Laptawps

[sinkoman]

Hey guys, how you all doing. Long time no see!

I'm wanting to get a new laptop, and am looking for suggestions. It'll be entirely for school and work. I have a decent desktop PC for everything else (although that's been relegated to web browsing lately). My big priority is portability. I like to keep my laptop in my backpack at all times, and even my 13" MacBook Pro feels like a brick in my bag. Needs a fullsize keyboard though, so I think that eliminates a lot of netbooks.

EDIT: IDK if this is really consequential, but i'll probably be primarily using Linux on it.

 

[Naph]

I was going for the same reason when I picked my laptop, all except the Linux part. There are the Ultrabook's that have the portability in mind and only a small power under its wing. My XPS13 has been alright in its life, save for a few screens that had pixel issues that Dell were okay in taking care of. I could recommend either a cheaper Ultrabook or if money is a non-issue, the Samsung Series 9. Be aware the lack of a video card can be stressful if you work with modelling or even games that employ shaders.

Also a good overview on what an Ultrabook is and guidelines.

 

[Raziaar]

I'm personally saving up for a Lenovo W530 workstation laptop. I currently have 1,400 saved.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

I hope you got some cushioning in that backpack. My 7 yr old dell still works but the majority of its physical beating was for the year I carried it around campus.

 

[Krynn72]

I'm personally saving up for a Lenovo W530 workstation laptop. I currently have 1,400 saved.

Why? Are you not at home when doing the sort of work needed to justify that laptop?

 

[Raziaar]

Why? Are you not at home when doing the sort of work needed to justify that laptop?

No.

 

[Krynn72]

Wait, no as in, "no I'm not at home..." or as in "No, I am at home..."?

 

[sinkoman]

I was going for the same reason when I picked my laptop, all except the Linux part. There are the Ultrabook's that have the portability in mind and only a small power under its wing. My XPS13 has been alright in its life, save for a few screens that had pixel issues that Dell were okay in taking care of. I could recommend either a cheaper Ultrabook or if money is a non-issue, the Samsung Series 9. Be aware the lack of a video card can be stressful if you work with modelling or even games that employ shaders.

Also a good overview on what an Ultrabook is and guidelines.

Thanks for the link. It is very informative. The lack of a graphics card is attractive for battery life, but I do a lot of CAD work, so it MIGHT be a problem. Most of the stuff I do is 2d CAD atm, but I will need to move up to Autocad 3D or Solidworks in the near future, so I need to do more research into how capable these new APUs are!

Something like the Lenovo 'tawp that Raz is looking at would be overkill for my purposes though.

I hope you got some cushioning in that backpack. My 7 yr old dell still works but the majority of its physical beating was for the year I carried it around campus.

I've got a pretty nice case for my Macbook Pro that does a very good job of keeping it safe in my bag. Whatever I settle on, it'll need a similar case.

 

[Shamrock]

I've got a pretty nice case for my Macbook Pro that does a very good job of keeping it safe in my bag. Whatever I settle on, it'll need a similar case.

I came to say something about this. No other manufacturer gets the accessories like Apple does. No one ever will either because they all have a million different models while Apple works with only a few at a time. You'll just need a good sleeve or something to put your 'tawp in.

Also, I'd wait till Windows 8 comes out. Why you ask since you'll mostly be using Linux? Because there's a chance the market price of "old" Windows 7 laptops will drop. Don't take my word on that. It's just speculation at the moment, but I can see that coming into reality.

One big factor too is how much you are willing to spend. So let us know what you got and we can definitely figure something out.

 

[sinkoman]

I came to say something about this. No other manufacturer gets the accessories like Apple does. No one ever will either because they all have a million different models while Apple works with only a few at a time. You'll just need a good sleeve or something to put your 'tawp in.

Also, I'd wait till Windows 8 comes out. Why you ask since you'll mostly be using Linux? Because there's a chance the market price of "old" Windows 7 laptops will drop. Don't take my word on that. It's just speculation at the moment, but I can see that coming into reality.

One big factor too is how much you are willing to spend. So let us know what you got and we can definitely figure something out.

Yeah, if anything I would be willing to get another mac for that reason alone, but i'm not a huge fan of the Macbook air, and the new Macbook pros seem just as weighty as this one. There are a lot of things I don't like about Apple, but they sure know how to make a laptop.

I'm willing to spend in the range of about 1000 on this. My Macbook Pro has been a very loyal machine for the past 3 years or so, and in all honesty continues to work perfectly for my purposes. I'd like to get another machine that will do the same.

 

[Raziaar]

Wait, no as in, "no I'm not at home..." or as in "No, I am at home..."?

You know... honestly, I'll be home most of the time.

The thing I wanted it for was as a means to 3D Model or program at work during lunch, and all the other times I am away from home. Even while at home, it'll give me the chance to do those things in places other than at my desk.

I just... I kind of hope that it'll be the sort of thing that will help generate creativity with me and exercise it those times where it most strikes me, which is definitely away from my home computer. If I spent the money on a computer, I'd be doing all the exact same shit I am now. I can already play nearly all the games out there... I can program just fine and 3d model just fine with this computer. I will be upgrading it eventually, some time early next year, but I don't see why I can't do both, get a laptop and get a new computer.

A laptop all to myself, and the ability to take my biggest passions with me wherever I go has always been a huge fantasy of mine.

But then sometimes, I tell myself that what will happen to it is everything else that happens to me. It'll sit and collect dust and rarely be used, and be money wasted, or at least not money put to good constant use.

Sigh.

 

[Slug Advisor]

So what I've taken from this thread is that Raziaar needs to try hiking.