15" Laptop

[RWebb]

If not the uber-spendy Mac Pro retina yada yada, then what would you buy?

Keys need to be illuminated; light; good battery life are highly valued features...

[id10t]

I'd look at Dell as a small business user (better hardware, better warranty) and see what you can get. Or, if you like the Mac the current stuff will drop in price (maybe) when the Retina stuff comes out, and for sure will have a lot of newer used stuff on the market due to upgrading to the Retina stuff..

[speeder]

Have a friend selling last year's Macbook Air 15", how much do you want to spend?

[RedBaron]

Sony S Series.

Custom 15.5" Laptop | VAIO S Series Configure-to-Order | SVS151190X CTO | Sony USA

I have the 13 inch and I love it. Decent battery life and a very powerful computer! It's pretty much the equivalent of a mac in PC form.

[aigel]

I bought a pavilion G6 at Best Buy 1 or 2 years ago for under $350. No light or lit keys however (I can type).

G

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by RedBaron

Sony S Series.

I have the 13 inch and I love it. Decent battery life and a very powerful computer! It's pretty much the equivalent of a mac in PC form.

Exactly what I was going to suggest. Mac and Sony share similar design directions, in part because Apple poached a lot of Sony design guys a while back.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by speeder

Have a friend selling last year's Macbook Air 15", how much do you want to spend?

market price is $1700 but for the difference, I'd go ahead and get the new retina display one for $2200

unless he wants to make a biologist happy...

[speeder]

Originally Posted by RWebb

market price is $1700 but for the difference, I'd go ahead and get the new retina display one for $2200

unless he wants to make a biologist happy...

I can get it for less, he's out of town but back next week. Let's see what's up.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

I could not go the money for a new MacBookPro so I went with a Dell Latitude E6520. I waited until the refurbs (DELL pushes the new builds but they do have refurbished and scratch and dent and THOSE go on sale, new one every week) went on special and got one with 8GB RAM, i5 Processor, 500MB 7200RPM hard drive, LED LCD, and it has the extra life battery. It was sub $900.00. I like it and the fact it has a 10 key built into the keyboard!

all that stated, it is new and runs on Windows 7. The new Dell is JUST as fast as the five year old MacBookPro with 2GB RAM, 250MB 7200RPM hard drive, and a processor that is about 1/2 the rated speed. This is to say it will start and load all software and be ready to go in Excel in the same amount of time as the Apple. Yes, the Apple runs Excel without any issues!

[vonsmog]

I just picked up a late 08' macbook pro 15.4" off of ebay for only $486.00. Using it right now! We are a mac family and I needed a laptop while recuperating from my surgery I had last week. I have been wanting one for a while for when traveling. I can't stand having a PC with all of the viruses, freezing and other PC faults, which just don't happen with a MAC. It really is a case of "You get what you pay for".

[kaisen]

I bought a 17" Hewlett-Packard Pavilion G7 last month for $350

Why someone would spend $2200 on a laptop is truly beyond my comprehension

I realize that people will have perfectly rational explanations of how they "need" x, y, or z, but they always sound like "wants" to me

[foxpaws]

Well kaisen there are reasons people bought '88 911s for many times the price of an '88 Lebaron GTC... I don't know why- stained crushed burgundy velour upholstery is sort of where I am at....

webby - I really would look at the 13" MacBook Airs - I think with the great screen resolution you wouldn't miss the extra couple of inches on screen size, and the weight difference is a lot. Plus, you get the backlit keyboard, 2 usb3, sd slots, great battery life, reliable flash storage - great Intel HD Graphics 4000 card (perfect if you want to support another monitor)... decent machine for under $1500

[recycled sixtie]

I have had a Dell Inspiron 15 inch for over 2 years. Keys are not illuminated but battery life is 3 hours plus.Just replaced the battery after 2 years of use. In expensive and totally reliable. I think I paid around $500 for it . I do not want to pay big $$$ for a Mac as I would not use all the features. Next time I would buy a smaller laptop either Dell or Sony. Something that is lighter for travel.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by vonsmog

I I can't stand having a PC with all of the viruses, freezing and other PC faults, which just don't happen with a MAC. It really is a case of "You get what you pay for".

I respectfully disagree... a mac is just a piece of equipment, they do crash/freeze.

Having said that all new computers are very reliable.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by foxpaws

Well kaisen there are reasons people bought '88 911s for many times the price of an '88 Lebaron GTC... I don't know why- stained crushed burgundy velour upholstery is sort of where I am at....

Unless your profession is racing, the Porsche was a toy and its attributes and capabilities weren't "needs". If not, the Lebaron would have taken you wherever the Porsche would have.

So your analogy goes along with my point. If you want a Porsche, buy a Porsche. If you want an Apple, buy an Apple. And go ahead and tell me all the reasons why it was worth six times as much money......when you use it primarily to surf the web, manipluate personal photos, and check email. Again, if you're utilizing its additional features and capabilities because it helps you do real work better or faster in a tangible way, that's one thing.

Computers are tools, not toys. My $350 computer will help me be productive in every way I personally need it. YMMV.

[foxpaws]

Apples are lifestyle kaisen, just like pcars...

They do some things very well, graphics for instance, music for another, handling in mountain roads. However, you are also buying into the cult of fruit... just like when you bought that pcar you were buying into the cult of Stuttgart.

I wouldn't trade any of my apples or my pcar for a lebaron (but, gosh, there is that velour upholstery ) . However, you like your lebaron Pavilion G7, that is fine... it gets you where you want to go.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Eric,

I'll agree with you! Most people really just need a basic computer and want bells and whistles. But some brands DO work better out of the box than others, Apple being one of the better ones for simplicity of use.

I wanted a MAC but could not afford it. MAC could do the job but was much more money. The next question comes in as what can I get by with and what are the strongest platforms.

I know people who get years out of their HPs, I was not one of them. I have seen too many of that platform fail. Please do not drop it! It can happen in a heartbeat while you are working with it on your lap and reach over for something....

There were some specific specifications to maintain (cannot use AMD chipset for a couple of medical programs, needed heavy lifting capabilities on some programs) so those specifics alone drive up the price for the computer outside the realm of basic.

My search came back to Toshiba, Dell, Sony and the Dell was MUCH cheaper (buying refurbished on a huge discount sale). All three lines sell refurbished over the net, you just have to search them out. And all three lines have computers for real cheap ;-)

[kaisen]

David, I've been using the cheap HPs for about 8 years, buying two at a time every year or two. I haven't had one fail yet. I did step on one and crack the screen. Bought a HP replacement screen on eBay, did it myself and it's still in the fleet. I used to sell the used ones, but with kids I just hand them down. And they're not easy on them. Still, they all work. No failures. Oh, one battery got weak and wouldn't last more than an hour or so. $45 for a new replacement.

Anyway, I'm not telling any of you NOT to buy an Apple if it's what you want and you can afford it.
Just be honest with yourself and understand the "lifestyle" brand-image you're buying, and perhaps some extra capabilities that you "want". YMMV

[onewhippedpuppy]

I bought a Sony Vaio about a year ago, it's been flawless despite the best efforts of my kids to break it. I think I paid $500-ish on sale at one of the office stores.

[azasadny]

We always buy Dells and we've never been disappointed. Order it online from Dell and it will be in your hands in 3-5 days.