Looking for a laptop.. [+17 Rep]

[AgnesIO]

First off, made another thread as the other things are different topics, and I expect only a few people will be able to give be an accurate answer to the other thing. (Who knows these might make this section look active again..!)

anyway.

I am looking at a range of laptops, and can get Higher Education discounts to bring the price down.

I have Windows machines, and have never used OSX - however would like to use it and learn to experience the OS. I can get Uni/Higher Education discount (thanks to my sister), and am looking at different options.

My top price would be £1.5k, although I am not planning on spending that much..

Obviously a Macbook Pro is an obvious thing to consider for me - attractive and powerful, and would allow me to experience OSX. It would come in between: £859 (low end 13in model) and £1332 (low end 15in model). I am not used to an 13in screen, but am sure I could get used to it.

Then there are loads of Windows machines, from manufacturers like Dell and Sony.

What would you guys recommend when looking at systems at an ideal top price of £1k, although I could get to £1.5k with good reason.

Thanks :)

[Recursion]

Honestly here's what I think:

- MacBooks are great until you want to run something other than OS X (i.e. Linux or Windows), at which point their hardware is awful and you'll wish you had a Windows machine (Linux drivers aren't there yet and stupid things like sleep and trackpad dont work well under Windows)
- Games won't run well on OS X at all, OpenGL's implementation is awful
- I now wish I didn't have a MacBook
- MacBook Pros are honestly a waste of money unless you're doing video editing or something where a high CPU load might be the case, stick to the regular MacBook
- I'd go for a lightweight ASUS 13" laptop (personal preference, I like the idea of the power of a laptop, near the size/weight of a netbook)

I'm not saying Windows doesn't have it's share of problems, but IMO Macs are horrifically limiting. My Dad recently got a 27" iMac and had Windows installed as the main OS within two weeks.

[AgnesIO]

Honestly here's what I think:

- MacBooks are great until you want to run something other than OS X (i.e. Linux or Windows), at which point their hardware is awful and you'll wish you had a Windows machine (Linux drivers aren't there yet and stupid things like sleep and trackpad dont work well under Windows)
- Games won't run well on OS X at all, OpenGL's implementation is awful
- I now wish I didn't have a MacBook
- MacBook Pros are honestly a waste of money unless you're doing video editing or something where a high CPU load might be the case, stick to the regular MacBook
- I'd go for a lightweight ASUS 13" laptop (personal preference, I like the idea of the power of a laptop, near the size/weight of a netbook)

I'm not saying Windows doesn't have it's share of problems, but IMO Macs are horrifically limiting. My Dad recently got a 27" iMac and had Windows installed as the main OS within two weeks.

Thanks for the reply, Tom!

I did have the original concerns over Macs with their limitations (as obviously the majority of software at the moment is for Windows, since more people use it). I am not really interested in a Macbook - they look grim (in my opinion), and are not particularly good spec wise.

What are you thoughts on your iPad (as that is something else I have considered, since I have an Android phone etc), are those worth the money (as although they are expensive, when you consider a Mac that seem ridiculously cheap :P)

Will look at the ASUS stuff now :)

---------- Post added 20-05-2011 at 10:39 PM ----------

Also, what range of Asus laptops would I be looking at for the more 'high end'/powerful end Tom (or whatever you were talking about) - I am already confused on their website as they have all the 'N/P/K/U/whatever' series, then more laptops in each series :P

[Chippiewill]

Don't go for 13", it's surprisingly horrifically small.

[peteyt]

What do you want your laptop for?

You could spend loads on a top of the range laptop but if your not going to be running any high end applications or games then you wouldn't need the top specs. A lot of people try to get the top of the range or as close as they can get/afford laptops but if they really looked and worked out what they needed then they could probably save a bit.

Macs I'm no expert on, use them occasionally at University and there not too bad but as you've both mentioned there's a lot more choice of games and applications for Windows. I know steam offers many games on Mac's now but I wouldn't know if the quality is the same as its Windows counterpart.

iPad's I just don't get. To me it's too big. I'd rather get an iphone which is just a smaller version meaning everything is nice and compact. Some say ipads are good at home, but I'd rather just have a laptop. It's more brand recognition really in my opinion than anything else.

[Recursion]

Thanks for the reply, Tom!

I did have the original concerns over Macs with their limitations (as obviously the majority of software at the moment is for Windows, since more people use it). I am not really interested in a Macbook - they look grim (in my opinion), and are not particularly good spec wise.

What are you thoughts on your iPad (as that is something else I have considered, since I have an Android phone etc), are those worth the money (as although they are expensive, when you consider a Mac that seem ridiculously cheap :P)

Will look at the ASUS stuff now :)

---------- Post added 20-05-2011 at 10:39 PM ----------

Also, what range of Asus laptops would I be looking at for the more 'high end'/powerful end Tom (or whatever you were talking about) - I am already confused on their website as they have all the 'N/P/K/U/whatever' series, then more laptops in each series :P

I was looking at this (http://uk.asus.com/Notebooks/Superior_Mobility/U31JG/#overview) ASUS notebook. I'd say the iPad is a great device, I use mine every day for games, web browsing, email, video, music and all sorts (even comes in handy at work for remote desktop etc :P) but I'd like to try one of the new Android tablets like the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 with Honeycomb, but I'm not sure if Android is up to the standard of iOS on tablets yet. I had to use my iPad whilst I was on holiday and forgot my MacBook charger and whilst it was good experience, it certainly couldn't replace a laptop, but it was a rather nice addition!

Also @ Chippie, 13.3" is rather small, but for carrying around and using in bed and things it's a wonderful size ;)

[AgnesIO]

Don't go for 13", it's surprisingly horrifically small.

When getting a small, powerful laptop I wouldn't expect anything massive, although 13in does always seem a little too small - although as Tom said, for working in bed, work and carrying around it is perfect.


What do you want your laptop for?

You could spend loads on a top of the range laptop but if your not going to be running any high end applications or games then you wouldn't need the top specs. A lot of people try to get the top of the range or as close as they can get/afford laptops but if they really looked and worked out what they needed then they could probably save a bit.

Macs I'm no expert on, use them occasionally at University and there not too bad but as you've both mentioned there's a lot more choice of games and applications for Windows. I know steam offers many games on Mac's now but I wouldn't know if the quality is the same as its Windows counterpart.

iPad's I just don't get. To me it's too big. I'd rather get an iphone which is just a smaller version meaning everything is nice and compact. Some say ipads are good at home, but I'd rather just have a laptop. It's more brand recognition really in my opinion than anything else.

Replying to the bottom bit first. That is a really typical feeling about the iPad, and what I think is wrong with Tablet computers at the moment. They are being sold as giant phones, with phone software. I believe tablets need to be sold as computers (duhh tablet computers), such as Windows 8 tablets and maybe even OSX tablets - rather than iOS, Honeycomb etc - they do just seem like phones/media players with larger screens.

Also, I am aware of what I would need. I use Adobe MC a fair amount, so if I could get it on the laptop it would certainly be a bonus - and also a bonus of a windows laptop, as I believe it is much harder to get pirated software for Mac's than Windows.. Other software I would use if I could would be Cubase 5, Sibelius 6, possibly even Sony Vegas if the laptop could push it.

Also, if I could play games on the laptop - I would. I have a custom PC and am a PC gamer (more for FPS games), although I wouldn't be fussed if I couldn't play games - especially with NGP coming soon, and with the integration I could use that with my PS3 perhaps the saving on a slightly cheaper laptop could be spent on NGP. Also, I would never want a laptop as a main PC, since gaming is never as good as on a PC, so again, not having the ability to use FPS games etc, would not be something I would worry about.

Having if I could get something better or not so good, but the price was right, I could live with out that stuff, as i would obviously still have it on my PC.


I was looking at this (http://uk.asus.com/Notebooks/Superior_Mobility/U31JG/#overview) ASUS notebook. I'd say the iPad is a great device, I use mine every day for games, web browsing, email, video, music and all sorts (even comes in handy at work for remote desktop etc :P) but I'd like to try one of the new Android tablets like the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 with Honeycomb, but I'm not sure if Android is up to the standard of iOS on tablets yet. I had to use my iPad whilst I was on holiday and forgot my MacBook charger and whilst it was good experience, it certainly couldn't replace a laptop, but it was a rather nice addition!

Also @ Chippie, 13.3" is rather small, but for carrying around and using in bed and things it's a wonderful size ;)

Where would I go about looking for prices for that laptop - the Specs show different options for the inside, but doesn't actually have a buy/customise option? :P

[Recursion]

For ASUS laptops I think you'd have to look around Google Shopping for places like this: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/133-asus-u31jg-rx092x-core-i5-480m-4gb-500gb-hdmi-webcam-card-reader-bluetooth-w7pro-64bit?utm_source=google+shopping&utm_medium=google+shopping

[rld]

My sister just got her diploma after university and she had a MACBOOK PRO 15" and My brother has exact same as her except 13" and he says it is terrifying because its so hard to see on how small it is. My sister on the other hand loves it. says its perfect.

[Metric1]

I have a 13" Pro and I love it, I could never go back to a Windows machine or anything without a mulit-touch trackpad. If you have the money you might aswell spend it on something that works well and will last. I've had my Pro for 2 years and not a single problem, almost 800 charge cycles and the battery is at 92% health..

[Recursion]

I have a 13" Pro and I love it, I could never go back to a Windows machine or anything without a mulit-touch trackpad. If you have the money you might aswell spend it on something that works well and will last. I've had my Pro for 2 years and not a single problem, almost 800 charge cycles and the battery is at 92% health..

> Implying only Macs can manage that.

Dunno about you, but at work we have 20 odd Dell laptops that have run fine and are still running fine which are >3 years old.

[Agnostic Bear]

> Implying only Macs can manage that.

Do that again and I will hunt you down and destroy you.

On topic go with a non-mac if you want good performance for the price. If you don't care get a mac.

[AgnesIO]

Do that again and I will hunt you down and destroy you.

On topic go with a non-mac if you want good performance for the price. If you don't care get a mac.

Care about performance or the price? :P

[Agnostic Bear]

Performance/price ratio.

[AgnesIO]

Performance/price ratio.

Anyone who doesn't want that is a mug :P

Was wondering about peoples thoughts on OSX, will go with Windows for now :)

[redtom]

http://h40059.www4.hp.com/uk/homelaptops/product.php?id=LF824EA&experience=direct

I think that's great for the price.