Announcement

**woofersus** · 02-06-2010, 03:10 PM

Pretty much anything will do those things, and certainly $1500 would cover it. You can get a very nice laptop for that. If he doesn't need a 17" screen or a high end video card you can get something still very nice for more like $1100-$1200, and something capable for $700-$900. I personally don't like many of the options below that point even though they can perform the required tasks, however, because you start to run into cheaper builds (people only think about specs for some reason) lesser quality screens, and older processor technologies that aren't as good for battery life.

Some options that you'll actually have to pick and choose:

- Bluetooth needed? (mostly for syncing mobile devices now that most wireless printers use wifi)
- Screen resolution/backlight type/size (I prefer the highest resolution I can get, but if his eyes aren't great he might not - LED backlighting is more expensive, but will extend battery life and tends to be brighter)
- DVD reader/burner/blu-ray
- Looking for WWAN?
- Will it be plugged in usually or will battery life be important? (determines processor choice, integrated/discrete/switchable graphics, backlight, battery choice, etc)
- Is size and weight of concern? (usually only matters if it's going to be carried around)
- Does he need specific software squeezed into that price point (MS Office, Quickbooks, etc.)

Given answers to those questions, it will be easier to try to fit something into a given price range. The extra bell/whistle isn't always good to have just because the budget allows it, if it reduces battery life or adds weight and actually makes the device less useful for its intended purpose.

As far as brands go, there are a number of options. I have a Lenovo T400 and am quite happy with it. (I wanted a 14" screen for portability, but not a tiny netbook) I chose Lenovo because of some attractive build quality features, like the steel hinges and the drip tray, and also because I prefer the trackpoint mouse to a track pad. (although a multitouch trackpad like Apple uses would be cool) My parents and sister have had three Dell laptops not last more than 18-20 months in the last few years, so I'm a little hesitant to recommend them at this point, but obviously that's a small sample size and it could have been a fluke. My sister's new laptop is from HP and it seems to be built well, but they're the worst manufacturer as far as bloatware goes. If you get one of theirs be prepared for there to be an HP/Compaq version of every thing built into windows running too, and for performance to be poor until you get rid of that stuff. Once you do that, though, it's fine. (how many people think windows is slow because of that crap!) I haven't crossed paths with a Sony or Asus laptop in some time, so I can't comment. The shop I used to work for did white box Asus laptops for a while but dropped them because of quality issues, but that was years ago. Their more recent stuff looks to be pretty well executed. We sold Acer for a while too until the warranty issues became a big problem. (crappy lcd panels too) They've been a Lenovo shop for a couple of years now and have had very few issues.

**Jason** · 02-06-2010, 03:37 PM

Hey there Mike,

I'll go ahead and be the first to plug Apple. I still consider myself a recent convert...I purchased my Macbook in Oct, 2008. Love it. Macs are hard to beat in ease of use, and I don't worry so much about viruses, etc.

With that budget, you'd be looking at either the 13" models (GREAT for portability) or the entry level 15" Macbook pro.

**Stereodude** · 02-06-2010, 04:41 PM

Nonsense! He needs to pay the Apple tax... You know... Paying 2x for the same hardware.

**m-fine** · 02-06-2010, 05:38 PM

For that kind of money he could skip the laptop and just get some speakers or a subwoofer.

**InfernoSTi** · 02-06-2010, 09:25 PM

x2 for the Macbook Pro (13" recommended). If you prefer Windows 7, run it dual boot and eventually you will realize you dread booting MS vs Apple. And your hardware will be reliable and stylish and a real pleasure to use.

**Down** · 02-06-2010, 10:21 PM

If you have that kind of budget, sure, go with an MBP. You definitely don't need to spend $1500 for a laptop that does what you want it to, but a MacBook Pro would be fine.

I wish I could love a Mac. I really do, because I'd get one in a heartbeat. But as many times as I've tried, there are just too many critical things about OS X that bother me too much to switch.

**woofersus** · 02-06-2010, 11:27 PM

I'm a big fan of the Macbook hardware. I can see paying a premium for that. I'm not a big fan of the OS, however.

**SomeCiscoGuy** · 02-07-2010, 08:22 AM

Originally posted by woofersus

I'm a big fan of the Macbook hardware. I can see paying a premium for that. I'm not a big fan of the OS, however.

I agree with this statement - the reason I originally bought a 17" MBPro was that it's the only 17" notebook I could find that was less than 1" thick. That being said, after using Mac OS X on a daily basis for 2 yrs now, I must say that it's flat out "easier" to use, and everything just seems to "work". Yes, you do pay a premium, and it's up to you to determine if that premium is worth it.

Now if MS would just release Office 2010 for Mac (be nice if they had Project, Visio, and OneNote available as well), I might be able to get away from using a VM...but Entourage sucks, so until they do, it's Outlook in a VM for me.

**Mike4AU** · 02-07-2010, 02:29 PM

Thanks for all the help, guys. In the final analysis, I think I am going to recommend to my friend to get a Dell Studio 17 and build it the way he wants it. I am also going to tell him to consider a MBP, if he is willing to tackle the learning curve.

Thanks again.

Mike

**Jason** · 02-07-2010, 05:37 PM

RE: Mac learning curve....

IMO, this is not that big of a deal. My father likes to use my macbook whenever he's around. Sure I had to tell him once or twice where to find something, but he can move around just fine now. The multi-touch trackpad is just flat out awesome! It's very intuitive....in fact my dad gets frustrated when he goes back to his laptop because he tries to use the 2 finger scroll.

**m-fine** · 02-07-2010, 06:07 PM

yech! I hate track pads, ALL of them! I got my self a Anywhere MX mouse, and now THAT is a thing of beauty! From the feel in the hand to the free spinnng scroll wheel to the any surface including glass tracking, it is the mouse equivalent of heaven. Oh, it also has more than one measly little button.

**woofersus** · 02-07-2010, 06:56 PM

Originally posted by SomeCiscoGuy

I agree with this statement - the reason I originally bought a 17" MBPro was that it's the only 17" notebook I could find that was less than 1" thick. That being said, after using Mac OS X on a daily basis for 2 yrs now, I must say that it's flat out "easier" to use, and everything just seems to "work". Yes, you do pay a premium, and it's up to you to determine if that premium is worth it.

Now if MS would just release Office 2010 for Mac (be nice if they had Project, Visio, and OneNote available as well), I might be able to get away from using a VM...but Entourage sucks, so until they do, it's Outlook in a VM for me.

I'll give it "simpler" to use, but I wouldn't go so far as "easier." I'm not a "Mac OS sucks" guy, or a MS fanboy, but I'm pretty familiar with each and I just prefer Windows for the way I do things. The fact that there is a bunch of software I couldn't use on a Mac does factor in, as well as the higher price of entry, but in the end it mostly boils down to personal preference.

Mac OS has an edge in the "just works" category because of some of the great iLife apps, but honestly windows is better in that regard than it gets credit for much of the time. A great majority of the issues windows has are caused by 3rd party applications. The openness of the platform will always be both Windows' greatest weakness and greatest strength.

**woofersus** · 02-07-2010, 07:00 PM

Originally posted by m-fine

yech! I hate track pads, ALL of them! I got my self a Anywhere MX mouse, and now THAT is a thing of beauty! From the feel in the hand to the free spinnng scroll wheel to the any surface including glass tracking, it is the mouse equivalent of heaven. Oh, it also has more than one measly little button.

Me too, although the multitouch trackpad on the macbooks had some pretty cool features. What I didn't like about it was that it was also the mouse button. I found that frustrating. (much in the same way I find the stupid one-button mouse frustrating and always use an aftermarket one with a Mac) I have a nice logitech VX Revolution that I use sometimes, but for basic navigation I find I'm happy with the trackpoint. I keep the pad disabled.

**dvenardos** · 02-08-2010, 02:35 AM

Originally posted by woofersus

I found that frustrating. (much in the same way I find the stupid one-button mouse frustrating and always use an aftermarket one with a Mac)

Apple insistence on the one button mouse is totally infuriating. The original idea was that the OS is so easy to use you only need a single button mouse, but the contextual right mouse button has proved so useful that having to option click all the time is patently absurd.

Announcement

Recommendations For A Laptop, Please.

Recommendations For A Laptop, Please.

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment