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New Laptop

Ive got about 2000$ for a new laptop, im not exactly sure what would be a good choice, any suggestions guys, I can probably go to like 2500$ if needed.

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Lies

For $2500, you can get a MacBook Pro. I have a new one, and I like it -- not necessarily for Mac OS X -- I just like the quality of the hardware itself. I'm liking OS X more and more, though. For a PC laptop, Lenovo is all I really consider.

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Free-Speed Nation

I advise against the Macbook Pro. Buy an HP with a clean XP or Vista install and you'll save a bundle over a Macbook [Pro] and get a better hardware configuration in the process.

Originally posted by Sykil:

I just like the quality of the hardware itself

Virtually all of today's name-brand laptops use altered or "tweaked" hardware to one degree or another, and a Macbook [Pro] is by no means an exception. It's only because of this so-called "tweaked" x86 hardware that OS-X even allows itself to run. The life of any laptop is usually cut short due to the display going pooh-pooh after 3-4 years, anyways. The chance of the hardware failing (e.g. hard drive) on a Macbook vs "Other Name-Brand" is going to be a draw, regardless.

Cooling performance is one of the biggest assets to ensuring long hardware life in a laptop, or any computer for that matter, and it's usually something that varies by model rather than brand. It's because of this that you should keep your hardware as dust free as possible; dust clogs the heat sinks which can result in hardware failure or instability. A well cooled laptop will, under normal circumstances, outlive a laptop with cooling problems. With a laptop, cooling is all about stability and preventing eventual hardware failure; with a desktop there's also the added goal of overclocking capability. In this often overlooked arena, a Macbook [Pro] is on the same competing level as most other name-brands; if you lay it on the carpet where there will be poor airflow, it's going to get hot.

There's no denying it, a Macbook [Pro] is a good choice for one to make when purchasing a laptop; you'll surely end up with a good product. But it's important to remember that a Macbook is not the only good choice out there, and value wise there are many other name-brands that excel over the Macbooks.

When it comes to desktops, anyone with any knowledge of hardware will tell you a Mac is a waste of money, unless you're dead set on running OS-X without making a "Hackintosh." When you're aiming at performance, you will always save money in the long run by building the computer yourself. I've built many PCs for different people, and am getting ready to build a rendering/gaming PC for myself, which will make use of a phase change cooling system so I can get sub-zero temps on my processor for the ultimate in overclocking capability. An extra $800 in cooling alone? Yes. But when you consider it will be three years before a mainstream processor comes out with stock speeds as fast as what I'll get with a phase change system, I think it's worth it. Many who have knowledge in the field of extreme cooling performance may not see phase change as worth the extra $$$, so it's really based on how you look at the situation.

So back to the laptop, just because you have $2000 to spend doesn't mean you should get the attitude of spending all $2000 of it. If performance is your goal, avoid the Macbook Pro because you'll get a better hardware configuration with an HP or Acer and still be in the same price range. All I can say with your laptop purchase is to just be smart and think ahead. Take everything into consideration, and be open to advice (yes, including Sykil's, even though I disagree).

Last edited by Heri, September 16th, 2007 04:20 AM (Edited 7 times)

AFAIK, HP has been a dodgy company... I know 3 people who have had bad luck with them and had to send their computers back multiple times. Maybe they were just unlucky but I'm not inclined to think so... On the other hand, I have a friend who's quite happy with his (albeit old) HP desktop and refurb laptop. Kinda inconsistent... but I guess you can say the same with every other company, like Apple when their MBP's first came out (although I'm not sure how their quality is going right now; seems to be good in my perspective). But for the record, I'll be getting an MBP for college to replace this Samsung. (btw, this Samsung is old but it's very stable... and I prefer this keyboard to the MBP keyboard)

Just by $.02

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Originally posted by Heri:

Virtually all of today's name-brand laptops use altered or "tweaked" hardware to one degree or another, and a Macbook [Pro] is by no means an exception. It's only because of this so-called "tweaked" x86 hardware that OS-X even allows itself to run. The life of any laptop is usually cut short due to the display going pooh-pooh after 3-4 years, anyways. The chance of the hardware failing (e.g. hard drive) on a Macbook vs "Other Name-Brand" is going to be a draw, regardless.

I was talking about design and durability, not the innards of the machine.

HP laptops are cheaply priced because they're cheaply made; I'd easily choose a MBP over it. I'm not sure about Acer. A lot of people I know have Sonys, and they're alright -- nothing great to say about them, but nothing glaringly bad. They work. Toshiba has a handful of great laptops. I wouldn't rule out brand; it really does make a difference. Ultimately, you want to look a handful of laptops INDIVIDUALLY, but there are brands that I would avoid right off the bat and ones that I would consider right away -- regardless of what my end decision is.

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Last edited by Sykil, September 16th, 2007 06:36 AM (Edited 1 times)

Don't buy a Toshiba Satellite. I've been through two already. The screens are WONDERFUL, but the fan is so loud and the battery goes to crap in a snap!

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Originally posted by love_souljah:

Don't buy a Toshiba Satellite. I've been through two already. The screens are WONDERFUL, but the fan is so loud and the battery goes to crap in a snap!

My bro bought one off one of my old friends and even though he got it cheap, it was a real piece of crap. The fan broke on twice and the battery was already out on it when he bought it.

Originally posted by Rider:

Originally posted by love_souljah:

Don't buy a Toshiba Satellite. I've been through two already. The screens are WONDERFUL, but the fan is so loud and the battery goes to crap in a snap!

My bro bought one off one of my old friends and even though he got it cheap, it was a real piece of crap. The fan broke on twice and the battery was already out on it when he bought it.

Don't listen to him. I don't know if you could tell or not by his posts, but uh, yeah... He's retarded.

I don't know if Rider was kidding or not.

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Originally posted by Sykil:

I was talking about design and durability, not the innards of the machine.

Well the Macbook Pro's do attract a lot of attention due to their aluminum housing, which admittedly contributes to their durability - great for rough handling and grimy fingers, but it's not going to help much with a hard impact any more then an HP's housing will. Design wise, Macbook Pros look great, no doubt about it. But have you seen HP's new imprint finish? Pretty nice looking, if you can get past looking at your own fingerprints too.

I'm not denying a Macbook Pro is built better when it comes to housing and finish, they rank up there with Lenovo in this field. But in retrospect it's still what's inside that counts most, and a Macbook Pro doesn't take the cake as easily in that area.

Originally posted by Sykil:

HP laptops are cheaply priced because they're cheaply made; I'd easily choose a MBP over it.

I wouldn't rule out brand; it really does make a difference. Ultimately, you want to look a handful of laptops INDIVIDUALLY, but there are brands that I would avoid right off the bat and ones that I would consider right away -- regardless of what my end decision is.

Perhaps I'm taking this out of context, but what you're essentially saying is an HP is going to conk out before a Macbook will. HP's are value priced, not quality debunked, laptops. Trying to figure out which one is going to conk out first based on external aesthetics is not really a practical assessment.

Since my career goal is digital (3D) art, I'd sooner put all of my money into my desktops (24" monitors, bunker loads of RAM, phase change cooling, Lian Li cases - you get the drift). So "the perfect" laptop doesn't quite fit into my category. With my laptop, I want performance performance performance and I want it for as little as possible so the money I pocket can go into the desktops. Now, for the traveling entrepreneur or someone in college, the goal would probably be the exact opposite. Hence, I can see where you're going with your reasoning, Sykil, and it's a very practical way of looking at it. This is why I told Art_Vandelay in my previous post to take everything into consideration and to think ahead. It's really a matter of practicality and down-to-earth common sense.

So back to suggestions, Art_Vandelay... You might want to check out Cyberpower PC. I've never had the privilege of trying one of their laptops out, but they use name-brand displays, housings, and hardware - such as MSI and ASUS. So even Sykil might approve. Maybe one of these days I'll build my own laptop, and $2000 later tell you the things ALL of these big name-brands do wrong and what I did wrong in the process of figuring it out.

Last edited by Heri, September 17th, 2007 03:07 AM (Edited 1 times)