Need help deciding on a laptop..

inconnu
Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:34:47 +0000

I second everything soulkamikaze mentioned in his/her last post…Macs unibodies basically prevent hardware upgrades. You can remove, service, and replace the hard drive, RAM, communication chips (WiFi, Bluetooth, HSDPA), heat sink, and even the motherboard and processor on a Dell XPS without voiding the warranty (as long as the hardware is compatible).

Apple OSX is a candy-coated and oversimplified operating system that hides a lot of processes such that it becomes hard to troubleshoot. God forbid anything go wrong on a Mac, but when it does, you’re boned. And please, a Mac is a computer too. **** will hit the fan sooner or later…But then again, if you’re a UNIX buff, then you can use OSX perfectly. That’s the beauty of OSX, IMO – the Terminal. Terminal is so very powerful, but few people use it as it is meant to be. All this doesn’t go without saying that Vista is a piece of ****. However, Windows 7 is rather nicely done, so don’t worry too much about Windows being a pain. Also, Dells are infinitely more compatible with multiple releases of Linux, if a user ever decides open-source is for them.

I also think iLife is an overpriced complement to Apple’s overpriced hardware. For example, all photographers prefer Aperture or Lightroom to iPhoto, so iPhoto goes to waste. GarageBand is replaced by programs like Fruity Loops, and so on.

The only appeal to Macs, the way I see it, is you have a very thin and very sexy sheet of aluminum wrapped around your internal components that you paid far too much money for and being a part of the “Apple community,” which is overpopulated by wannabe artists, directors, and others who are trying to make it in “the industry.”

I don’t mean to sound like a jerk, and I’m really sorry I come off so callous. I guess this is a topic I’m rather tired of discussing and opinionated about, heh. I apologize. Just…people need to realize Apple is truly exploiting the bandwagon appeal. There are far better alternatives to Macs, most, if not all, of which will save you a good amount of money…

As for Toshibas, I hear they’re decent computers, but they have poor quality control. They also tend to overheat, in my experience. I’ve only used one laptop off their Satellite line. Don_Quixote is right. You really don’t see very many of them around campus. The most common computers you’ll find on campus are Macs, Dells, HPs, and ThinkPads. There are a few ASUS and Acer laptops here and there.

Hamburgler brings up an often ignored choice…Don’t Vostro laptops come with a roll-cage, like the ThinkPads? It’s worth looking into, I would think.

Oh, the cans of air are either carbon dioxide, nitrogen, but definitely not oxygen. Please don’t try breathing that stuff :(