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Yet another laptop thread

M

Minger

Mar 15, 2004
2,642
3
37
Rochester, NY
missionrevolution.org
#1
Basically, I'm in California right now staying with my granparents...and my grandpa is basically hellbent on buying me a laptop and says not to worry about the price, so I'm like...:hyper:

Although, I don't want to overdo it. What would good laptops be in say, under 1200? I've looked at Dells, HPs, Toshibas...all ab out the same price for the same stuff, such as 1.83 ghz duo core, 512 or gig ram, dedicated video, 80 gig hdd...Battery life differs greatly, and thats important though.

Or would it just simply be a better idea to wait and buy say, Dell's new E1405 with the Core2Duo, which pcmagazine said had 8 hours battery life when tested...
 
#2
I would check out the macbooks if i were you. They are a pretty powerful and incredeble laptop. It can run windows and Mac OS at the same time. Many very cool features on this thing. My dads friend just showed me his yesterday and i was pretty impressed. They start at $1,100, i dont know much about computers but from what was explained to me, this is a pretty kickass computer, and it shows.
 
#3
Linas said:
I would check out the macbooks if i were you. They are a pretty powerful and incredeble laptop. It can run windows and Mac OS at the same time. Many very cool features on this thing. My dads friend just showed me his yesterday and i was pretty impressed. They start at $1,100, i dont know much about computers but from what was explained to me, this is a pretty kickass computer, and it shows.
Click to expand...

Yup that's what I'd be looking at as well. Of course some people don't want to move away from Windows, but with Bootcamp you could run that too (though on an 60 GB hard drive you might get a little cramped for space depending on how much music, pictures and software you'll be loading on the drive. I'm running an 80 GB dual boot Linux/Windows laptop that has an 80 GB but I supplement it with an external HDD for videos and music.

For under $1200 you get the Macbook with the 1.83 GHz Core Duo, 512 MB of RAM and the upgrade to the 80 GB hard drive (if you want). It's also nice and small. I don't understand the wave of 15.4" and 17" laptops, they're really little more than desktop replacements. 14" and smaller is much nicer for mobility (the macbook is 13.3"). The only thing I wish Apple would do is up their standard RAM level from 512 MB to 1 GB. Also, I wouldn't get a RAM upgrade from Apple as you can typically upgrade the RAM for considerably less money yourself.
 
#5
Minger said:
Hmm...I'm not so sure about Macs. I know they're generally pretty expensive (or when they were still propietary and all), but I doubt I really have a reason for a Mac. Mostly a windows user here, soemtimes linux when I'm feeling bored.
Click to expand...

What reason would you need to get a Mac as opposed to a PC? They're both computers and both do essentially the same things. The Macbooks seem to be fairly competitively priced, but perhaps a little high for the amount of RAM and the HDD size. Also, getting below 14" seems to increase the cost nowadays, perhaps owing to the added cost of getting components to fit in the laptop vs the now incredibly cheap prices for large LCD screens.
 
#8
Looks like what I'd actually want is brought up to $1250 for a Mac, with no dvd burner. That and no dedicated video, which may be a better thing, although I'm a bit partial to my games. However, they do look good and 4 hours of battery is actually pretty good.

And bleh, why is the black one $200 more?

I may end up waiting to get the new Dell E1405 with the Core2Duo after all, as PC Magazine is reporting that on tests it had 8 hours :hyper: of battery life, although it only has integrated video...
 
#9
I've had a powerbook for a few years, and just replaced my wifes PC laptop with a MacBook...

They are more expensive than an entry level PC, but spec for spec they're pretty competetive. I'd agree with a lot of points - lackl of DVD burner sucks, and the cost of the black version is just taking the mickey out of trend followers who have to have the new colour.

I'd definatly agree with the sugguestion go for the smallest screen - you can always hook a second display up (which is REALLY COOL), but you don't want to be carrying around a suitcase of a machine. The Mac's are small for their spec.

The one thing that will sell you on a mac - close the lid on a PC and a Mac, wait a minute, then open the lid and try and start work. The Mac is up and running by the time your hand reaches the track pad... The PC can leave you hanging round for some time (depending on the spec, but this is a REALLY big deal).

Ian
 
#10
Minger said:
Looks like what I'd actually want is brought up to $1250 for a Mac, with no dvd burner. That and no dedicated video, which may be a better thing, although I'm a bit partial to my games. However, they do look good and 4 hours of battery is actually pretty good.

And bleh, why is the black one $200 more?

I may end up waiting to get the new Dell E1405 with the Core2Duo after all, as PC Magazine is reporting that on tests it had 8 hours of battery life, although it only has integrated video...
Click to expand...

Yep, I find it annoying that the colour costs more. It's really only $150 more, since it comes with the 80 GB instead of the 60 GB, but $150 for black instead of white...

But like you say, whether the macbook is any good for you depends on what you need a laptop for.
 
#11
Also, there may be the education discount still going... my wife is back in school and we got ours on the discount...

BTW, I love my MacBook... waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more stable than windows... get the one with the DVD Burner and don't get ram from apple.. go to newegg.com or something...

:)

Also, my MacBook is very lightweight... :D
 
#12
NJL said:
Also, there may be the education discount still going... my wife is back in school and we got ours on the discount...
Click to expand...

Yep, plus there's the free ipod rebate until Sept. 15. The education discount should make the Macbook $50-100 cheaper. Up here the higher spec'd white Macbook is $100 cheaper with the education discount. I got in a week before my registration expires. Still waiting for the iMac though. :mad:
 
#13
Actually, I think the Ed discount is 10% on the MacBook...

Also, I bought a 30gig iPod for 279 and and got a rebate check for 179 for it... I'm going to sell it for 250 (NIB) soon...

I got a printer for 100 and just got the check for that, too... $100...

:D Apple is fun..
 
#14
IanStephenson said:
The one thing that will sell you on a mac - close the lid on a PC and a Mac, wait a minute, then open the lid and try and start work. The Mac is up and running by the time your hand reaches the track pad..
Click to expand...

The second thing that will sell you on a mac is that you open the lid, get working, close the lid, throw it in the backpack, open it up the next day and continue working - the sleep mode actually works. There's no need to restart the machine.

I bought a 12" iBook last summer because I thought it was high quality, cool, compact and very reasonably priced - you still can't get 12" PC laptops for $1000. So far, the MacOS has been quite nice experience, very simple to use and the mac community has been very friendly to assist with anything.
 
#15
You might want to wait on getting a Mac laptop. All of them are 1st gen right now.

I bought my wife a Macbook a couple months ago and it is currently having what is turning out to be a common Macbook problem: random shutdowns.

Then again I can't say that Dell is a great move either.
 
#16
NJL said:
Actually, I think the Ed discount is 10% on the MacBook...

Also, I bought a 30gig iPod for 279 and and got a rebate check for 179 for it... I'm going to sell it for 250 (NIB) soon...

I got a printer for 100 and just got the check for that, too... $100...

:D Apple is fun..
Click to expand...

Could be in the US, I can't see the US education discount amounts. Up here it isn't quite 10% and seems to be just a round number figure subtracted from the price. The 20" iMac was $151 cheaper and the 17" is $101 cheaper. It's a good deal, as long as you are a student/teacher or know someone who is who can get you the discount.
 
#18
Geoff St. Germaine said:
Could be in the US, I can't see the US education discount amounts. Up here it isn't quite 10% and seems to be just a round number figure subtracted from the price. The 20" iMac was $151 cheaper and the 17" is $101 cheaper. It's a good deal, as long as you are a student/teacher or know someone who is who can get you the discount.
Click to expand...

Oh, I forgot, you live "there".

:D:D:p:hiding:
 
#19
msquared said:
You might want to wait on getting a Mac laptop. All of them are 1st gen right now.

I bought my wife a Macbook a couple months ago and it is currently having what is turning out to be a common Macbook problem: random shutdowns.

Then again I can't say that Dell is a great move either.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you have a faulty logic board and apple will fix it:

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40465
 
#20
If you do decide to get a Dell (which I definitely recommend), I suggest the E1505 and to use a Invalid Link Removed coupon for 20% off Inspirons over $1000.

For $1300 you can have this computer.
I chose all of these stats for a basic user, they can be up or downgraded for personal use:
-1.83Ghz duo processor
-1GB ram
-15.4 inch quality monitor
-80gb hard drive with 7200rpm
-wireless network card with bluetooth
-128mb video card
-8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW)
-Microsoft Works Suite
-36 Month Internet security(firewall, antivirus, spyware)
-6 AND 9 Cell battery
-and other basic things.

Good deal.
 

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