Where is the competition?

[cube]

I'd rather have a higher resolution screen than a newer CPU/RAM.

 

[jaytv111]

We are a small office and we just got 3, all 3 have had varying levels of problems ( software and hardware ). One is dead in the shop with no ETA for parts, mine is functional when the wifi doesn't die, and the third works, but only for the primary user because of some quirk with the finger print software has put on a BIOS lock so we need her fingerpring to even start the system.

The power supply is like using a 65W adapter on the MBP, yes it will work, but it runs at a reduced speed and will not charge the battery as fast. The fact that this was an "upgrade" without a warning as to the drawbacks is ludicrous.

as usual, early adopters get the lions share of bugs and problems, just like the first gen MBP. Also, the computer that requires that user's fingerprint, it could just be she set it that way, it's possible to change it in the BIOS.

The point of this thread is just to show that currently the MBP is one of the cheapest MONTEVINA based laptop. There is very few other computers offering the same kind of technology (montevina, DDR3 ram, graphic chip etc). Obviously PCs are going to widen the gap eventually but right now the MBP is (I never thought I could say such a thing) relatively cheap.

I don't want to compare looks, build quality or OS because just comparing the hardware is enough to see that the MBP is a very good deal.

I managed to find a couple of close match spec wise but most of them used older processors, DDR2 ram and graphic chip.

But there still are some other computers that do offer the same kind of technology (and are close in price). Others offer more features, like built in 3G, Blu Ray, Esata, etc. Also the graphics card isn't that great, I read on this forum the 9650 would have been the best choice, and the aforementioned Dells offer Nvidia Quadro graphics. So that's one spec that Apple isn't the best in.
You also now have the problem of glossy only screens, which seems to have pissed off a lot of people on this forum alone.

 

[Hydroxs]

The Sager NP8660 is one of the faster notebook out their on the market. For the price of the top end 15 in mbp, you can get blu-ray, 1920x1200 res, and a 9800m GTS.

Display: 15.4" WSXGA+ LCD with Super Glossy Surface (1680X1050)
Processor: Core™ 2 Duo Processor 3MB L2 Cache, 2.26GHz, 1066MHz FSB
Video & Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS Graphics with 512MB DDR3 Video Memory
Memory: 2GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz - 2 X 1024MB
Primary Hard Disk Drive: 160GB 5400rpm SATA 150 Hard Drive
Optical Drive: 8X DVD±R/RW/4X +DL Super-Multi Drive & Software
Wireless Network Card: Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300AGN - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module
Bluetooth: Internal Bluetooth V2.0 + EDR Module

$1799

For the price of the top end mbp you get,

Display: 15.4" WUXGA LCD with Matte Finish Surface (1920X1200)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P9500 / 6MB L2 Cache, 2.53GHz, 1066MHz FSB
Video & Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS Graphics with 512MB DDR3 Video Memory
Memory: 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz - 2 X 2048MB
Primary Hard Disk Drive: 500GB 5400rpm SATA 300 Hard Drive[+$135.00]
Optical Drive: 2X Blu-ray Reader/8X DVD±R/2.4X +DL Super-Multi Drive & Software
Wireless Network Card: Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300AGN - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module
Bluetooth: Internal Bluetooth V2.0 + EDR Module