Looking for laptop suggestions (excluding macs).

• creature
  
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  Feb 26, 2011 9:09 PM GMT

  I'm looking to buy a new laptop within a couple of weeks. My budget is capped at $1,500. I may be willing to spend a few hundred dollars ($200 - $300) above my budget, though it depends on the features.
  
  I'm a casual user. Primarily my laptop is used for surfing the net. But I would still would like to have the power and great graphics that are enjoyed by users who rely on them (like gamers or those who do video editing).
  
  I need to make sense of what NVIDIA, AMD, i7, and what all that stuff means.
  
  The reason I'm not looking to buy a mac is because I'm currently using a macbook I bought in 2008, and I have too many issues with the battery and cheap adapters that last only a year. I'm fed up.

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  Feb 26, 2011 9:20 PM GMT

  you poor thing.
  
  I'm using my Macbook Pro that I got in late 2008... Never had a problem with it.
  
  Funny that.

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  Feb 26, 2011 9:32 PM GMT

  You're gonna a get a bunch of guys telling you that you're doing it wrong. It's you and not the Mac that is broken.
  
  Anyways, $1500 is a lot to spend for just web surfing. You can get a very capable laptop for under $800. If I were in your shoes, I'd get..
  
  - Lenovo Thinkpad T-series.
  Not the best looking laptop, but it's the most reliable and most durable Windows laptop out there. For $1500, you can get one nicely equipped, with discrete graphics. Should be enough power to some video editing. I would wait a little more. The new models are coming out soon. They will have the Sandy Bridge processors. And supposedly be capable of 30 hour battery life.
  
  - Sony Vaio S series.
  Some people have had bad experiences with Sony laptops. But a few of my friends love them. They used to be pretty expensive in the past. But prices have come down and they offer a pretty good value if you're looking for a laptop with decent performance specs.

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  Feb 26, 2011 10:01 PM GMT

  I'm writing this on a MacBook Pro. I've had Apple computers since 1983, this being my, gawd I dunno, how many, maybe my 8th Mac? They never fail, I just buy new to have the latest and best.
  
  I do see some impressive specs on the new MacBook Air, with a solid state memory. No hard drive disk at all.
  
  I have a similar setup on my new iMac desktop, part of it a solid state drive, the other a conventional TB of disc HD.
  
  All the applications are stored solid state, and my data files go onto the HD. And the thing just flies with a quad-core processor.
  
  Unless you need mega-storage on your notebook, you might consider the newest Air. Super light & thin, faster than hell, great battery life.

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• creature
  
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  Feb 26, 2011 10:58 PM GMT

  If I was going to get a macbook, I would get the latest macbook pro that came out. And yes, I figured I would hear "it's you, not the macbook."
  
  It's not the OS that I am having issues with, rather those damn adapters. I'm on my third adapter. I basically have to get a new one every year. And surprise, I'm having a problem with it right now. So instead of buying a new one, I've decided to bail out on macbooks and get another kind of laptop.
  
  xrich,
  
  The description for Lenovo sounds great, but I hate that trackball. I had a Toshiba laptop that had one in the same position and I hated it.
  
  Thank you for your condolence, lilTanker.

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• creature
  
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  Feb 26, 2011 11:00 PM GMT

  Art_Deco,
  
  But there's no CD-Rom for the Air, is there?

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  Feb 26, 2011 11:36 PM GMT

  creature saidArt_Deco,
  
  But there's no CD-Rom for the Air, is there?

  
  
  No

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  Feb 26, 2011 11:40 PM GMT

  With that budget you'll be better off with a new MacBook Pro

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  Feb 26, 2011 11:46 PM GMT

  LOL you should rename this thread.
  
  LOOKING FOR LAPTOP SUGGESTIONS (EXCEPT GOOD COMPUTERS)

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  Feb 26, 2011 11:50 PM GMT

  dekiruman saidLOL you should rename this thread.
  
  LOOKING FOR LAPTOP SUGGESTIONS (EXCEPT GOOD COMPUTERS)

  

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• NerdLifter
  
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  Feb 26, 2011 11:53 PM GMT

  Look, he said he doesn't want a mac. He's asking for laptop advice, not to be bashed by hyper-militant-mac users who feel like they have something to prove. Just keep the thread on the topic and don't derail it into the millionth Mac vs PC debate. That has been done to death. Yes, I'm looking at you dekiruman.

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  Feb 26, 2011 11:56 PM GMT

  xrichx saidYou're gonna a get a bunch of guys telling you that you're doing it wrong. It's you and not the Mac that is broken.

  
  
  it IS 'creature'.. and likely the way he uses his battery. i'm still on my 2008 macbook pro battery... 600 charge cycles. rated as 'fair' right now but still holds a charge. and the only adapter he should be using is the one that came with his laptop. and just a little thought and care will prevent cable fraying.
  
  

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  Feb 26, 2011 11:56 PM GMT

  I cannot believe the snobbery of mac users sometimes.
  
  I currently use a MacBook Pro (13", 2009). I have no end of problems with OS X (some of which seem to be related to some work Apple tech support did on my machine) and my touchpad often breaks. Also, as creatures says, the magsafe power adaptors are inherently weak - a round pin adaptor can spin in its socket, reducing stress on the cable. A rectangular connector cannot do that so the cables fray much more quickly.
  
  Anyway, back on topic. Have a look at the HP Envy line - aside from a sub-standard touchpad (which has supposedly been largely brought up to scratch via software updates) it's a very nice machine.

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  Feb 27, 2011 12:00 AM GMT

  xrichx said- Sony Vaio S series.
  Some people have had bad experiences with Sony laptops. But a few of my friends love them. They used to be pretty expensive in the past. But prices have come down and they offer a pretty good value if you're looking for a laptop with decent performance specs.

  
  
  I've had a Sony Vaio "netbook" for the last two years. No problems. The screen is a bit small, but is has an hdmi output so I can connect it to my TV. After having a regular size laptop (17 inch screen) and a netbook (11 inch screen) I'd say go with smaller. Netbooks are getting pretty powerful these days.

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  Feb 27, 2011 12:05 AM GMT

  If you want Windows, go with a higher end Asus, Toshiba, or Samsung. Or if you buy something from HP get something from their Envy line. Another one is Alienware if you want something for gaming. You should be able to get one for way under $1500.
  
  I just got a Macbook Pro, but it's really only because of the aluminum body and good battery life. I don't see OS X being that much better than a clean install of W7. The only way I could probably get the 6+ hours of batter life buying Windows is with a netbook and they are dreadful to use.

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  Feb 27, 2011 12:09 AM GMT

  dekiruman saidLOL you should rename this thread.
  
  LOOKING FOR LAPTOP SUGGESTIONS (EXCEPT GOOD COMPUTERS)

  
  
  classic fanboy
  
  funny thing is so many fanboys endup installing windows on their Mac...

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  Feb 27, 2011 12:11 AM GMT

  charlitos said

  dekiruman saidLOL you should rename this thread.
  
  LOOKING FOR LAPTOP SUGGESTIONS (EXCEPT GOOD COMPUTERS)

  
  
  classic fanboy
  
  funny thing is so many fanboys endup installing windows on their Mac...

  
  
  And then they have a sub-standard Windows experience (non-native keyboard, poor power management, etc) and blame MS rather than the fact that they have installed Windows on a machine specifically designed to run another OS.

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  Feb 27, 2011 12:11 AM GMT

  I am Mac Book Pro user and did the switch from PC...I know you do not want to
  hear that...any case prior to moving into the MacWorld was deciding on the
  
  * Toshiba Portege R-700-S1300
  * Toshiba Satellite M65-S4035
  
  PCWorld gave them both good recommendations.
  
  What I love about my Mac is that I can always go back to the 'dark side', I run Parallel 6 and have Window 7 installed in view that some applications from work that I need to run such as MS Project, not to mentioned the awesome graphics I get. And then I always run back to OS X

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  Feb 27, 2011 12:15 AM GMT

  charlitos said

  dekiruman saidLOL you should rename this thread.
  
  LOOKING FOR LAPTOP SUGGESTIONS (EXCEPT GOOD COMPUTERS)

  
  
  classic fanboy
  
  funny thing is so many fanboys endup installing windows on their Mac...

  
  
  
  FUNNY THING HOW PC USERS END UP INSTALLING VIRUSES ON THEIR WINDOWS

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  Feb 27, 2011 12:15 AM GMT

  lilTanker saidyou poor thing.
  
  I'm using my Macbook Pro that I got in late 2008... Never had a problem with it.
  
  Funny that.

  
  
  I'm using my Macbook Pro that I got in mid 2008 and it's as good as the day I bought it

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  Feb 27, 2011 12:15 AM GMT

  Foolish mortal, you can specify an encyclopedia of what you want and don't want suggested/discussed in your thread, the tides of RJ will do what they will with it regardless!

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  Feb 27, 2011 12:16 AM GMT

  creature saidIt's not the OS that I am having issues with, rather those damn adapters. I'm on my third adapter. I basically have to get a new one every year. And surprise, I'm having a problem with it right now..

  
  Maybe your electric current is not consistent and is ruining the adapters.

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  Feb 27, 2011 12:17 AM GMT

  charlitos saidfunny thing is so many fanboys endup installing windows on their Mac...

  
  
  It's installed using Parallels, but I NEVER use it. I only use it if I run across an application that is Windows only. And even then, it's usually a one-off.

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  Feb 27, 2011 12:25 AM GMT

  RoddenShaw said

  charlitos said

  dekiruman saidLOL you should rename this thread.
  
  LOOKING FOR LAPTOP SUGGESTIONS (EXCEPT GOOD COMPUTERS)

  
  
  classic fanboy
  
  funny thing is so many fanboys endup installing windows on their Mac...

  
  
  And then they have a sub-standard Windows experience (non-native keyboard, poor power management, etc) and blame MS rather than the fact that they have installed Windows on a machine specifically designed to run another OS.

  
  
  man it doesnt matter they dont see that as a problem, they seriously believe their laptop is perfect. Even if their Mac doesnt boot up after upgrading the OS and they have to run looking for an OSX disc to save their asses thats not a problem at all because Macs are perfect. Even if they experience internet connection problems due to glitches with Safari or/and OSX it does not matter cause Macs are perfect. Im certainly puzzled when it comes to understand fanboys who dont seem to realize that Macs are just regular computers with a prettier design(which I definitely love).

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  Feb 27, 2011 12:26 AM GMT

  dekiruman said

  charlitos said

  dekiruman saidLOL you should rename this thread.
  
  LOOKING FOR LAPTOP SUGGESTIONS (EXCEPT GOOD COMPUTERS)

  
  
  classic fanboy
  
  funny thing is so many fanboys endup installing windows on their Mac...

  
  
  
  FUNNY THING HOW PC USERS END UP INSTALLING VIRUSES ON THEIR WINDOWS

  
  
  The problem here is that OS X is not a particularly secure OS. Viruses targeting it are not often widely distributed, but if an individual decides to attack a specific machine it's shockingly easy to get personal information out of a computer running OS X. Windows may not be impervious, but it's more secure for the most part and the fact that Windows users are aware of the risk and usually take steps to reduce it further protects them.
  
  If Windows really did have serious virus issues and OS X was a viable productivity platform business would be switching to OS X in their droves. Unsurprisingly Windows is still installed on over 90% of computers sold worldwide and outside of the US penetration of OS X is extremely low.

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