP. A few years ago I would say avoid them like the plague, but they are really nice now. HDMI out on some. That's very handy.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Honestly? Rethink that software that is still windows-only.

Decent software these days is either multi-platform or on the line as they say.

Depends on what you are looking at as decent software.

Use many tools that are Windows-only or Mac-only, often hardware tied in to be run on a machine with a particular OS set.

I use Zemax and TracePro at my day job. There are no multi-platform or cloud alternatives for either program.

Almost all serious engineering apps are single platform. Users of these apps will typically buy a computer based on the needs of the app, and not the other way around.

I spent many a frustrated afternoon trying to learn Zemax (and Code V). You have my sympathies

(powerful as all heck, just not noob friendly!)

 

[Balog]

If you do decide to get rid of that look at my sig for stuff I have for sale and let me know if you'd like to trade.

 

[Ziltoid]

I'm currently dual-booting. this might be an easy solution for now. So far so good. Installed everything this afternoon.

 

[iamlowsound]

The software I use at work is Windows only and some of the stuff my wife uses for work is Mac only. Industry standard software in both industries.

lowsound

 

[scorpionldr]

I'm currently dual-booting. this might be an easy solution for now. So far so good. Installed everything this afternoon.

Very adventurous.

 

[fdeck]

I spent many a frustrated afternoon trying to learn Zemax (and Code V). You have my sympathies

(powerful as all heck, just not noob friendly!)

Job security FTW.

In my view, Zemax is odd because it's not really a CAD program, but a math program. The hard core users like it that way, and they dominate the market, so there's little incentive to make it more user friendly. About 15 years ago, I was lucky to fall into a couple projects where I could ease my way into using Zemax. Then my employer sent me for the advanced training, and I've made pretty heavy use of it on a number of designs.

 

[john turner]

for processing power and price, you can't beat sager/clevo for notebooks. clevo was the first company to offer user-upgradeable laptop computers, and used to be one of a few laptop vendors to make alienware's "custom" machines. if you're not averse to a few pounds (it's about 11 pounds), the desktop replacement machine they offer (clevo 570 and its variants) is a true desktop replacement, and not the wannabe that most folks offer under the name. it's got a socketed desktop 3820, meaning i can replace it with a 3970 when the prices come down some in the next few months, a socketed gtx680m video card, and room for a 2nd (sli/crossfire), which can also be easily replaced (and purchased from sager individually - they use MXM slots), 16 gig of ram and 3 harddrives (2x 750 gig and 1x256 gig SSD) and 17 inch monitor. for under $2k.

massive behemoths are not all that clevo offers though (sager is their u.s. distributor/brand). there's some really awesome models they have for ~$1000 that are still very good performing machines. check out their site : http://www.sagernotebook.com/

there are also other resellers who actually sell sagers cheaper (by a little bit) than sager does. i got mine from one - Link Removed . these guys were great.

i have to say i like the auto correlation of "cool factor" to macbook pros. the retina screens are pretty pimp, and having a light machine less than 1/2" thick would be really nice - i have a few friends who have them, and the entire machine could fit underneath my machine (it has little feet so it can stand off a surface for airflow), but paying $20 for a big mac in a gold foil wrapper isn't what i call cool.

that's just me i guess .

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Job security FTW.

In my view, Zemax is odd because it's not really a CAD program, but a math program. The hard core users like it that way, and they dominate the market, so there's little incentive to make it more user friendly. About 15 years ago, I was lucky to fall into a couple projects where I could ease my way into using Zemax. Then my employer sent me for the advanced training, and I've made pretty heavy use of it on a number of designs.

Aye, it's certainly a bit different.

Thankfully I didn't need to do too much with it, my training consisted of "here's the manual" and googling online support, watching the YT tutorials etc.

 

[MJ5150]

.....if you're not averse to a few pounds (it's about 11 pounds)...

Holy Schnikes!!!

May be great laptops, but I don't see that being practical for people always on the go like students and business travelers. Probably perfect for people like me. My extent of traveling is carrying my laptop up and down a flight of stairs a few times a week.

-Mike

 

[Jeff Bonny]

I gotta admit that rebelling against the cool factor of the MBP is what got me thinking about going back to a PC notebook. But the reality of carrying it every day, using the thing standing up, in the front seat of a vehicle or in your lap sitting on a milk crate actually lends quite a bit of practicality to the Mac. That retina screen is kinda awesome too when you're staring into the box for 8-10 hours at a stretch. You also can't fault the Mac case and hardware. If this new machine takes 2/3's of the abuse I put onto the last one it won't owe me anything.

For running an ultra high spec machine for graphics intensive ware though you still can't beat a PC. They are much more configurable. The Mac ethic of "you get what you get" has always annoyed the crap outta me.

 

[scorpionldr]

for processing power and price, you can't beat sager/clevo for notebooks. clevo was the first company to offer user-upgradeable laptop computers, and used to be one of a few laptop vendors to make alienware's "custom" machines. if you're not averse to a few pounds (it's about 11 pounds), the desktop replacement machine they offer (clevo 570 and its variants) is a true desktop replacement, and not the wannabe that most folks offer under the name. it's got a socketed desktop 3820, meaning i can replace it with a 3970 when the prices come down some in the next few months, a socketed gtx680m video card, and room for a 2nd (sli/crossfire), which can also be easily replaced (and purchased from sager individually - they use MXM slots), 16 gig of ram and 3 harddrives (2x 750 gig and 1x256 gig SSD) and 17 inch monitor. for under $2k.

massive behemoths are not all that clevo offers though (sager is their u.s. distributor/brand). there's some really awesome models they have for ~$1000 that are still very good performing machines. check out their site : http://www.sagernotebook.com/

there are also other resellers who actually sell sagers cheaper (by a little bit) than sager does. i got mine from one - Link Removed . these guys were great.
.

that's just me i guess .

Wow. Well, guess there ARE actual laptop makers who don't like the stigma.

For running an ultra high spec machine for graphics intensive ware though you still can't beat a PC. They are much more configurable. The Mac ethic of "you get what you get" has always annoyed the crap outta me.

"What? You DON'T want to surf the net? ......what can we do for you then?"

Lol this is also like the one friend I have devoted to his 360 that goes "it's cuz you're doing it wrong and playing games like they're not meant to be played" when I mention all the frame rate issues in games I come across.

There's probably a pc software interface that simulates the cute Mac look you're all addicted to....

 

[Jeff Bonny]

There's probably a pc software interface that simulates the cute Mac look you're all addicted to....

Uh huh, sure.....some of us went to the Mac only because we were paying the rent with software that wasn't ported to the PC. But shove whatever GUI you want in front of Windows it's still going to be based on inelegant, slap-dash architecture. And honestly if you're not running UNIX on a machine you built yourself there isn't much room for snobbery.

 

[scorpionldr]

Uh huh, sure.....some of us went to the Mac only because we were paying the rent with software that wasn't ported to the PC. But shove whatever GUI you want in front of Windows it's still going to be based on inelegant, slap-dash architecture. And honestly if you're not running UNIX on a machine you built yourself there isn't much room for snobbery.

Excited much?

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

Uh huh, sure.....some of us went to the Mac only because we were paying the rent with software that wasn't ported to the PC. But shove whatever GUI you want in front of Windows it's still going to be based on inelegant, slap-dash architecture. And honestly if you're not running UNIX on a machine you built yourself there isn't much room for snobbery.

I pretty much understand all the words you used.......I just don't understand what you actually said. lol

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

Just bought a new HP Pavillion laptop on the weekend. Had an Asus before that and if I had mis-spelled Asus with an "n" and one less "s", that would describe what I thought of it. Hated it almost from the start.

Wasn't sure what to buy. Looked around and settled on the HP.
17 inch screen, I7 processor, 12 GB of memory and a 2TB hard drive for a bit less than $1,000.00 at Costco, of all places. I like Macs but the wife wasn't that keen on them. She lives in a PC world at work.

Windows 8 has been fine so far but I am not trying to do anything too tricky with it. Regular stuff and pictures.The navigation issues that I had read about don't seem that big of deal to me.

 

[uOpt]

I understand highly specialized software is being used here.

At that point I would actually separate out that specialized software and do my regular computing (websurfing, documents, programming).

The major reason is that highly specialized software is very likely to react allergic to constant updating, either right now or at some point in the future. In practice it might be a much smoother experience to leave the computer running such software alone. You might also be able to skip updates you don't want that way (update is required to run on new OS but you either don't want to pay for the update or you don't like other changes). Plus such software is usually low on hardware requirements so it's cheap.

Websurfing and the like on the other hand requires pretty much constant updating to be somewhat secure.

 

[john turner]

Holy Schnikes!!!

May be great laptops, but I don't see that being practical for people always on the go like students and business travelers. Probably perfect for people like me. My extent of traveling is carrying my laptop up and down a flight of stairs a few times a week.

-Mike

just fyi i've been a full time student for 3 years now .

 

[MJ5150]

Oh come on, don't jump in here and blow apart my stereotyping. Any man that can tote around 675 string basses is not the demographic I was going for here pal.

-Mike