Need help picking out new laptop!

[웃 910]

$1300 to $2000 range.

Open to Apple product, but never used one. For everyday use but the faster and more powerful the better!

Supposedly Sony released some new Vaio laptops yesterday.

The two from the Sony link are brand new, as of yesterday.

http://www.sonystyle...552921644691999

http://www.bestbuy.c...0vaio&cp=1&lp=1

Comments?

Edited September 20, 2010 by Lord Infamous

[Nagishkaw 510]

Go with the Sony F series. I bought one last Feb. and I love it.

[웃 910]

This one looks ok, wonder why the $400 price drop?

Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q870 NoteBook Intel Core i7 720QM(1.60GHz) 18.4" 4GB Memory DDR3 1066 500GB HDD 7200rpm BD Combo NVIDIA GeForce GTS 360M

$1200; was $1600: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=34-114-797&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfo

[twowls 217]

How'd your paper go? I forgot to check back.

I've owned both PCs and Apples and all I have to say is that my Macbook Pro is the sturdiest, enduring-est, bullet proofiest thing I've ever owned. It was in a freak, high-velocity run in with a concrete foundation from two stories above, while closed. The force of the impact caused the whole, used-to-be-a-titanium-rectangle thing to buckle and warp like an accordion on one of its corners. You can't close it anymore and the disc drive looks like an angry gremlin sneer. The entire thing rocks like a cradle. It's rocking right now, as I type this.

And somehow, some way, the screen did not so much as crack and the thing works perfectly. I just know this sort of thing would not even be close to possible with another laptop. I picture shattered plastic confetti.

I don't suggest that you'll be playing shot-put with your machine. Just an indication, to me, that these things are built right and mean business. Mr. Owl hates Macs and was astounded and converted after The Incident.

I've had it about 4 years and it's as fast as ever, never had a virus or anything, etc.

[The_Dude 1,142]

What are you going to use it for? I would generally say stay away from apple computers. They are nice, but you are paying for the little apple logo and not a high performance computer. Toshiba and Samsung make great laptops. I don't know if you've checked out Tigerdirect, but they have great deals on all computer computer products.

[twowls 217]

They are nice, but you are paying for the little apple logo and not a high performance computer.

Gremlin mouth rocking computer sneers your way.

[웃 910]

How'd your paper go? I forgot to check back.

Here is an update

[웃 910]

What are you going to use it for? I would generally say stay away from apple computers. They are nice, but you are paying for the little apple logo and not a high performance computer. Toshiba and Samsung make great laptops. I don't know if you've checked out Tigerdirect, but they have great deals on all computer computer products.

Basic day to day use. Maybe a little gaming. Nothing too intensive. A little stock trading. Maybe visit Visa Journey from time to time. You know, the basics.

But the more powerful and faster the better. I don't want to pay $800 more for something unnoticeable. But I would be glad to pay more money if it makes sense.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Gremlin mouth rocking computer sneers your way.

My Alienware beast at home laughs at the gremlin.

Lord Imfamous,

Apple are actually pretty good computers. However, they are generally quite a bit more expensive than a PC. Are they better made? Not necessarily, but they are well made. My gripe with Apple is that you can't upgrade them, and they are mid standard regarding performance. You probably won't get a virus on one, because they comprise 10% of the market, and hackers can't be bothered with it. That's not to say that they can't be hacked, or infected with malware, i've seen it happen. If you are comfortable with the price of one, they are good. I'm just saying that you can get a Samsung or Toshiba laptop with better specs for $500 less.

[웃 910]

Let's make this easy:

1) Sony Vaio: $1579: Brand new (comes out in one week): http://www.sonystyle...552921666248683

2) Toshiba Qosio: $1700: http://www.tigerdire...4149&CatId=4938

3) HP Elite Book: $1700: http://www.tigerdire...6445&CatId=4939

4) Toshiba Qosmio: Was $1600, now $1200 on newegg X505-Q870 NoteBook Intel Core i7 720QM(1.60GHz) 18.4" 4GB Memory DDR3 1066 500GB HDD 7200rpm BD Combo NVIDIA GeForce GTS 360M:

http://www.newegg.co...#scrollFullInfo

5) Apple® - MacBook® Pro / Intel® Core™ i5 Processor / 15.4" Display / 4GB Memory / 320GB Hard Drive - Aluminum

$1800

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Apple%26%23174%3B+-+MacBook%26%23174%3B+Pro+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i5+Processor+/+15.4%22+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+320GB+Hard+Drive+-+Aluminum/9910585.p?id=1218193867485&skuId=9910585&st=apple%20laito&cp=1&lp=3

Edited September 20, 2010 by Lord Infamous

[twowls 217]

Here is an update

Well, glad you got something. Professors. I feel like if they're going to sit around frowning and nodding while you try to read their minds, they may as well just list acceptable thesis questions and get on with it. Stop this pretense of asking you to think in your own way.

Re: actual topic. Mac gives pretty nice discounts to students.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Well, glad you got something. Professors. I feel like if they're going to sit around frowning and nodding while you try to read their minds, they may as well just list acceptable thesis questions and get on with it. Stop this pretense of asking you to think in your own way.

Re: actual topic. Mac gives pretty nice discounts to students.

Actually, if you go to a university book store, they usually have great deals on all software and hardware. UCLA's bookstore doesn't ask for student ID last time I went

[twowls 217]

My gripe with Apple is that you can't upgrade them, and they are mid standard regarding performance. You probably won't get a virus on one, because they comprise 10% of the market, and hackers can't be bothered with it.

This is true, and it's why Mr. Owl is not impressed, or wasn't. He likes to build his own sh*t and all that. Not me. I'm pretty sure I disagree with you about the not-better-made thing, though. It's been a while since I was on top of all this, and I should probably not speak on it, but my understanding was that OS-wise, Mac built its house correctly and this is why it is less vulnerable and more stable, instead of being cobbled together on an imaginary deadline and thus constantly requiring scotch tape and staples all over the place. My own experience bears this out--my PCs just fell apart.

But I cede the floor to supernerd Rob.

[The_Dude 1,142]

This is true, and it's why Mr. Owl is not impressed, or wasn't. He likes to build his own sh*t and all that. Not me. I'm pretty sure I disagree with you about the not-better-made thing, though. It's been a while since I was on top of all this, and I should probably not speak on it, but my understanding was that OS-wise, Mac built its house correctly and this is why it is less vulnerable and more stable, instead of being cobbled together on an imaginary deadline and thus constantly requiring scotch tape and staples all over the place. My own experience bears this out--my PCs just fell apart.

But I cede the floor to supernerd Rob.

Actually, my wife is the super nerd, I just pretend. Apple's OS is basically Linux. It is very stable, I will concede that it is better than any microsoft OS on that front. But to say that it is invulnerable to virus', hacks, or malware is not true. One of the biggest vulnerabilities is Quicktime, which is an apple product. Macs don't get hacked or virus/malware as often because they comprise a small percentage of the market. Hackers go for volume in order to assemble their bot net army of zombie computers. This is what phishing is for. They send out emails to entice people to go to some website that will inject their computer with some malware that exploits some vulnerability on their computer. Since a vast majority of the computing world use PC, it only makes sense for them to focus on them. Why would you write code to that will only work on 10% of those who go there. I know i'm fudging with statistics, but you get the gist of it. Once they have a nice sized collection of infected computers, they can carry out attacks on web sites or servers.

[twowls 217]

Actually, my wife is the super nerd, I just pretend. Apple's OS is basically Linux. It is very stable, I will concede that it is better than any microsoft OS on that front. But to say that it is invulnerable to virus', hacks, or malware is not true. One of the biggest vulnerabilities is Quicktime, which is an apple product. Macs don't get hacked or virus/malware as often because they comprise a small percentage of the market. Hackers go for volume in order to assemble their bot net army of zombie computers. This is what phishing is for. They send out emails to entice people to go to some website that will inject their computer with some malware that exploits some vulnerability on their computer. Since a vast majority of the computing world use PC, it only makes sense for them to focus on them. Why would you write code to that will only work on 10% of those who go there. I know i'm fudging with statistics, but you get the gist of it. Once they have a nice sized collection of infected computers, they can carry out attacks on web sites or servers.

What you say makes sense and I suspect you are not insane.

I just wanted to say that once in my life on these forums, see how it felt. Felt good.