Off-Topic: Laptop Purchase...suggestions?

Im looking to get a laptop in the next 2 months and was wondering what you guys use/would recommend.

Will be used for:
-graphic and web development
-word processing (class notes, etc)
-travel

Looking for something light yet powerful and with a decent size screen...

Any suggestions? Hoping to spend less than $1200.

Toshiba makes a good computer.

I've had mine for almost 3 years and haven't had a problem.

I am not sure that I want to go the Mac route as of right now. Prefer to keep a PC. If I were to do a Mac I would start with my desktop but thats a different story.

I bought a MAC recently and absolutely hated it (Returned within two weeks), so I reverted back to windows and went with HP-DV6000 it has been fantastic.

Possibly due to my early adaption to Windows, I just didn't like MAC's OS.

i agree with kmulligan; thinkpads are really nice. i have a t40 and a t22. i traveled a lot with the t40 and it held up pretty well despite being used about 18 hrs/day. likewise, the t22 is still kicking strong even though it's several years old. in fact, i am using if for webdev work now.

so the T series is nice, thin, and lightweight. although some of the newer models are a little bit larger. perhaps the R series is worth checking out. i've also used X series thinkpads (X32) and those are quite a bit smaller. i like them, but the screen is pretty small. on the other hand they travel REALLY well because they are super light.

lenovo is running some pretty good sales right now on thinkpads, so i would definitely think about getting one. if you do get a thinkpad, i would absolutely get the extended life battery. the regular life isn't short necessarily, but the extended life doubles it up.

I'm a Toshiba fan, particularly their business lineup. I currently have a Tecra S2 and have had it for the past year and haven't had any problems.

I also like Fujitsu's books as well. I had a PIII 1Ghz one back in 2003-2004 and it was great - did a lot of intensive scientific computing on it and it never complained.

I like Thinkpads functionally, but they are butt ugly like the rest of the Lenovo lineup :-)

You think when they bought the business there would be a redesign somewhere in the pipeline. Having a laptop looking like it's from 1990 ain't cool.

the thinkpad look isn't the most modern, but it certainly is recognizable and the thinkpad might be the best selling business notebook. any redesign would have it looking just like every other PC notebook.

Forget about the Mac, especially if you happened to "borrow" all of your graphic apps, much harder to "borrow" on a Mac.

For PC laptops, I have a 2 or so year old and 5 year old laptop in my house, both of which are Dell. I loved their older laptops, but can't stand any of their recent releases. They're ugly as hell and flimsy.

Based on the reviews and specs I read while trying to help Jason pick out a computer, Toshiba is at the top of it's game right now.

Unfortunately, you can't build a custom notebook like Dell and Apple allow you to, but there are pleny of pre-configs available for under $1,200 and your local Best Buy and whatnot.

I haven't downloaded an app on a Mac for a couple years, so you're probably right Eric.

But last time I had to get my hands on a copy of OSX and Creative Suite back then, a serious pain in the ass.

I love Macs. Have used them for almost 7 years now (3 every day, 4 off an on). PCs are still much cheaper and easier when it comes to difficult things (yes, I know what I just said).

Posted By: Eric

Travis, I call bull shit. It's actually much EASIER to borrow on the Mac, and a hell of a lot less risky. Not only that but the apps available on the Mac are superior for virtually any creative industry. Even the same apps (aka CS3) are integrated better and have a smoother, easier to use interface on the Mac.

No virus. No spyware. No trojan BS. Easy "solutions" to timed demo's. Everything you need and it still looks pretty.

Proud Founder of YGG

Seconded!

Seriously guys, I used to be about as hardcore windows user as they get - they're gonna have to pull quite a few tricks out of the bag to get me back.

You'll probably laugh when I say this, but Acer has been making some really decent notebook computers as of late. Considering what you're going to use this machine for, Walmart is selling some great Acer notebooks starting at around $600 - $700. I've quite a few friends who bought some of these and they haven't had any issues yet.

Oh, and I too dislike (crap|mac)intosh computers and it's isn't for the lack of trying to like them. The Mac OS really just doesn't do it for me. I've been a Windows users since the beginning and I have NEVER had a driver / virus / bug issue that wasn't caused as a direct result of me fiddling around. I'm a power user, btw.

Hell, I even gave my 5g (cry|i)Pod away a few months ago and bought a Zune instead; haven't looked back. As a matter of fact, my iPod constantly crashed on me and erased my frakkin' songs. I haven't had a single issue with my Zune yet ( crosses fingers ).

Different folks, different strokes?

*disclaimer: My "mac-sperience" was from a few years back since before they adopted the new Intel processors. I may give them another shot... someday.

When I see a factory default mac there are a few things that I have to change straight away before I start using it, just like on windows. I think a poweruser is always going to have to change stuff before it feels right.

But.. you do know on a mac you get the best of all worlds right? I only know of a few people who don't think the actual hardware doesn't look nicer. I boot windows for games, but I live in OSX with parallels for accounting and investment software. 'rocks.

I certainly think you get what you pay for, but it is also a case of what you need. I've got friends who wouldn't notice the difference between a 1ghz and a 2ghz machine, but I know that for myself there is a massive difference between my old 1.33ghz powerbook and this 2.33ghz c2d beast mbp :)

[Edited for pissy cornflakes]

I always thought it was Cheerios. Oh bother...

Posted By: Justin

LOOK BUDDY ITS CORNFLAKES!!! jk but that was the best rant i have read in awhile.

mac = no problems (my opinion)

Impacto Blog - Fresh Opinions

Glad you caught it hot off the press. It's gone forever now.

Actually I have a copy if you'd like to purchase a limited edition, signed copy of the best rant you've read in a while.