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Which one for me

By ChiefHoser (Wed Jul 07, 2004 at 01:48:10 AM EST) (all tags)

Seeing as I am moving across the country soon, and in order to ease this I am planning on getting rid of my desktop and replacing it with a laptop. Having never purchased a laptop before I am a bit at a loss.

I am moving three provinces over (hopefully) by the end of the summer and would like to get a laptop to replace my computer. So far I have been looking at several different manufacturers, including apple. I am just wondering what experiences, good or bad, that people have had with their laptops and if someone could recommend a good system (on a limited budget, doesn't need to be a powerhouse athlod 2600+ equivalent) from a good supplier.

I have look at Acer's products and like the Aspire 1350.

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Which one for me | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback

I would recommend getting a mac by Rogerborg (3.00 / 0) #1 Wed Jul 07, 2004 at 01:55:45 AM EST

Although I'd be lying if I said it was because I like you.

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Metus amatores matrum compescit, non clementia.

If you're going to buy an Acer, by greyrat (3.00 / 0) #2 Wed Jul 07, 2004 at 02:09:35 AM EST

go all the way.

: Practical Experience by ObviousTroll (3.00 / 0) #3 Wed Jul 07, 2004 at 02:11:35 AM EST

They deployed tablets and convertibles where I used to work. The tablets were universally loathed. The convertibles were used as regular laptops except to occasionally share a display or to sketch something.

when you hear this strain of rhetoric, it's usually from a man in a sandwich board touting the apocalypse or Mumia's innocence, while standing on the wrong side of a police cordon. - Matt Labash
[ Parent ]

I just finished installing an Aspire 1350 by Evil Cloaked User (3.00 / 0) #4 Wed Jul 07, 2004 at 02:27:24 AM EST

Nice machine. We bought it for the accountant. My major gripe is the screen resolution. But then I got me a 1600 x 1200 and wouldn't trade it for anything less.

--
Still, I think most of the problem is just a mental hurdle to overcome, - Cloaked User

It's not exactly cheap... by cr8dle2grave (3.00 / 0) #5 Wed Jul 07, 2004 at 04:02:51 AM EST

...but then again you're considering an Apple notebook so you just might have a different idea of cheap than most of us. Anyhow, I've got a Toshiba P-25 series laptop which is, if nothing else, a genuine replacement for a desktop. It's big (~10 pounds), but comes with a 17 inch widescreen display (1440 X 900), DVD-RW, built in Wi-Fi, and a 2.8 Ghz P4. You should be able to pick one up for about $1800 USD.

I've had it about a year and I've got no real complaints at all. Although if you're looking for a gaming machine, the P25 is probably underpowered in the graphics card department (32Mb Nvidia when I bought but now 64Mb). Great sound, beautiful display, and it works perfectly with Linux (except for ACPI which is buggy with the 2.4 kernel--haven't tried the 2.6 kernel yet)
---
Unity of mankind means: No escape for anyone anywhere. - Milan Kundera

: Cheap by ChiefHoser (3.00 / 0) #6 Wed Jul 07, 2004 at 05:14:06 AM EST

The apple I am looking at is about the same price as an equivalent acer or likewise prices windows laptop at about 1500CDN or so. I am worried about the switch to apple having never used one before.

I have been looking at Toshiba's and they are looking pretty good.
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Chiefhoser
[ Parent ]

Having used both by creo (6.00 / 1) #7 Wed Jul 07, 2004 at 05:37:48 AM EST

I have a monster 17" P4 Sony Vaio with all the fruit that dual boots XP (for games) and Linux (everything else). Mrs C and CU1 have iBooks.

If you are getting it for programming/web/word processing I would go iBook. Unix goodness that just works - as long as you get a few necessary programs.

If you want to use it to play games then the PC.

However I find when I want to have a quick mail check, ~~pr0n~~web browse or bit of python hacking I invariably reach for the iBook. Battery life is sweet and so far the support from Apple has been very good, not like those Sony fuckers.

YMMV

Cheers
Creo.

PS I used to loathe Macs....

"I shall do what I believe to be right and honourable" - Guderian

Software by ChiefHoser (3.00 / 0) #8 Wed Jul 07, 2004 at 06:23:32 AM EST

One of the biggest concerns I have about the iBook is getting software equivalent to what I have running on my pc. Specifically the word processes packages as well as programs such as Quicken. Have you had any problem with this>
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Chiefhoser
[ Parent ]

: Virtual PC by ti dave (3.00 / 0) #9 Wed Jul 07, 2004 at 06:48:24 AM EST

Windows XP in a box.
I don't care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do.
The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it. --W.S. Burroughs
[ Parent ]
: Software by creo (3.00 / 0) #10 Wed Jul 07, 2004 at 05:16:45 PM EST

Quicken is the bastard child of those wankers at Intuit. Having said that I have to use it as no other package (including Gnucash) does multicurrency properly, and given that I home base in Aus, have my accounts in the UK, Aus and US and reside in a Euro zone this is a deal breaker.
Moneydance is very nice, and once they get the multicurrency sorted i will be migrating to them ASAP.
Office runs on OSX, and rumour has it that the OSX office is more functional than the windows version. We only use it for basics, and it works well.
Games are hard to find, although there - but you always pay top dollar...and the iBook really does not cut it as a games machine due to the relative lo res of the screen (max 1024x768) - although the screen is very easy on the eyes (for me).
Outside of the above and development tools I do not have a great deal of experience about Aplle software. There are quite a few Appleheads that hang around (Fluffy Grue, CBB, MNS come to mind) who might have a better idea. As an example my wife wants a program to help her design a kitchen - lots on Windows, only 1 or 2 on Mac, and not at the beginner level she wants.
In summary though, if you are just doing web, school and programming then the mac is good.
HTH
Cheers
Creo.

"I shall do what I believe to be right and honourable" - Guderian
[ Parent ]

Which one for me | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback