I really need help deciding between 2 laptops. I have been a PC user for the past 10 years, but I have owned a unibody Macbook Pro for about 4 months (late 2008 model when it was first released) and no other Mac since then. I currently own a Sony Vaio laptop and I'm looking to replace it. I'm currently torn between the HP Envy 14 and the Apple Macbook Pro 15".
HP Envy 14 will cost me about $1150 (including tax), while the Macbook Pro 15 will cost me about $1975 (that includes all taxes for the laptop and free 8gb iPod Touch - 8gb iPod Touch rebate - $150 estimate sell of 8gb iPod Touch). The $825 price difference is kind of scaring me.
Now, I can easily afford the Macbook Pro but I just am not totally sure if it justifies the huge price increase. I have several questions...
1. Does Apple have much better customer service as compared to HP and does it still cover when overseas? I'm going to study in Paris for 1 year and it would be a huge + if I would be able to just walk into the Paris Apple Store if I have any problems with mine. It would be far more difficult with HP, I assume.
2. A major annoyance with my first Macbook Pro was that the keyboard wore pretty easily. I have naturally oily skin (damn!) and was paranoid about creating that shine over the most often used keys. I was so OCD about it that I had to wash my hands basically everytime before I touched my keyboard. If I couldn't, then I tried typing on my fingertips or fingernails if possible. It absolutely annoyed the hell out of me, so that's why I have a Sony Vaio right now. Their keys don't really have that problem. Is there anything that I can do to eliminate that problem? Like some kind of unobtrusive cover that is recommended?
3. The front edge of the laptop was very sharp to me. It was a bit painful to rest my wrists how I would naturally have them with any laptop. Has there been any accessories that perhaps alleviates the issue a bit?
4. Heat heat heat. Whenever I did anything intensive, the laptop would get so hot that it became very, very uncomfortable to rest it on my lap. So... it was like a "laptop", but without the "lap".
Has Apple fixed that problem or at least cooled it down?
5. I've been seeing issues lately that the Intel HD graphics card makes the OS X a bit laggy. I'm wondering if that will be an annoying issue. When does the nVidia card actually kick in? Does it let you know?
6. What is "real" battery life estimates for the Macbook Pro? Can it really reach 8+ hours doing basic browsing and opening up some applications?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
HP Envy 14 will cost me about $1150 (including tax), while the Macbook Pro 15 will cost me about $1975 (that includes all taxes for the laptop and free 8gb iPod Touch - 8gb iPod Touch rebate - $150 estimate sell of 8gb iPod Touch). The $825 price difference is kind of scaring me.
Now, I can easily afford the Macbook Pro but I just am not totally sure if it justifies the huge price increase. I have several questions...
1. Does Apple have much better customer service as compared to HP and does it still cover when overseas? I'm going to study in Paris for 1 year and it would be a huge + if I would be able to just walk into the Paris Apple Store if I have any problems with mine. It would be far more difficult with HP, I assume.
2. A major annoyance with my first Macbook Pro was that the keyboard wore pretty easily. I have naturally oily skin (damn!) and was paranoid about creating that shine over the most often used keys. I was so OCD about it that I had to wash my hands basically everytime before I touched my keyboard. If I couldn't, then I tried typing on my fingertips or fingernails if possible. It absolutely annoyed the hell out of me, so that's why I have a Sony Vaio right now. Their keys don't really have that problem. Is there anything that I can do to eliminate that problem? Like some kind of unobtrusive cover that is recommended?
3. The front edge of the laptop was very sharp to me. It was a bit painful to rest my wrists how I would naturally have them with any laptop. Has there been any accessories that perhaps alleviates the issue a bit?
4. Heat heat heat. Whenever I did anything intensive, the laptop would get so hot that it became very, very uncomfortable to rest it on my lap. So... it was like a "laptop", but without the "lap".
5. I've been seeing issues lately that the Intel HD graphics card makes the OS X a bit laggy. I'm wondering if that will be an annoying issue. When does the nVidia card actually kick in? Does it let you know?
6. What is "real" battery life estimates for the Macbook Pro? Can it really reach 8+ hours doing basic browsing and opening up some applications?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!