Looking for alternatives to Mac since Arrandale won't come out thread

[kny3twalker]

Really? It's been several years since I got my degree, but have things changed that much? What sort of CS class do you *need* Windows for? For my classes it was all Java or C that had to compile on Solaris or Linux. I guess maybe if they're teaching you C# or something. But by and large the academic CS world is *NIX based; or so I thought.

I had to use Visual Studio for my first C++ class. I had no idea what I was doing at the time and probably do not still. Also since most of the students use Windows, it has been easier to use the compilers, text editors, etc... for Windows. Currently I use netbeans for java in Windows and OSX, mingw for compiling in Windows, UltraEdit for text editing in Windows, XCode for text editing in OSX, and gcc for compiling in OSX. Windows is also necessary, because I need MS Office for classes. I have the Mac version installed, but I have not used it much.
So far though, I have learned C++, C, Java, and I have been teaching myself php for a class.

 

[1881]

Nice and cheap with 5730 and i7-720qm if you want more battery life you can always go for the even cheaper i5 version with Optimus....

http://amazon.com

 

[ZSamuels28]

Nice and cheap with 5730 and i7-720qm if you want more battery life you can always go for the even cheaper i5 version with Optimus....

http://http://www.amazon.com/N61JQ-X1-16-Inch-Versatile-Entertainment-Laptop/dp/B00352LQZS/ref=pd_cp_pc_1

Broken link...
I am gonna love my desktop replacement
Also, I don't mind about battery life, I have my netbook for that... also, why would I carry around a 9 lb laptop around .... it's just so I can go to friends, school and home without having to lug around a desktop and monitor ...

 

[1881]

Nice and cheap with 5730 and i7-720qm if you want more battery life you can always go for the even cheaper i5 version with Optimus....

http://amazon.com

Oooops my bad! Just fixed it for you....

 

[DarthSnuggles]

I had to use Visual Studio for my first C++ class. I had no idea what I was doing at the time and probably do not still. Also since most of the students use Windows, it has been easier to use the compilers, text editors, etc... for Windows. Currently I use netbeans for java in Windows and OSX, mingw for compiling in Windows, UltraEdit for text editing in Windows, XCode for text editing in OSX, and gcc for compiling in OSX. Windows is also necessary, because I need MS Office for classes. I have the Mac version installed, but I have not used it much.
So far though, I have learned C++, C, Java, and I have been teaching myself php for a class.

Well, if they are teaching you with VS, that would definitely be the case that having access to a personal Windows machine would be a good idea! In my classes you really almost never saw an Apple laptop, despite there being an Apple 'store' within the university book store. But this was back before the iPod and prior to/during OS X's release. I personally had a Debian equipped Thinkpad with a 90MHz Pentium, which was ancient even then...

That said on the O/T, Thinkpads are pretty good at the portability game, which if you're running around alot might be important.

Parting shot: I've never gotten a document from someone I couldn't open with OpenOffice! (I have Office 08 installed on my MacBook though)

 

[Black Mesa]

AlienWare

I've been using my C2D 17" MBP is a desktop replacement / gaming rig and am tired of Apples delays in releasing current tech-speced MPBs, has anyone here used a AlienWare M15 or M17 X? Researching them I've read alot of bad reviews based on encounters with customers service but have been having trouble finding much input on performance and reliability.

Any input would be much appreciated.

 

[kny3twalker]

Well, if they are teaching you with VS, that would definitely be the case that having access to a personal Windows machine would be a good idea! In my classes you really almost never saw an Apple laptop, despite there being an Apple 'store' within the university book store. But this was back before the iPod and prior to/during OS X's release. I personally had a Debian equipped Thinkpad with a 90MHz Pentium, which was ancient even then...

That said on the O/T, Thinkpads are pretty good at the portability game, which if you're running around alot might be important.

Parting shot: I've never gotten a document from someone I couldn't open with OpenOffice! (I have Office 08 installed on my MacBook though)

I have used vi/vim and pico when using Linux and really do not like them. I think OSX is the "perfect alternative" to having to use Linux. I like that XCode works like any other text editor in windows, unlike vim and pico where there is a input mode and a cursor mode. I want to learn the language, not how to use some out of date text editor. Writing code in a terminal (type) window is horrible.
Also if Apple had not created the unibody or previous aluminum powerbooks, I can guarantee I would have bought a thinkpad.

 

[shadygrove]

I have used vi/vim and pico when using Linux and really do not like them. I think OSX is the "perfect alternative" to having to use Linux. I like that XCode works like any other text editor in windows, unlike vim and pico where there is a input mode and a cursor mode. I want to learn the language, not how to use some out of date text editor. Writing code in a terminal (type) window is horrible.
Also if Apple had not created the unibody or previous aluminum powerbooks, I can guarantee I would have bought a thinkpad.

I have gotten used to vi and found it to be one of the most beneficial tools when it comes to modifying configuration and batch files. I would never use it for development though but I do use a lot when I using SSH from my mac to the server. I mostly web development and agree, there is no better production environment than OSX just as there is substitute for the Linux, command prompts, and VI.

 

[Jaro65]

I had a 27" iMac, and a hackintosh netbook as the portable which became unreliable. Have been waiting since the new year for the new MBP or MBA... and I insist not buying the current models.

I ended up buying a used black MB from ebay. My plan is use it until late summer when Apple offers the back-to-school promo, and then sell the black MB. My lost from buy/resell will be much less on a used MB, compared to the current version MBP or MBA.

That's a good way of doing this!

 

[dranakin]

Is this configuration even possible? Here’s what I’m looking for:

Intel Arrandale Processor
Under 15” screen (13in preferred)
LED (or better)/HD screen
Blu-Ray
HDMI out
4 GB RAM
Bluetooth
Wifi-N
Webcam
Minimum 5 hour battery life
Under $1400

HD/SSD space and dedicated graphics are less important to me.

I keep finding notebooks that are pretty close, but the battery life is terrible.

 

[ZSamuels28]

I've been using my C2D 17" MBP is a desktop replacement / gaming rig and am tired of Apples delays in releasing current tech-speced MPBs, has anyone here used a AlienWare M15 or M17 X? Researching them I've read alot of bad reviews based on encounters with customers service but have been having trouble finding much input on performance and reliability.

Any input would be much appreciated.

The Alienwares have not been updated in a while, hence they're overpriced atm for what they have in them.... the M17x doesn't touch the Asus G73JH-A1 that I'm getting... and the Asus is a lot cheaper.... The asus gets great reviews especially on its cooling system...

Also, about the above post on the system with arrandale for under 1400, you can get a system like that, but everything comes down to battery life... I doubt you are gonna get a battery life of 5 hours or above with an arrandale at the moment... only computer I've seen like that is the HP Envy or the Sony Vaio Z....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834110401

is upgradable to 4gb... dunno what you're looking for

 

[dranakin]

I doubt you are gonna get a battery life of 5 hours or above with an arrandale at the moment... only computer I've seen like that is the HP Envy or the Sony Vaio Z....

Thanks for the comments. In that case, can we expect the MBP to have a good battery life if it ever gets Arrandale?

 

[jjahshik32]

Thanks for the comments. In that case, can we expect the MBP to have a good battery life if it ever gets Arrandale?

Yea this is one of the reasons that I want to get the current gen mbp as the battery life is excellent.

 

[kny3twalker]

Arrendales are only dual cores so they should get the same or better battery life as the current core 2 duos. This is a fact.

 

[savar]

Are there any PC laptops out there that:

a) do not come with stickers on them
b) do not come with trialware pre-installed

I'm not married to Apple, but these seem like to very basic requirements that nobody else can deliver.

I took a look at the Vaio Z, and although most of the specs are sweet, I still can't justify spending $1900 (base price) for a laptop and then spend the first 2 hours peeling off stickers and reinstalling windows.

 

[kny3twalker]

Are there any PC laptops out there that:

a) do not come with stickers on them
b) do not come with trialware pre-installed

I'm not married to Apple, but these seem like to very basic requirements that nobody else can deliver.

I took a look at the Vaio Z, and although most of the specs are sweet, I still can't justify spending $1900 (base price) for a laptop and then spend the first 2 hours peeling off stickers and reinstalling windows.

I am pretty sure thinkpads, elitebooks/probooks, and latitudes/precision all can be configured will no trial software and have limited/no stickers, usually just model and brand. Price ranges are the same or more than MacBooks though. Any that are priced less, you probably do not want.

 

[Tyrion]

I am pretty sure thinkpads, elitebooks/probooks, and latitudes/precision all can be configured will no trial software and have limited/no stickers, usually just model and brand. Price ranges are the same or more than MacBooks though. Any that are priced less, you probably do not want.

Yep, these mobile workstations usually don't have stickers on them and shouldn't be loaded with bloatware. I've seen the latest Eitebooks (sadly not the awesome 8540w) in person and it didn't have any stickers on it (not to mention that it felt very solid and the screen was gorgeous).

 

[JoeG4]

That I agree with. My computer came with something like 8 stickers on it, but they came off really quite easily; I simply slid a piece of paper alongside their edges and they slipped off. Not nearly as big a deal as I had imagined, remembering how a friend once bought an emachine, and pulling the front sticker off resulted in a disastrous mess.

HP is pretty good about not doing stickers though, I noticed the Envy doesn't have any (I don't think, at all. The intel and Windows logos are laser etched on the bottom of the machine).

Being a little quirky, I took the nvidia and i7 stickers and attached them onto the bottom of my machine, since I see no harm in that.

Arrendales are only dual cores so they should get the same or better battery life as the current core 2 duos. This is a fact.

Absolutely! The Sony Z series is a fine example of this, I believe it gets 5+ hours with a regular battery. Even my F series gets about 2 and a half with its massive screen and the discrete GPU being on at all times (and I have the 45nm clarksdale monster).

I've heard very good things about Arrandale laptops and their battery life. Alas, once you have a quadcore it's kinda hard to step down to a mundane duo lol

Savar, Apple absolutely includes trialware with their computers, and the Mac setup wizard pitches you to purchase MobileMe at one point or another. I'll give you this, however: I've never seen a Mac start advertising accessories! My Sony came with a "messenger" program that was supposedly to inform you of software/firmware updates, turns out it wants you to buy Sony stuff.

I admit, that one made me reconsider my purchase. Thankfully it was a quick uninstall lol

I'm still having a power supply issue that may lead to me taking the Sony back, however.

 

[ssd]

i dont understand why any of you want to get a overpriced mbp when there are tons of good pc laptop out there at half the price. For me i have no choice because iphone development can only be done on a mac. But if all you are using the mbp is for games/movies etc..you must be nuts to pay 2x for a mbp...

1. Time Machine / Time Capsule
2. Laptops are slimmer than their counterparts from Dell, HP or Lenovo.
3. Mac OS X is great as said by many. Windows 7 is just an XP with a new face and old internals.
4. My entire household is Mac only with occasional Windows programs that we run as VM.

^^^ That would do it for me.

 

[phrint]

Is this configuration even possible? Here’s what I’m looking for:

Intel Arrandale Processor
Under 15” screen (13in preferred)
LED (or better)/HD screen
Blu-Ray
HDMI out
4 GB RAM
Bluetooth
Wifi-N
Webcam
Minimum 5 hour battery life
Under $1400

HD/SSD space and dedicated graphics are less important to me.

I keep finding notebooks that are pretty close, but the battery life is terrible.

Here you go:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Gateway-Lap...iewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item414dde068c

This was a deal at Best Buy back in February for $499.00. It was advertised with a i3 chip but came with an i5. A similar model goes for $899.99 today but the 5927u can be had on eBay for $600 or less. You won't find these in stores any more. I was going to jump all over this but held back as I knew I really wanted a Mac.

Reviews on it are great except for the trackpad buttons which some people had a hard time getting past. I was even thinking of picking this up for my wife.

 

[audiofx]

I finally bit on the vaio Z which can be had $200 cheaper form besybuy the opening model $1699. So far i love it ultra portable and loaded. Plus with the Z i can get a real docking station and have a true all in one solution for a powerful desktop and mobile. the LCD/Resolution is well... stunning.

 

[kny3twalker]

Savar, Apple absolutely includes trialware with their computers, and the Mac setup wizard pitches you to purchase MobileMe at one point or another.

Mine came with no trialware. I did get the same mobileme sign up during setup, but not that big of an issue.

 

[trip1ex]

I know what's bugging me. This is the Apple hardware forum. This thread should be moved somewhere else. Maybe to another site.

Maybe they need to create a pc forum for those switching to Windows.

 

[HLdan]

I am pretty sure thinkpads, elitebooks/probooks, and latitudes/precision all can be configured will no trial software and have limited/no stickers, usually just model and brand. Price ranges are the same or more than MacBooks though. Any that are priced less, you probably do not want.

Based on this post alone, can anybody explain to me why the Macs are considered "overpriced"? I mean, honestly, what's so "Elite" about the Elitebook and the Dell Lattitude to justify spending much more over their lower line that has better specs? This is the same argument we get thrown at the Macbooks but nobody is complaining that the Elitebooks and Lattitudes are overpriced. Anyone care to explain?

 

[lilo777]

1. Time Machine / Time Capsule

Not that big of a deal. There are much better alternatives around. Time Machine is not that well regarded even on this forum.

2. Laptops are slimmer than their counterparts from Dell, HP or Lenovo.

Simply not true. There are PC laptops that are thinner than MBs (HP Envy is one example).

3. Mac OS X is great as said by many. Windows 7 is just an XP with a new face and old internals.

It's an opinion held by a slim minority of computer users.

4. My entire household is Mac only with occasional Windows programs that we run as VM.

Valid point but consider how much you would save by switching your entire household to PCs