Laptop question.

"norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback" (norskracer98) 08/18/2014 at 19:42 • Filed to: None

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If I wanted to replace my laptop, which to put it lightly has turned into a piece of crap, what would be the best to buy? Are MacBooks really as good as they say? I don't game on it so that aspect isn't really a necessary.

My citroen won't start > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:45

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I've had several Vaios and MacBooks, in my experience, MacBooks are far superior.

JalopJeep > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:45

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Posting from my 6 year old MBP right now. Love these damn things. 1200$ for a laptop doesn't seem so bad when you have the thing for so long. And Apple has stood right by my side whenever anything's gone wrong. Just my opinion though, I've been around Apple machines exclusively my entire life due to my father being a graphic designer.

lone_liberal > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:47

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As an IT person who supports both PCs and Macs I just don't see how they're worth the extra cost. If you compare a $2k MacBook to an $800 PC then, yes, the Mac looks a lot better but once you get to equal specs I don't think the Mac is worth it. But it's your money so it's your choice. The Mac is definitely not a bad computer at all.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:50

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I have 2, a 2011 Macbook, which still works beautifully, and a new Air, which is even better. The other laptops I've had experience with don't even come close. Yes, Macs are more expensive. And yes, they come with brand snobbery. But there's a reason for that: they work best. And I'm no Apple snob. When I needed a new smartphone, instead of buying what everyone else did, I did my own research. Which told me to buy something else. So I did.

Manuél Ferrari > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:51

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It all depends on what applications you need to run.

There are some apps that will only run natively on Windows. And running a VM takes up resources and slows shit down.

If you don't need to run those apps then a MacBook is nice.

If you don't even need to run any native apps and are cool with using your browser for everything then you could get a Chromebook

For Sweden > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:51

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Look at Leveno Thinkpads: we have them at work and they hold up great.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:52

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comes down to what you need it to do. I've worked on plenty of macbooks and while they're nice, they're over priced. People joke about them being $1400 Facebook machines.

If you just need something for web and email, some documents work I'd say go ChromeBook.

If Windows Samsung and Asus will be your premium brands with Core i7 and i5 processors.

Acer and HP are decent for value, and a core i3 would be sufficient.

Not a fan of Dell's.

As someone who uses Windows XP, 7 and 8 daily (8 on my personal) - Go Win 7. I have a jacked Samsung Chronos with i7, gobs of ram, etc - win8 lags like a mofo. Games all scream but need to right click and delete that shortcut? That'll take about 10 seconds. Need task manager to kill off a locked up app? 20 seconds.

Mathias Rios > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:52

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I am typing this on a 2010 MacBook Air. How many PCs from 2010 do you see as daily laptops?

I love this computer and even though I'm a tech geek I still don't really feel the need to spend money on a new one.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 08/18/2014 at 19:53

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I have a droid for a phone and have a PC right now. I like my droid, probably wouldn't buy an iPhone because I don't like it from when I had my iPod touch. I also wish my school had MacBooks like you but we don't....

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:54

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Keep in mind that my opinions are based on both my personal and work experience, but my top choices are the ThinkPad T-series and the HP EliteBooks. Both are incredibly rugged, and both will last you through some serious abuse.

Turbo666 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:54

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I love macs, both of mine have been great and held up for a long time. That being said I used them all through school and now for work. So that is my personal preference and what I use for work.

Are they worth it? Maybe, but It's all what you want to do with it and how much you are going to use it. Someone will always tell you visa versa when it comes to macs vs pc. I would recommend finding a friend with one and playing with it or going and checking them out at a store and find out if you like the OS.

I'm sure this post is going to get ugly.

Formula4speed > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:55

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Buying a PC is like buying German; you get an ostensibly superior machine, but it would be pertinent to expect and plan for reliability issues.

Buying a Mac is like buying Japanese; if you're into it more for the utility than the experience and would like to be less concerned about potential headaches, it's probably the way to go.

It all depends on your priorities, really.

All Motor Is Best Motor > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:56

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Hardware (for windows computers, mainly):

CPUs: For anything under $400, the best processor you'll need is an i3 if you don't plan on doing anything with games. You can get by fine with a Pentium processor but it won't handle multitasking as well (for example running multiple programs all at once). For most every day use a Pentium will do you just fine without any sluggishness. AMD processors are generally slower than Intel processors, but they generally handle multitasking better and have better integrated graphics performance (since you don't game you won't really notice anyway). Don't bother comparing the speed ratings (in GHz) between AMD and Intel processors. The a 3.0 GHz AMD isn't nearly as fast as a 3.0 GHz Intel. All of that being said, for general internet use and media use an AMD A6 or A8 series processor will be just fine. You'll get two or 4 cores (more cores means better multitasking).

Hard Drives: Most laptops around the $300-$400 range, and even higher may only come with a 500 GB HDD (hard drive). For most people this is fine unless they have a ton of music, lots of large photos, and videos. You seem to take a lot of high resolution photos so I would shoot for a laptop with at least a 1 TB (terabyte, aka ~1,000 GB) hard drive unless you plan on using a separate computer or external hard drive for storage. 1 TB HDDs are likely going to cost more than $400. Hard drives can be upgraded later but you will have to reinstall Windows.

RAM: For most people's needs 4 GB is plenty of RAM, though many computers over $400 are coming with 6 and 8 GB. If you are working with and editing lots of large photos and have multiple large photos open at one time more RAM will be helpful, and I would suggest 8 GB of RAM. RAM can be upgraded later (for $$ of course) without having to reinstall Windows.

Software:

Keep in mind that Windows 8/8.1 is a huge improvement in terms of responsiveness and start times compared to older Windows versions. You are really going to pay WAY more for a MacBook for the same/similar performance. That being said, MacBooks are going to have much higher quality screens with better viewing angles, clearer text, and better more accurate colors. Both Macs and PCs can get viruses, don't listen to anyone who tells you otherwise.

Source: I'm secretly a computer nerd as well as a car nut.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:57

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I bought a bottom of the range acer 3 years ago and apart from the case being ruined (I've dropped it several times) it runs perfectly. If you don't game I fail to understand any advantage of going for a mac or anything expensive. My friends 3 or 4 year old zoostorm was running fine until a pretty severe virus caused by no anti virus too.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:58

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macbooks are good if you have the money there and then. But a proper Lenovo would be cheaper.. I'm a Mac owner, but I run linux on mine..

JGrabowMSt > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 19:58

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Working at a computer shop, I have a hard time saying buy apple products. (Full disclosure, I've owned several Powerbooks and MacBook Pros over the past 6 years).

For even half the cost, you can get an all metal ultrabook.

If you really want to cheap out, you can go 1/4 the cost and get a regular ABS plastic laptop. If you're nice to it, and you don't drop it all the time, it will last. 90% of the repairs that I have to do are because people abuse the hell out of their laptops. Drops, spills, slamming the lid, stepping on it, etc. Every single one of those problems can happen to any laptop, and Apples are simply more expensive to fix because the parts are more expensive.

I'd look at System76 for a good alternative if you're okay with linux, those machines have MBP similar specs, while being beautifully well made. When I end up having a reason to give up my current MacBook Pro, I will move to System76. I currently have a 2011 MacBook Pro with the 2.2GHz i7, 16gb RAM and the original 750gb drive. Original battery as well, still gives me at least a couple hours charge. I can watch entire movies on battery with no trouble. I also have the high resolution matte finish display. It's got a few dents and scratches because I don't keep it in a sleeve or case, it does get bumped around, but overall, I don't use it as a plate, and I'm gentle with it.

You just have to be good to the things you own.

Also, I have a friend who I gave an Asus X401 a couple years ago for college. She uses it every day, and has never had a single issue with it. She babies that thing, so it honestly looks just like when it was brand new. It's all plastic, and she hasn't had problems or a reason to replace it.

So, $2200 for an Apple, or 1/2 that for an Ultrabook, or 1/4 that for something even cheaper. No matter what you spend, you need to take care of it and be gentle with it.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Mathias Rios 08/18/2014 at 19:59

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My laptops from around 2010. And I use it pretty much everyday.

All Motor Is Best Motor > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 20:09

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I wanted to ask, can you explain why you say your laptop has turned into a piece of crap? If it's just running slow all you need to do is reformat it. You say it runs hot, and that your HDD died. HDD failures aren't that uncommon, especially if the drive in your laptop was a Seagate drive. They have a ~30% failure rate. Just look here: http://lifehacker.com/the-most-and-l…

Seagate drives are pretty much the cheapest HDDs and as such are one of the most common HDDs you can find in a laptop. As for heat, most laptops run really hot. Todays faster components coupled with smaller, more compact packaging has had an adverse effect on the cooling ability of laptops. Generally they run hot but are in the safe zone in terms of temperatures.

Again, if your computer is running slow you can reinstall Windows. If you don't want to/can't do that there are some other things you can try to speed up your computer, such as installing and running CCleaner from Piriform. Using both the file cleaner and registry cleaner can have a significant impact on the overall speed of your computer if it has been used for years without a good cleaning out.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > All Motor Is Best Motor 08/18/2014 at 20:12

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It was worse last year but it's gotten better. We've fixed most of the issues lately.

E92M3 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 20:21

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Same here. Still using a Sony Viao from 2010. Even the battery still has excellent health. I had a macbook pro before it and the battery completely died in 13 months. I got tired of having to use itunes, and having to purchase apps (like movie editors). Plus I had to load windows using boot camp for certain apps from work. Got annoying having to reboot just to work for 5 mins.

Squid > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 20:33

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You will get different oppinions on this but really I'm a PC guy. I can spend half as much and have as good or better of a machine. If you are going to browse the web and not do any intensive work there is really no need for a mbp. Unless you like the way macs operate and you don't mind spending a fuck ton of money on your computer, look at what ASUS has to offer.

I have a year old laptop right now that I use every day. My last computer was a Gateway from 2006. Just keep an antivirus program installed and run your defragmenter and disk clean up regularly and don't spend nearly as much on a mbp.

Conan > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 20:37

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What most people think of as laptop brands aren't actually laptop brands, but rebadged versions of different companies' stuff. Apple isn't even really "Apple" any more. That brand matters more than the attached brand typically. There are some reliable PCs with better specs than the MacBook but they're usually almost as expensive. I like the magnetic power cable things that MacBooks have but their peripherals still die even more rapidly than most PCs. Your cheaper PC's internals will go much faster than the MacBook or the more expensive PCs. It comes down to OS preference and budget, really.

Mathias Rios > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 20:38

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PC? do you take it with you pretty much every where like I do? what brand?

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Mathias Rios 08/18/2014 at 20:40

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I don't take it everywhere it usually is just in my house. Toshiba.

Trunk Impaired 318 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 20:43

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Im going on my fourth year with my MacBook Pro, it has its random little hiccups but its better than my PC was new

Kenaft - some new kid > JGrabowMSt 08/18/2014 at 20:54

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System76...

LOOKS LIKE WE FOUND THE HIPSTERS AROUND HERE! :P

Why $2200 for a Mac? I would recommend a 13" Air (assuming he has normal computing needs) for $1100.

As for the quality of ABS plastic laptops... I completely agree. If you take care of them, they will last - like lots of other things. My only problem with a "Plastic Fantastic" (as I like to call it) was when someone else dropped it from five feet above the ground and the screen was then broken.

JGrabowMSt > Kenaft - some new kid 08/18/2014 at 21:13

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Oddly enough, my first laptop, a used Thinkpad T22 fell about 5 feet, landed flat on the lid (it was closed at the time), and didn't even skip any of the music that was playing. No broken screen either. That laptop saw plenty of abuse, but still works great actually.

The just don't make them like they used to.

What's wrong with System76? They're very nice computers!

Spoon II > Mathias Rios 08/18/2014 at 21:26

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I find PCs extremely reliable, and I wasn't exactly gentle on my laptops. I've had a Toshiba and an Acer

uofime > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 21:38

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how much ram does your laptop have? in 2010 a lot of cheaper laptops only came with 2gb and they run like crap because of it.

If you're getting a new computer just make sure that it has 8gb of ram. If all you plan to do is run office applications and browse the internet that will keep you happy for the next 3-4 years I believe

Grindintosecond > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 22:43

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Personally, I've been buying Dell laptops for the last 5 cycles. I take it to work with somewhat light protection and I mean airport work 4-days a week changing planes a few times a day. The one I'm typing on now might be bulky (as I did buy it for some decent gaming i was in to back then) but It is still going strong and capable 4 years on.

Now, I do appreciate the Macs as well and many people at work have those too. I do have a problem with the commercials advertising them lately. The comercial advertises all of the stickers you ca put on them, and not the product itself. Mac is a lifestyle and trend to be part of, according to the adverts. That's my opinion on what I am seeing.

So, "as good as they say..." How do you mean? how good are they saying it is? The MBP lasts a good long time on a charge, does what you want it to and there you go. It's also costing more. PC laptops are all competing for your dollar from many manufacturers. Pick one of those that has reliable long lasting parts and your'e good to go there as well.

One last thing. You can boot up and run windows on the MBP if you prefer windows over the mac OS. That's one thing you cant do right now, run the full office suits on mac....but for some reason MS is working on that.

Kenaft - some new kid > JGrabowMSt 08/18/2014 at 22:44

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Nothing is wrong with System76 - only that I regard it as "hipster" as a joke - my neckbeard-wearing friends preach their virtues, and definitely for good reason! I wouldn't recommend them to the average person, unfortunately.

That's unbelievable. It's absolutely stunning to me how well the old (and new, Lenovo doesn't seem to have missed a beat) ThinkPads are built. If I ever get a Windows laptop again, it'll be a ThinkPad, with a massive battery.

JGrabowMSt > Kenaft - some new kid 08/18/2014 at 22:46

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I'd actually be very wary of newer Lenovos. I've been seeing a lot of them come in lately. They aren't even close to being half as durable as the older Thinkpad series.

I would look at Toshiba, Acer, Samsung or Asus before even thinking about Lenovo. The only exception is the Yoga, which I haven't seen a single problem with yet.

Kenaft - some new kid > JGrabowMSt 08/18/2014 at 22:52

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That's really disappointing, about Lenovo.

So what would you recommend then? Especially thin-and-light? Yoga?

JGrabowMSt > Kenaft - some new kid 08/18/2014 at 23:25

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Samsung and Asus ultrabooks are great, just factor in replacing the SSD with something larger.

If you're looking for thin, light and primarily web/basic use, why not a Chromebook? There are a number of great looking ones out there, and I'll be honest, for basic use, there's very little they can't actually do.

You have Google Drive, Microsoft's OneDrive, and plenty of other webapps that work very well. Even my first gen Chromebook is no slouch, and plays HD video with very little stuttering at all. Don't forget that Microsoft also silently released Skype integration into the online Messenger, so you can use Skype, just not for video chat. Hangouts works very well though. Being cloud based, it's probably the best thing any student could get for themselves. Pairing it with a Google Cloud Print enabled printer means it's a perfect dorm room computer. Need some stupid high screen resolution? Get the Chromebook Pixel. I wish the Chromebooks came out sooner than they did. Would have totally changed my direction in computer choice.

For Windows, Samsung and Asus ultrabooks are very good, but tend to sell with SSDs that are too small for prolonged use. Factoring in a replacement can be upwards of $250 on top of the price of the laptop.

For Apple, if anyone is certainly dead set on it, buy a refurbished one from the online store. You get the same warranty as a new one, and it's honestly just as good as any other mac. You can get a $100 student discount (it's $100 across the board, that's their only discount on the computers), of you can save anywhere from $500-$1000 by buying last years model, which is 95% the same anyway.

Spasoje > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/18/2014 at 23:58

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Echoing the sentiments in other comments, I can also recommend getting a MacBook. Typing this comment on my 2008 MB that I've been using for absolutely everything except gaming since I bought it. There's still a major software update available (i.e. the OS) that's forthcoming...

Also, get the highest-spec model you can afford/need: it'll pay off in a few years when your laptop is still 'relevant' amongst new and improved ones. :)

Mathias Rios > Spoon II 08/19/2014 at 00:08

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I haven't had the same luck. All of the PC's I have owned have disintegrated pretty much meanwhile all of the MacBook I have owned, especially this Air, have been nigh indestructible

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > uofime 08/19/2014 at 02:41

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My 2011 cheap laptop has a 17.3 inch screen that I had to replace after it was dropped, a 640 gb, a dual core sandy bridge i3, and 6 gb of ram, upgrade able to 8 gb f I wanted to.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > All Motor Is Best Motor 08/19/2014 at 02:50

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windows 7 may be 5 years old, but I like it a whole lot more than windows 8 or 8.1

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Squid 08/19/2014 at 02:56

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I dropped my 2011 gateway on its lid onto cement (this is one of the plastic ones) and it still worked perfectly after that, then about a year later, I was riding my bike and carrying it in my bag and fell onto it, it cast almost 200 bucks to replace, and the computer was 2 years old at that point, so it might have been just a better idea to get a new one, but it still seems to work okay, other than converting video on the thing is slower than snails with the slow dual core i3 processor

uofime > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man 08/19/2014 at 09:15

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yeah LCD panels can cause you problems expecially if you abuse them, fortunately they can be replaced for about 100$ usually

mcseanerson > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/19/2014 at 10:13

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Haswell Chromebook < crap > Macbook Air. If you want to save money and can get by with the limited functionality get a chromebook. If you want a good powerful machine buy a Macbook Air. Whatever Macs charge more they make up for in resale value.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > lone_liberal 08/19/2014 at 10:22

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Mac = Porsche

You can buy something faster for less money, but it's a premium product. Hard to say that they're a good value, but they sure are nice...

bob and john > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/19/2014 at 10:41

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why not a tablet? it basicly a laptop...

I have a 1st gen surface, and its great. light, long battery, and uses word and excel.

CalzoneGolem > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/19/2014 at 11:55

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I just buy my wife a low end pc laptop every couple years. So far we are 5 years into laptop ownership and only $600 investment. That's two bottom of the barrel pc laptops. If I ware buying a lappy for myself I'd get a Chromebook with a fat ssd.

All Motor Is Best Motor > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man 08/19/2014 at 12:25

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Yes but actually getting it in a new Windows computer is a pain and usually costs a lot extra.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 08/20/2014 at 23:05

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I bought my first laptop in 2010 and accidentally screwed it up in 2012 by spilling cereal on it. 9 months later I went and got another Toshiba simply because of the harmon/kardon speakers. So far everything's been great, I was able to customize what I got in it. Some of my friends have Macbooks and they love them. One even had a dated Macbook (I think 2009) that was still working and I am strongly considering one now when my current laptop goes to hell, which I hope is never. Asus is good too.