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The Verge - Buying a laptop: everything you need to know!
- Thread starter Vanillalite
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The Full HD 440 series is already on their way. There'll be a 1600x900 base option and a Full HD IPS option. In addition, there'll be a touchscreen option (not sure if that's IPS, too).
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
That's about the only use for a RT, so...
I had the same dilemma when I was buying my first proper laptop 4 years ago. But then I asked myself, do I want to buy something that I'll tolerate? Or something that I'll really enjoy using? I use my laptop for 8+ hours a day, so I decided it was worth the extra initial investment to pick up a MBP over a lower cost Windows laptop. 4 years later, I'm still using and buying Macbooks, so I'd say it's very much worth it.
Oh, and as a UK student, you can pick up Applecare for £30~ish instead of the usual £150, so, if you ever decide to sell the laptop, you'll be able to sell it for the same price you bought it for. When I still had my student discount, I'd upgrade my laptop with every Macbook refresh and it'd cost me, at most, around £50. Those were good times.
Based on the benchmark tests, the i7 in the Air seems like a waste of money.
Better off just getting a Pro.
For laptops I agree and it is no contest IMO.
The interesting debate is for desktops and Apple doesn't seem to give a fuck about that market anymore. I prefer Win 7 for desktops to OS X now.
entremet
Member
Apple or bust with notebooks.
Still haven't found a PC notebook that is comparable, and I want one for other stuff, I hate rebooting for Bootcamp.
Portability and batter life are more important for notebooks. Build your own PC if you want to best power per dollar ratio.
Still haven't found a PC notebook that is comparable, and I want one for other stuff, I hate rebooting for Bootcamp.
Portability and batter life are more important for notebooks. Build your own PC if you want to best power per dollar ratio.
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
The latest crop of Zenbooks are amazing. The only thing that Apple has over them is the trackpad. I still don't understand why so many manufacturers ignore this.
I. need. a. good. trackpad.
Jesus tits, not everybody wants to carry a mouse around, FFS.
entremet
Member
Apple may have an iron clad patent. And you know Apple's lawyers...
I know they have one for the Magsafe connectors, which are pretty awesome as well.
Agreed. OSX is perfect on a laptop, mainly due to the excellent trackpad and the easy access to the function keys at the top, but it's not as good when paired with a regular keyboard and mouse setup. I tried using Apple's trackpad accessory with my desktop, but I wasn't a fan of it, sadly. It forced my wrist into a horribly uncomfortable position and I started experiencing RSI-like symptoms. I ended up returning it after owning it for a week.
entremet
Member
They just revised their iMacs and Mac Pros. Huh?
But in terms of offering a powerful middle tier option, they don't in the desktop space. iMacs use notebook parts and MacPros are now harder to upgrade with their new design.
I was talking about the OS. Most of the recent updates seem to be focused on improving the laptop experience and they don't seem to care as much about desktops.
I mean didn't they just fix multi monitor support on Mavericks (which is not even out)? Just my personal experience. I used to prefer OS X for both laptop and desktop but now I enjoy Win 7 more when working at a desktop.
SonicXtreme
Member
Do u have a link. I only see that for 500 on lenovo and it doesn't have the ssd. Thanks!
I shopped around for a long time before settling on the Asus N56-VJ from Gentech, bought it back in March and I've been very happy with it since then. i7 3630QM, 16GB, GeForce 635M 2GB, Killer N-1103 wifi, 120GB Samsung Pro SSD, 500GB HD in place of what would have been an optical drive. Great power and great battery life - I don't play many games on it, but I installed GTA IV and it ran better than some of my friends' desktops.
freenudemacusers
Member
Well as a dude who has used OS X since 10.1 (shocking news I bet) both on portables and desktops, I don't think it's so much that they are ignoring desktops in favor of laptops, but that OS X + Apple hardware design becomes a much more significant relationship when you are engaging with the whole system like you do with a portable machine.
cartoon_soldier
Member
BertramCooper
Banned
I just bought a refurbished ThinkPad with Windows 7 for $200 off Newegg, and I love it.
Honestly, I just don't feel like paying full price for a laptop these days. I've already got a MBP from work that does all of my heavy lifting, so for my personal laptop, I don't need anything brand new and super high-end. Plus, ThinkPads are awesome and built to last, so I feel like I got a pretty awesome deal.
Honestly, I just don't feel like paying full price for a laptop these days. I've already got a MBP from work that does all of my heavy lifting, so for my personal laptop, I don't need anything brand new and super high-end. Plus, ThinkPads are awesome and built to last, so I feel like I got a pretty awesome deal.
Sounds like the perfect solution to OP's problem: get a job where they give you a free Macbook Pro.
BertramCooper
Banned
I'm not going to lie; it's a nice perk of the job.
Since it's the property of my employer, I treat the MBP with kid gloves, so it' nice to have a personal laptop that I don't have to be quite so delicate with. ThinkPads are beasts.
My previous personal laptop was a piece-of-shit HP Pavilion. I bought it about three years ago and it started to fall apart within a year. I don't know how I managed to keep it alive for so long, but it finally died on me last week. Good riddance. HP is the worst.
TheLaughingStock
Member
Sounds like a great deal for your needs at $200 bucks. Below screenshot is pretty much the limit for it maxed out because it's like a netbook.
Yeah, avoid HP like the plague.
MacBook Airs are about the best value in the ultra book market. Its amazing that almost all the similiar windows models cost more. they normally have a higher res screen but petsonnally I don't feel they are worth it. Not sure where you live but the 2012 models have been on the Apple refurb store for $830. All you lose is battery life but you still get 6 hours.
GoldenEye 007
Member
Definitely in the laptop market with grad school starting up plus traveling a lot for work. My job is providing me with a laptop which should be a brand new Dell but I don't know the specs or model yet. If I feel like it sucks, I may get one myself just for school and everything. Likely it would be a MacBook Air but from my research the main knock is the screen resolution. Everything else seems perfect on it, though.
My first turnoff for this impending laptop is it being 17". I've never had a laptop but I always felt they were too big. I would think ideal is 15" with 13" being the absolute lowest I'd go. I should be getting it this week at work so I'll have I good idea after that.
My first turnoff for this impending laptop is it being 17". I've never had a laptop but I always felt they were too big. I would think ideal is 15" with 13" being the absolute lowest I'd go. I should be getting it this week at work so I'll have I good idea after that.
What world are you living in? windows notebook manufacturers are still sticking in shitty 1366x768 panels like they have for several years now. 1080p at a minimum is nonsense.
Unless you're planning on using the touchscreen to type in Word, make sure you look into keyboards. The Microsoft Type Cover is the most portable and fits on the Surface as a cover, but it's $150. Beyond that, you can use most of the various Bluetooth and USB keyboards out there, so if you have a spare keyboard lying around you can just use that, but keep in mind things like Bluetooth battery charging, USB cables, and size/weight/portability/how loud the keys are. You can get a low-end laptop for $310 or so, but of course battery life will be better on the Surface.
jamesinclair
Banned
Of course if you look at $500 notebooks they aren't going to have Full HD screens, but those aren't competing with the Macbook Air.
If you look at real Macbook Air competitors you won't find any 1366x768 screens.
The Asus Zenbook Prime, Samsung series 9, Acer Aspire S7, Dell XPS 13, Lenovo X1 Carbon, ... have had higher resolutions for a very long time. This year, Full HD or even higher is the norm for Macbook competitors.
TurtleSnatcher
Member
Uh how are you comparing non Ultrabooks to an Air which helped spawn that Category. Pretty much all new Ultrabooks come with those screens.
A bit BS to call $500 -750 notebooks in comparison to the Air and blame them for not having 1080 screens.
Not having that stuff on notebooks that are 1000+ I think is bullshit. Freaking Nexus 7's, Surfaces and iPads can have them. No reason a notebook at 1000+ shouldn't.
I don't get the ultrabook fad but whatever.
I'm looking at 15" laptops, and the Sony Vaio S looks pretty great, one of the main draws is the 1080p triluminous display.
I would really like to get a macbook pro, but don't want to $1800 for a decently specced laptop with a good screen. Why the hell do they have 768 and 1600 pixel screens, with nothing in between? So stupid.
Anything else I should be looking out for as far as a 15" laptop with impeccable build quality, decent battery life, a great screen, and a good keyboard?
I'm looking at 15" laptops, and the Sony Vaio S looks pretty great, one of the main draws is the 1080p triluminous display.
I would really like to get a macbook pro, but don't want to $1800 for a decently specced laptop with a good screen. Why the hell do they have 768 and 1600 pixel screens, with nothing in between? So stupid.
Anything else I should be looking out for as far as a 15" laptop with impeccable build quality, decent battery life, a great screen, and a good keyboard?
You forgot to add "cost's $1,849 for what I just listed"
TurtleSnatcher
Member
RE: Ultrabooks
So.. people use their notebooks to be portable and Ultrabooks offer that in the best possible way. How do you not get that?
If you want something super light and portable with good performance than an Ultrabook is great but it comes at a price.As for 15" notebooks, look for Haswell units that are being refreshed from all the big manufacturers. (Lenovo, Asus, Acer, Samsung, Dell, etc)
Macbook Air has plenty of weaknesses.
-The keyboard I've already harped on earlier
-Proprietary SSD that you can only buy from Apple and is overpriced.
-RAM is not upgradeable
-Non-swappable battery. Replacement is difficult.
-Few ports. You may end up carrying around a USB hub in your bag, which is annoying for an ultraportable.
-Mini-DP video out is not supported by many projectors/external monitors. You may end up carrying around multiple video adapters, which is annoying for the reason above. The Dual-Link DVI adapter also costs around $100 and seems to have a high failure rate.
-The edges are fairly sharp, and may dig into your palms.
-The keyboard I've already harped on earlier
-Proprietary SSD that you can only buy from Apple and is overpriced.
-RAM is not upgradeable
-Non-swappable battery. Replacement is difficult.
-Few ports. You may end up carrying around a USB hub in your bag, which is annoying for an ultraportable.
-Mini-DP video out is not supported by many projectors/external monitors. You may end up carrying around multiple video adapters, which is annoying for the reason above. The Dual-Link DVI adapter also costs around $100 and seems to have a high failure rate.
-The edges are fairly sharp, and may dig into your palms.
Yeh the battery life is the real attraction to me. It's pretty insane on this , the VAIO and other Haswells.
TurtleSnatcher
Member
Yeah Haswell has changed everything with Windows and Mac notebooks.
Being able to get 7-9 hours at the bare minimum for battery life is perfect for anyone that works and uses them for work.
Hell.. even long flights it will last the whole time if you have power outlet nearby. So awesome.
Being able to get 7-9 hours at the bare minimum for battery life is perfect for anyone that works and uses them for work.
Hell.. even long flights it will last the whole time if you have power outlet nearby. So awesome.
Ajemsuhgao
Member
It is extremely rare for me to see someone buying a laptop based on what they need.
"This one is good enough, right?" they say, looking good at the cheap $350 laptops.
Yes..yes that Pentium processor and 2GB of RAM is perfect. Definitely.
"This one is good enough, right?" they say, looking good at the cheap $350 laptops.
Yes..yes that Pentium processor and 2GB of RAM is perfect. Definitely.
Proprietary, yes, but 128GB on the most basic configuration you can get and *blazing* fast. We're talking 800MB/s here. Also, Thunderbolt and USB 3 for external storage if you need more space.
TurtleSnatcher
Member
Yeah.. but all the new ultrabooks are like that.
Macbook Air 13" according to Laptop Mag boots in 10 seconds.
Sony Vaio Pro 13 boots in 7 seconds
Acer Aspire S7-392 boots in 9 seconds
Vaio Pro uses PCI-E Flash and Aspire S7 uses dual SSD with RAID-0 configuration. They get equal or faster speeds as the Air with a PCI-E Flash..
Not sure if that really is a tipping point for what people should do when choosing between Mac or no when others are doing the exact same and in some cases... better.
All I said was that it was a weakness, not a deal-breaker.
And it is a weakness compared to some other laptops. If the hard drive fails or I want to upgrade it later, it will be a lot more expensive on a MBA. I don't know what Apple charges for the MBA replacement drive, but a 512GB drive for the Mac Pro is $750 - about double the price of other SSDs.
Probably a lot of this depends on how long you plan to keep the MBA. If you are going to upgrade every year or two, then fine, those aren't big issues. I still have a laptop going strong from 2008, though, because hard drives and RAM have gotten way cheaper over the years (and because I have been able to replace the battery). If you're thinking the MBA might last you 3 or more years, the difficulty of user upgrades and the high price of Apple upgrades becomes a bigger weakness in its value proposition.
TurtleSnatcher
Member
Almost went with one. The wireless issues and fan noise complaints scared me off. I had no issue with the flex of the keyboard or anything.
Also wasnt a fan of the notebook downclocking itself to keep from overheating which is fine and all but I wanted to do the lightest of gaming in lowest resolutions here and there.
Went for the Acer Aspire S7
Junior Mint
Member
The only thing I hate about the MBA is the stupid ass Display Port. No one uses this shit, just give up on it like Firewire already. I'll be looking at retina MBP next time so I don't have to carry around these dumb adapters just to hook it up to a TV or monitor.
victreeb3l
Member
isnt the display port on the same place as the thunderbolt port?
I heard about the wifi problems, never had them (mostly use phone tethering) but i heard that they recently released driver updates to fix that. The fans aren't that loud on the 13, but it's pretty loud on the 11 inch model.
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