I was at Costco and I took a look at the LG Gram 17. It's an amazing laptop with a WQXGA display (2560x1600), 8-core i7, 256 GB SSD, 16 GB RAM, Intel Graphics for $1,200. Amazon has it with a 512 GB SSD for $1,588. I could not find one with a 1 TB SSD. It has 3 USB-A ports and 2 USB-C ports. It also has a proprietary charger though you can also charge it via USB-C. And it comes with an HDMI port and a SD Card slot. It is quite light at under 3 pounds. What would be nice is 32 GB of RAM, 1 TB SSD option and discrete graphics.
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Anyone else abandoning ship?
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On the LG Gram, if you want to get it, get the 16/256 model. The built-in SSD is quite slow, and you can replace it (or add) with a faster NVME drive.
Also, one of the RAM sticks is replaceable, so you can deck it out with 24GB of RAM if you need that.
I don't think it needs a graphics card because the resolution is comfortable enough for the integrated GPU to work with.
Also, one of the RAM sticks is replaceable, so you can deck it out with 24GB of RAM if you need that.
I don't think it needs a graphics card because the resolution is comfortable enough for the integrated GPU to work with.
Thanks for the hints. I would really prefer discrete graphics but being able to put in 24 GB would be very nice.
The Costco price is actually $1,150 which is $350 off the usual price of $1,500. Being able to put in 24 GB would be very nice. I didn't even think of replacing the SSD as I'm used to Apple's approach. Is there a discussion thread on this particular laptop?
NM, found YouTube video on making the changes. It would be interesting if it could take a 32 GB stick.
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No need for a solution thank you. Late 2009 MacBook can run High Sierra seamlessly. 2016 Lenovo cannot cope with Windows 10 almost unusable.
iPhone 6 which is 5 years old running iOS 12 seamlessly. Circa 2016 Motorola Android phone slow, very very slow.
If you have a Costco credit card you get 4 years of warranty on computer purchases.
Sounds like something's wrong with your Lenovo. It is unusual for a 3-year-old machine to be "unusable."
I will say I have an old "I Buy Power" 3rd generation Intel I3 that is smoking fast on Windows 10 1089 build, not to mention a slew of other older machines that are still very fluid. I would say that Lenovo mentioned previously has issues.
lg gram 17 discussion thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/new-lg-gram-17.827017/page-13
maybe i'm also abandoning ship (my first mac was an ibook g3). i'm living in austria and just bought the lg gram 17 from amazon.es for 1367,92 €. i will try my luck with linux mint and see if i can live with it. but i might also buy the new 16" mbp if its not too expensive with 32gb ram and 1TB ssd and i'm missing osx too much.
the lg gram 17 can be upgraded with a 32gb ram stick. 8 gb are soldered on. so you can have a total amount of 40 gb ram (flex-channel). but using more than 16gb ram (8+8) means loosing the dual-channel-advantage for ram access over 16gb.
there are 2 pcie nvm slots inside (2x and 4x). i will also add a 2TB nvm pcie ssd.
benchmarks with impact of flex-channel use (8gb+16gb) on gaming on the intel uhd 620:
https://mattgadient.com/faster-gaming-on-intel-uhd-620-kaby-lake-r-by-upgrading-ram/
Yeah, I mean it's never nice to carry around a laptop with keyboard that can break at any given time right? I already went in to replace it twice now... When I'm docked I simply use the Magic Keyboard at this point to avoid it lol
ahh, such a shame!
that is the reason I have a 2019 dell xps running W10 and very happy as well as more productive.
Unfortunately it seems to have been over the past couple of years. The key question is, will this change? Many are hoping but not holding their breath.
I'm thinking of switching over to a Windows laptop. I'm considering the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Gen 2 with the 4k screen or the new Dell XPS 15 with 4k OLED screen. Before I make any decision I have to wait what the rumored 16 inch MacBook Pro has to offer.
The new normal is for companies to make hardware that you have to upgrade every 2-3 years so they have a bigger return. It's not only apple it's the system, like subscription services, years ago you bought something and you had it for years now you have to pay every year to have the same.
Apple like other companies want short products life so returns are higher which means sustainable profit over the time. It happens everywhere not only in computer or tech hardware but in fashion too for instance.
Had the 2018 XPS and it gave me such a headache.. Most reliable offer out there is the Lenovo X1 Extreme tbh.
I just keep attached to Mac OS and it's nice to have Handoff and what not, don't really mind sticking to Macs. Never really thought of going back to Windows platform.
I do use Windows at work via VM due to SAP tools... There and some other places
Those are two great choices when considering alternatives to MBPs. It really is unfortunate that Apple's engineering/design choices for the MBP since 2016 have been so poor (my gripes: keyboard, lack of ports, thermals). However, for me the 16:10 aspect ratio Retina screen is the one thing that trumps Windows laptops; I'd take it over any 4k 16:9 ratio screen. Then again, most ThinkPad keyboards are so superior to the MBP's that it *almost* makes me tempted to get a ThinkPad P52 or similar. I'm really hoping that the upcoming 16" MBP will redeem the lineup. We'll see!
I have a Windows system running that's reasonably fast and it's top process is Windows Modules Installer Worker. Yesterday it was .NET optimization. I generally look up these processes on Google and they generally fall into the category of - it uses a lot of CPU, disk, network and can freeze your system.
Apple's current problems are hardware. Windows is always software. For some reason, Windows spends a lot of time updating things while I don't see the same issue with macOS. I think that this is one of the big complaints about Windows. If you have a beefy system and internet connection, it may be less of a problem. But on inexpensive or old hardware, it can make your system unusable for a while until the update/optimization/scanning stuff is finished.
Again, that's a complaint that I see from Windows users in general.
Apple's current problems are hardware. Windows is always software. For some reason, Windows spends a lot of time updating things while I don't see the same issue with macOS. I think that this is one of the big complaints about Windows. If you have a beefy system and internet connection, it may be less of a problem. But on inexpensive or old hardware, it can make your system unusable for a while until the update/optimization/scanning stuff is finished.
Again, that's a complaint that I see from Windows users in general.
no TB3, old SATA M2 SSD and no dedicated GPU for that price sounds more like a laptop for nobody
you are misinformed. the lg gram 17 has thunderbolt 3. see https://www.notebookcheck.net/LG-Gram-17Z990-i7-8565U-WQXGA-Laptop-Review.418092.0.html
the sata ssd is slow but there are 2 internal nvme slots (2x and 4x speed). so it can be easily extended with a second nvme ssd. for every day use (reading small files) the type of ssd is not that important.
it has 8 gb ram soldered on and 1x ram slot. this can be extended with a 32gb ddr4 sodimm to a total amount of 40gb ram in flex-mode.
no dedicated gpu can be a bliss. it's a quiet laptop. a lot of people don't really need a dedicated gpu.
the display is great. it's glossy, but it has the 16:10 format with a resolution of 2560 x 1600. it's a good replacement for the matte 17" macbook pro from 2011.
to be fair the sound is worse than the speakers from the mbp 17"
I ended up "jumping ship" (still use an iphone and an apple watch) from a 15" macbook pro late-2013 to an Alienware m15 (R1, not the new R2 model they also sell now). I don't mind windows and used both interchangably on the mac.
It has the following major hardware differences over the MBP 15:
the good:
1. a very comfortable and reliable keyboard with a numberpad
2. an nvidia 2070 max q, for much better GPU performance than any macbook pro
3. a second user-upgradable M.2 slot for another SSD (i put in a 2 TB intel 660p for under $200, giving me more storage than any MBP)
4. user upgradable ram and much cheaper ram options
5. 4k IPS screen
6. 1080p webcam with dual mics
7. Better port selection, it includes Thunderbolt 3, but it also has 3 full size USB, a displayport, and an HDMI.
8. 90 watt/hr battery
9. good build quality, and screen goes back almost 180 degrees
10. Price is incredible compared to mac. I paid about $2500 for the following specs:
intel i7-8750H
nvidia 2070 max-q
32 GB ram
512 SSD boot drive + added 2 TB intel 660p storage drive (2.5 TB total storage)
90 watt/hr battery
4k IPS screen
Windows 10 Pro
the bad:
1. heavier and thicker than a macbook pro due to the 2070 max q (15 macbook pro late-2013 = 4.5 lbs, alienware m15 = 4.8 lbs)
2. trackpad is about as good as the ones in 2010 macbook pros, but worse than the more recent ones. Good enough, but not on parity to newer macs.
3. no dynamic brightness adjustments on the screen like the MBP, you have to adjust it manually depending on the room you are in
4. speakers are just ok, and not as good as on the MBP
5. power brick is huge compared to mac, but necessary due to 2070 max q
6. not quite as easy to set up as a mac. I'm using throttlestop to throttle and undervolt the CPU to keep temps reasonable under heavy workload and using the alienware built-in fan software with a custom fan curve. After the tweaks, i lost about 5% CPU performance at load, but my CPU temps don't go over 80C. Kind of a pain to set up and find the right balance for your CPU, but once it's done and in start-up you don't have to touch it again.
Overall, i'm pretty happy with the new laptop. I still use the MBP with a couple external hard drives attached as a home server.
It has the following major hardware differences over the MBP 15:
the good:
1. a very comfortable and reliable keyboard with a numberpad
2. an nvidia 2070 max q, for much better GPU performance than any macbook pro
3. a second user-upgradable M.2 slot for another SSD (i put in a 2 TB intel 660p for under $200, giving me more storage than any MBP)
4. user upgradable ram and much cheaper ram options
5. 4k IPS screen
6. 1080p webcam with dual mics
7. Better port selection, it includes Thunderbolt 3, but it also has 3 full size USB, a displayport, and an HDMI.
8. 90 watt/hr battery
9. good build quality, and screen goes back almost 180 degrees
10. Price is incredible compared to mac. I paid about $2500 for the following specs:
intel i7-8750H
nvidia 2070 max-q
32 GB ram
512 SSD boot drive + added 2 TB intel 660p storage drive (2.5 TB total storage)
90 watt/hr battery
4k IPS screen
Windows 10 Pro
the bad:
1. heavier and thicker than a macbook pro due to the 2070 max q (15 macbook pro late-2013 = 4.5 lbs, alienware m15 = 4.8 lbs)
2. trackpad is about as good as the ones in 2010 macbook pros, but worse than the more recent ones. Good enough, but not on parity to newer macs.
3. no dynamic brightness adjustments on the screen like the MBP, you have to adjust it manually depending on the room you are in
4. speakers are just ok, and not as good as on the MBP
5. power brick is huge compared to mac, but necessary due to 2070 max q
6. not quite as easy to set up as a mac. I'm using throttlestop to throttle and undervolt the CPU to keep temps reasonable under heavy workload and using the alienware built-in fan software with a custom fan curve. After the tweaks, i lost about 5% CPU performance at load, but my CPU temps don't go over 80C. Kind of a pain to set up and find the right balance for your CPU, but once it's done and in start-up you don't have to touch it again.
Overall, i'm pretty happy with the new laptop. I still use the MBP with a couple external hard drives attached as a home server.
Thanks for the details. Always interesting to get experiences and viewpoints from those who have made either a complete or partial transition.
$2500 sounds bit overpriced, I paid half of this price for ASUS ROG 15.6" GTX 1070 and it was 2 and half years ago, only 20-25% better GPU for double amount of money after over 2 years ?! looks like manufacturers stared milking also PC laptop gamers, bad move sales will drop mainly, I bet you can buy at this moment laptop with GTX 1080 for about $1250
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Well, similar specs on a 15” MacBook Pro (32gb ram, 2 tb SSD, etc) is over 1k more than I paid. Did yours have over 2 tb storage, 32gb ram, and a 4K screen?
1080 is a pretty old processor so all of the development costs have been covered. Still questionable whether RTX is worth the money because new features are still being added to the drivers. But I would have a real hard time buying a 4 year old 1070 or 1080 in late 2019.