The new version of my laptop

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
08/02/2014 at 01:35 • Filed to: None

Is looking very MacBook Pro-ish.

Silly Dell, you're not an Apple product.

I want a new laptop :(

DISCUSSION (47)

Your boy, BJR > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 01:38

I'm looking at a fake macbook pro……on a real macbook pro.

Huh.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 01:38

omg apple patent infringement yadda yadda

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 01:38

I like the design, but I've heard the build quality is awful.

 V8 Rustler > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 01:39

Kinja'd!!!

DVD Drive in 2014. why

qbeezy > Your boy, BJR
08/02/2014 at 01:39

LOL even the ports and tapered edges are literally pulled from a MBP

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/02/2014 at 01:40

It can't possibly be worse than my current Inspiron.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > V8 Rustler
08/02/2014 at 01:41

That's part of the reason why I like it...

GhostZ > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 01:41

HP did the same with the Envy series a few years ago.

I think Aluminum casings have just become relatively inexpensive. I'm down for it, I like the design a lot.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 01:42

Honestly the Inspiron series has always (okay, since ~2006) been awful. With Dell you want Latitudes. Business class FTW.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
08/02/2014 at 01:42

Hell, if whoever makes the Chromebook didn't get in trouble for blatantly copying a Macbook Air, Dell shouldn't have a problem.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > GhostZ
08/02/2014 at 01:42

I played around with one at Best Buy, not a bad machine.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/02/2014 at 01:43

I've actually played around with the new one at Best Buy, seemed pretty solid.

But yeah, mine's nothing but glossy black plastic. Hell, the keyboard isn't even backlit!

GeorgeyBoy > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 01:44

My Inspiron has been my cats bed.

MacBook pro ftw, but I still hate Apple. Damn good computer though. I don't have an I phone either.

GhostZ > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/02/2014 at 01:45

Dell build quality isn't stellar, but it's no worse than other consumer laptops at that price range right now.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > GeorgeyBoy
08/02/2014 at 01:46

I like MacBook Pros, but they're so damn expensive.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 01:47

Want my Toshiba? Actually no you can't have it.

GhostZ > V8 Rustler
08/02/2014 at 01:47

Because DVDs still sell better than Blu Ray, and most optical drive disks do not work in a blu ray player?

GhostZ > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 01:48

Also, I do want to say, if the starting price is with a bottom-of-the-line i3 processor, then we have an actual problem. That is way overpriced.

GeorgeyBoy > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 01:49

I paid $2900+ for mine. Was salty for a while but damn it works good.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/02/2014 at 01:49

My friend has a Toshiba, horrible little thing. He's had to replace the battery twice.

Had another friend whose hard drive failed.

You can keep it.

GhostZ > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 01:50

The Dell Inspiron is like the Toyota Camry of computers. There are cheaper, more luxurious, faster alternatives, but as a reliable appliance they're not bad, just the most "Average" and "Path of least resistance" purchase possible.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > GhostZ
08/02/2014 at 01:51

I beg to differ. When compared to ASUS and, to a lesser extent, Lenovo there is no comparison to consumer stuff from Dell, HP, and *shudder* Acer. Though they're all plastic, there are key differences in the specific types of materials used, how they're fastened together, how easy it is to access various parts, and shit like that.

I have a consumer-tier ASUS laptop from a few years ago. Runs like a top, in perfect physical shape despite being flung about a bit.

I have a consumer-tier Acer laptop that was about twice as expensive as the ASUS. It overheats so much it discolored its own plastic, the glossy lid is made of three layers of plastic of varying types that are flaking off, and the whole thing is incredibly cheap feeling.

My Lenovo X200t and my Dell Latitude D630, business class laptops that are far older than the others, continue to run fantastic (put an SSD in the X200t and that's my main computer now) and have next to no defects after all these years.

As for Apple, they have fantastic fit&finish, and amazing quality, but I wouldn't buy one due to the lack of upgradeability. I added USB 3 ports to my Lenovo with a PC card, and boosted the speed with some RAM and an SSD. Can't upgrade anything other than the RAM and *possibly* the hard drive on a MacBook, so as much as I like the design they just don't fit my use case. Though the soft aluminum does bend easily, leading to a banana-shaped laptop if you sit on it, it does tend to absorb shock rather well if you drop it. It will crumple slightly but keep from passing that shock on to the internal components and screen. It's impressive how much of a difference that makes.

Aaand now I'm just rambling.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > GhostZ
08/02/2014 at 01:51

That starting price gets you an i5, 6GB of memory, and a 1TB hard drive.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 01:52

Mine has had a battery replacement AND a hard drive failure, I don't want it but I can't afford a new one if I want a car. Oh and that HD Fail made me lose all pics from my vacation last year.

GhostZ > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 01:53

That's... acceptable. If you really look for a good deal, you can get a Haswell i7, 12GB ram, dual SSD/HDD for under $600.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/02/2014 at 01:54

Yup, I'd never touch anything with Toshiba written on it ever.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 01:58

Well it was a gift and it was fine for the first two years. Haven't had any issues with it since, but I'd never buy a Toshiba again.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > GeorgeyBoy
08/02/2014 at 02:00

I like apple software and operating systems, but I dont like the direction they have been heading in the past couple of years hardware wise

GeorgeyBoy > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2014 at 02:07

Yeah I think they're spreading themselves thin with so many products.

This is my first Macbook and I love it, of course it's a spec'ed out mbpro so what's not to love (except the price).

GhostZ > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/02/2014 at 02:10

I guess I still don't consider Acer and Asus to be consumer laptops, but you are completely right, I just consider them to be more alternative/off-brand.

You're totally correct though, and getting a high-end business laptop that won't break and stays upgradable and relevant for 5 years is way better than a bargain bin laptop that breaks every 2 years and needs replacing.

motusid > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 02:11

Dell products, except for the very expensive Latitude or Alienware ones, are pathetic. And service here in India is horrible.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > motusid
08/02/2014 at 02:12

I mean, mine works pretty well, and we have an old XPS desktop from 2004 that just keeps chugging on...

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > GeorgeyBoy
08/02/2014 at 02:16

theres also not that much user upgradeabilty anymore

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > GhostZ
08/02/2014 at 02:16

Acer is basically the anus of consumer laptops right now. My general ranking from worst to best is:

Acer, HP consumer, Samsung , Dell consumer, Lenovo consumer, ASUS, Apple, Dell business, Lenovo business, HP business.

Then again, I haven't paid much attention lately so this is likely already a deprecated ranking.

GhostZ > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/02/2014 at 02:21

I would agree with that list too, though I haven't bought a new computer in a few years. Most of my laptops have been discounted and refurbished HP business models over the last 5-7 years. You can get the specs of a $2000 laptop for around $500 by just buying the previous year's refurbished model, with some of their insane (but often unpublicized) 30%+ discounts.

Then there was also the beautiful, wonderful era where they claimed they weren't making new computers, so all their equipment was basically half off as they were desperately trying to fire sale as much as they could to make quick money.

GeorgeyBoy > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
08/02/2014 at 02:25

Yeah but that was never their thing. I mean I'm not happy about it but at the same time I understand what they're doing.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > GeorgeyBoy
08/02/2014 at 02:29

There probably will be in a few years. The tech is changing and apple has always been the first to embrace change. Apple was the first brand to offer computer without a floppy drive, and more recently without an optical drive. They were the first to offer a laptop with a built in webcam too. Now most laptops dont come with optical drives and most have webcams. The scene will change and with it, so will the 3rd party parts availability.

Anon > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 02:30

That's because Apple's Mac Book Pro design is amazing. Island keyboard, LED screen, sturdy as hell unibody aluminum frame, and sleek minimalist looks. Though I might be biased because I've had mine for almost 5 years.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Anon
08/02/2014 at 02:32

You want minimalistic? Check out my laptop.

Kinja'd!!!

Hooray nothing but black plastic, everywhere!

Also, what does Island keyboard mean?

ReallyColorful > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 02:56

Everyone is trying to make their shit look Mac. I hate it. Fuck you, Lenovo (though ThinkPad4Lief), HP, Dell, and whoever else. Lol.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > ReallyColorful
08/02/2014 at 02:56

That's because Apple is apparently the shit now and everyone should be like Apple.

Axial > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 06:58

Island keyboard means uncomfortable keyboard. The keys are flat instead of concave and are all separated by a little bit of the keyboard deck running between any two of them.

Oh, and everybody thinks Apple did it first. They didn't. Sony came up with it first, long before Apple's current design language.

Axial > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 06:59

Boop!

Kinja'd!!!

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > V8 Rustler
08/02/2014 at 10:15

working in IT I see waaaaay more people than you'd expect using CDs for stuff still. and nobody uses blue ray

zack_falcon > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 10:32

If I were to replace my laptop, it would be with this:

Kinja'd!!!

The Asus N550. Some models come with a touch screen if you're into that. I have its predecessor, the Asus N56 (weird naming convention), and it's a solid 15" laptop, albeit one that is teetering on the DR-category (by today's standards). The N550 is thinner (not as thin as in that picture - an angle trick), lighter, has more powerful innards, an even more powerful graphics card, and has a better screen (and the N56 had a very good screen for its time).

The only complaints so far I heard about it are that the speakers (4!) aren't as good as the N56, and the silver on silver keyboard / body design irks some (compared to the black on silver keyboard / body on the N56).

S60 Sasha > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2014 at 11:39

I had the previous model of the current model of this computer, and yes, the build quality is horrible, no matter how awesome and customizable it is. That thing broke apart after the first year and I suffered for 4 total years with it. I went back to HP and am never looking away.

Alex B > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/04/2014 at 08:42

Nope. 10/10 would not buy. But the again, I'm bias twords Apple. My whole family is. :)