Might need a new laptop

AndreTheGiant · 2007-12-12T17:13:14

Ive been very against laptops my whole life, for a lot of reasons. But recently, because of my work-at-home job, it may be a good idea for me to get one. Being a desktop guy all my life, I really know nothing about laptops at this point. After looking around for deals on the internet, Id like to ask what is the difference between: Intel dual core, Intel core duo, Intel core duo2, Intel Centrino, AMD X2, AMD Turion, and any others you can think of. Can you rank them in order from best to worst? Or is it not that cut and dry? When buying a desktop, it has always been very important to me to not get an operating system, as I prefer to install my own. For this reason, I have always stayed away from Dell and certain other companies because they force you to buy an operating system. In the past I have ordered from places like NCIX and Tiger Direct, since they allow you to buy an OS-less computer. Unfortunately it seems like even these retailers wont let me buy a laptop without an OS. Does anyone know of a laptop retailer that won't force me to purchase windows Vista, or any other OS, since I want to use my existing copy of windows XP? Any other laptop specific tips would be greatly appreciated. By the way I live in Canada and want to buy from a Canadian store.

Hardware Discussion Technical

Started by AndreTheGiant November 26, 2007 09:42 AM

34 comments, last by AndreTheGiant 16 years, 11 months ago

Trapper Zoid

1,370

November 30, 2007 06:36 PM

Quote: Original post by AndreTheGiant
Getting a Mac doesnt get around this problem, because I'll be forced to buy MacOS. I dont want to be forced to buy an operating system.

Trapper Zoid, as I mentioned, this will be primarily a work laptop for me. I use a ton of development tools, and other software, all of which is Microsoft. But since my company isnt going to pay for it, I will use it for personal purposes as much as possible as well. I am a gamer, and while I dont expect to be able to run the latest graphics hogs on my laptop, I do want to get a machine with decent perfromance, price permitting.

Yes, if you've already got a whole bunch of software you're using on your Win. desktop it isn't a big advantage to go Mac. The main advantages of the MacBook line for me is the operating system and the local service store for when things go wrong. It's not as if MacBooks are immune from problems; my MacBook Pro has just this morning appeared to blow out the backlight in the screen (not particularly happy about that; I need my computer!)

Whatever you do get though, get the extended warranty. It'll be worth it. I'd also favour any place that has a local face you can talk to if and when things go wrong; I'm not a big fan of relying on long distance technical support for computer problems if I can help it.

swiftcoder

18,997

November 30, 2007 08:04 PM

Quote: Original post by Saruman
Quote: Original post by swiftcoder
Hmm... I am not sure about that. If you buy a Mac and install Windows, you will never know you are running a Mac, apart from the logo on the case - in fact, you will have a very high-spec Windows laptop, at a competetive price, and with an excellent warranty (same day replacement of my MacBook Pro's entire DC power subsystem last weekend, fully covered by warranty).

Although I do agree that running Windows on a Mac is fine considering a Mac *is* a PC now... you are way off base regarding the competitive pricing. If you spec out a 15" MacBook Pro vs the new 15" Dell XPS you'll see what I mean. The Mac will cost you roughly 3,200 with the 3 year warranty, whereas a higher spec XPS1530 with 4 years of CompleteCare warranty (meaning if you throw the notebook out the window and run over it with a car Dell will still give you a new one) is roughly 2,100. So really I don't see the price being competitive at all considering the Dell is 2/3 the cost, has a much better warranty that even includes accidents, and is higher spec.

Ever tried to collect on that Dell warranty? I worked for a PC repair business before heading to university, and if I had a dollar for every hour spent on hold to Dell and spent waiting for replacements to be shipped, lets just say I wouldn't be worrying about rent money [smile]

plus you might want to check that warranty, seems to me the only thing it covers is liquid spills and knocking off the table - provided you have never removed the machine from its original packaging:
Any Computer Device that suffers damage in connection with or as a result of incorrect or inadequate Customer Installation. “Customer Installation” shall include any of the following performed by the Customer or any third party on behalf of the customer: (1) unpacking or moving the Computer Device

Quote: What it does give you is a sleek looking system that has some niceties such as the power cord, cooling, etc that runs Mac and Windows, but it is by no means a bargain... you pay for all of those extras.

Lets not forget that that Dell XPS has no DVI-out (VGA only), no optical linein/out for audio, no Firewire 800, no base 1000 ethernet, and BlueTooth costs extra. it does however have an 8-in-1 card reader - oh boy!

That is 4 absolutely essential features missing, and if 1 more you will really miss if you are in the audio business, as opposed to a $20 media reader that generally doesn't get a whole lot of use.

Tristam MacDonald. Ex-BigTech Software Engineer. Future farmer. [https://trist.am]

tstrimp

1,798

November 30, 2007 10:10 PM

Quote: Original post by swiftcoder
Lets not forget that that Dell XPS has no DVI-out (VGA only), no optical linein/out for audio, no Firewire 800, no base 1000 ethernet, and BlueTooth costs extra. it does however have an 8-in-1 card reader - oh boy!

That is 4 absolutely essential features missing, and if 1 more you will really miss if you are in the audio business, as opposed to a $20 media reader that generally doesn't get a whole lot of use.

None of those are essential for most laptop users. I've been on a laptop almost exclusively for around 8 months and I have never used my laptop's DVI, firewire or gigabit ethernet. Most people don't even have a router/hub capable of taking advantage of gigabit ethernet. And how many people actually use optical audio on a laptop? On the other hand I've used the media card reader a number of times for transferring pictures from my camera.

Don't get me wrong, the macbook pro is an excellent laptop. It's just not competitively priced (for a windows laptop) like some would have you believe.

swiftcoder

18,997

November 30, 2007 10:26 PM

Quote: Original post by tstrimp
None of those are essential for most laptop users. I've been on a laptop almost exclusively for around 8 months and I have never used my laptop's DVI, firewire or gigabit ethernet. Most people don't even have a router/hub capable of taking advantage of gigabit ethernet. And how many people actually use optical audio on a laptop?

There is a reason for that 'Pro' after the name [smile]
Anyone doing serious video work is using firewire, as well as anyone needing to manipulate a lot of data (USB 2 is not competitive beyond a certain point). Sound engineers and many musicians are going to be using that optical audio. And when you have to deal with file servers and massive network storage, you won't want to be without that ethernet.

But as far as I am concerned, the single, most unforgivable omission on the XPS is a DVI out. For long term use, these 15 inch screens are just too small, making an external monitor a must for at home. Feeding a 20+ inch flat panel with VGA is just not going to fly.

Quote: Don't get me wrong, the macbook pro is an excellent laptop. It's just not competitively priced (for a windows laptop) like some would have you believe.

I never said it was cheap, and it is overkill for many people's needs, but as they say, you get what you pay for.

Tristam MacDonald. Ex-BigTech Software Engineer. Future farmer. [https://trist.am]

MilfredCubicleX

190

December 06, 2007 03:27 PM

Quote: Original post by swiftcoder
Quote: Original post by tstrimp
None of those are essential for most laptop users. I've been on a laptop almost exclusively for around 8 months and I have never used my laptop's DVI, firewire or gigabit ethernet. Most people don't even have a router/hub capable of taking advantage of gigabit ethernet. And how many people actually use optical audio on a laptop?

There is a reason for that 'Pro' after the name [smile]
Anyone doing serious video work is using firewire, as well as anyone needing to manipulate a lot of data (USB 2 is not competitive beyond a certain point). Sound engineers and many musicians are going to be using that optical audio. And when you have to deal with file servers and massive network storage, you won't want to be without that ethernet.

But as far as I am concerned, the single, most unforgivable omission on the XPS is a DVI out. For long term use, these 15 inch screens are just too small, making an external monitor a must for at home. Feeding a 20+ inch flat panel with VGA is just not going to fly.

Quote: Don't get me wrong, the macbook pro is an excellent laptop. It's just not competitively priced (for a windows laptop) like some would have you believe.

I never said it was cheap, and it is overkill for many people's needs, but as they say, you get what you pay for.

So those features are essential for anyone doing serious video work, happen to be musicians who do their own professional-quality recording, and who also own multiple file servers. True.

AndreTheGiant

Author

329

December 12, 2007 05:13 PM

Just thought I'd follow up.

Im going to go with this one.

The $600.00 'instant savings' is insane, although it could be just a marketing gimmic, and the machine is only worth about $999.99 to begin with. Either way, it seems like a great machine for a decent price. I guess I'm stuck with Vista, so hopefully I dont hate it as much as I think I might.

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Might need a new laptop

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