Laptop advice

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mohammedm

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I used to have a Sony S38GP laptop - redistributed to the less privileged in Khayelitsha. I enjoyed the size and lightness of this unit and missed it when i wasn't there.

That was relaced by a Fujitsu Siemens M1437G. Great specs for the price at the time (from MAKRO), but was a boring unit that I found very heavy to carry around. This unit is damaged and the insurance is paying me out about R12000.

The replacement unit at Makro is:
1,83 dual core, XP Home, 15.4 inch display, 2 X 512MB RAM, 120GB SATA drive, BT, integrated HSDPA.

I really like the Sony SZ48GP - 2,0 dual core, Vista business, 13.3 inch display, 1GB RAM, 160GB SATA drive, BT - but costs R18000 (I will have to pay in about R6000).

My needs are:
- small light laptop (2kg ideal)
- minimum 13.3, maximum 15.4 inch screen - but must have high resolution
- must be able to run Vista Ultimate effortlessly
- minimum 1GB RAM
- nothing less than 100GB hard drive, preferaly 7200rpm
- WLAN, BT

I am partial to Sony and HP/Compaq. Fujitsu are real workhorses, but are bland.

Any suggestions as to what I should do?
 
MacBook or MacBook Pro. The only criteria it might not not meet are weight (a little over) and the hard drives are usually 5400's.
 
NO, don't go for MAC...they really suck! And they can't run Windows (none of them)

http://www.incredible.co.za/services/catalog/moreinfo.asp?sku=60892

Intel® Core Duo II T5500 processor 1.66 GHz
1024MB RAM
160GB HDD
DVDRW dual layer drive
56K modem
10/100 Ethernet
Integrated 802.11a/b/g wireless networking
Integrated Bluetooth™
Remote control
14.1" WXGA BrightView display
Integrated webcam
MS WorkSuite
MS Windows Vista Home Premium
1 Year warranty

For R 12,999.95

I think that is a good deal, even though it's Incredible corruption's prices :P

Not sure how much it weighs though.
 
I actually removed the PS from my message asking about a MacBook. I love them and they wll fit in well with the "yuppie/techno savvy" image I need to portray. (What a ridiculous reason for choosing hardware).

Problem is twofold:
1. I am a heavy Windows user - with lots of Windows only programs that may not run in Parallels. Some of the Windows stuff is "obtained" from other forums and their download links, and will not be sure where to start with Apple software.
2. I use PowerPoint often as I lecture at Universities and elsewhere. Sometimes, they do not have the facility to plug a laptop into their projectors and you have to give them CDs (God forbid), or USB flashdrives. Will Apple presentations be universally compatible?
 
Vampir0 said:
NO, don't go for MAC...they really suck! And they can't run Windows (none of them)
Click to expand...
100% wrong.

Care to try again? I'm running windows natively on a mac right now. :rolleyes:

All the intel Macs can run windows natively and not just in a virtual environment.

EDIT - http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/ although it says XP I know a lot of people running Vista so dont worry about that.
 
Last edited:
Then what's the point in buying a MAC? Stick with a normal Windows operating system on a normal laptop.

I know Windows runs on a MAC, but what's the point in a MAC then?
 
Vampir0 said:
Then what's the point in buying a MAC? Stick with a normal Windows operating system on a normal laptop.

I know Windows runs on a MAC, but what's the point in a MAC then?
Click to expand...
No, you apparently didnt know that and your short term memory is apparently shot
Vampir0 said:
NO, don't go for MAC...they really suck! And they can't run Windows (none of them)
Click to expand...
 
but thats a good question

what does a mac do that a normal pc or laptop does not?

they both using the same cpu's now

bwana care to explain?
 
YES I did know and I also know MAC OS can run on a PC, but which normal person would want to do that?

This inter OS swopping started early last year or the year before as far as I know.
 
Vampir0 said:
NO, don't go for MAC...they really suck! And they can't run Windows (none of them)

http://www.incredible.co.za/services/catalog/moreinfo.asp?sku=60892

Intel® Core Duo II T5500 processor 1.66 GHz
1024MB RAM
160GB HDD
DVDRW dual layer drive
56K modem
10/100 Ethernet
Integrated 802.11a/b/g wireless networking
Integrated Bluetooth™
Remote control
14.1" WXGA BrightView display
Integrated webcam
MS WorkSuite
MS Windows Vista Home Premium
1 Year warranty

For R 12,999.95

I think that is a good deal, even though it's Incredible corruption's prices :P

Not sure how much it weighs though.
Click to expand...

Good specs. Only concern is the 1.66 processor. Can anyone shed light on how "slow" this is compared to say a 2.0?
 
killadoob said:
but thats a good question

what does a mac do that a normal pc or laptop does not?

they both using the same cpu's now

bwana care to explain?
Click to expand...
For one thing it runs OsX (dont knock it unless you've tried it), Windows (dont knock it unless you've tried it), and Linux (feel free to knock it but I had to put it in:)) out of the box. I meant it about not knocking OsX - you really do have to try it. I've run Apple and Windows for years now side by side so it's not like I have an uninformed bias.

Apart from that its probably pretty much the same as any high end PC/laptop. Apple doesnt cater for the low end zero margin machines so if you cant justify buying a decent Dell or a Sony then you probably cant justify a Mac either. The laptops though are awesome in my books.
 
ok so there is no real advantage other than osx

i wouldnt knock something i have not tried

linux and windows hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i know who owns that battle :)

can u play games and use vga cards in a mac? does it have directx and pci-e?
 
I'd say the Macbook pricing is comparable to any of the other higher end models from HP/Sony/Whoever. The build quality is really good and there's some nice little features - like magsafe etc. And yes you can get Office for OsX - so you can run your presentations without a problem.

Macbook for R12228:
13-inch 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (White)
1GB memory
80GB hard drive1
Double-layer SuperDrive
webcam built-in
 
killadoob said:
ok so there is no real advantage other than osx

i wouldnt knock something i have not tried

linux and windows hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i know who owns that battle :)

can u play games and use vga cards in a mac? does it have directx and pci-e?
Click to expand...
vga cards and pci-e? Honestly no idea - I use a laptop - no desk :)
As for games and directx - it depends, can you do those on a windows box? then yes - bootcamp gives you 100% windows ;)

The hardware is awesome - sit behind a 17" Macbook pro and you'll understand - same goes for the 13" macbook or the monster MacPro.
 
Azrael said:
I'd say the Macbook pricing is comparable to any of the other higher end models from HP/Sony/Whoever. The build quality is really good and there's some nice little features - like magsafe etc. And yes you can get Office for OsX - so you can run your presentations without a problem.

Macbook for R12228:
13-inch 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (White)
1GB memory
80GB hard drive1
Double-layer SuperDrive
webcam built-in
Click to expand...

Checked out the MacBook. The specs are not goof enough for running Vista via BootCamp. Only has a 64MB shared graphics card, and Vista minimum is 128MB.

Minimum spec machine is the MacBookPro - either one - really beautiful.

Bit expensive at R18000. Also, MacOS does not run Nokia PCSuite adequately, so I cannot synch my Nokia N80 with my Apple - is this correct?
 
mohammedm said:
Checked out the MacBook. The specs are not goof enough for running Vista via BootCamp. Only has a 64MB shared graphics card, and Vista minimum is 128MB.

Minimum spec machine is the MacBookPro - either one - really beautiful.

Bit expensive at R18000. Also, MacOS does not run Nokia PCSuite adequately, so I cannot synch my Nokia N80 with my Apple - is this correct?
Click to expand...

I have to agree. For the price of entry-level MacBooks, you can get a seriously nice laptop, no matter what Bwana and other Mac-huggers tell you ;)
 
mohammedm said:
Checked out the MacBook. The specs are not goof enough for running Vista via BootCamp. Only has a 64MB shared graphics card, and Vista minimum is 128MB.

Minimum spec machine is the MacBookPro - either one - really beautiful.

Bit expensive at R18000. Also, MacOS does not run Nokia PCSuite adequately, so I cannot synch my Nokia N80 with my Apple - is this correct?
Click to expand...
Cant say much about vista on the MacBook - I dont have one. I've just done a quick google and it does seem to work but I've got no way of validating that.

OxS doesnt need Nokia's PC Suite - its got iSync. which handles the N80.
hj2k_x said:
I have to agree. For the price of entry-level MacBooks,you can get a seriously nice laptop, no matter what Bwana and other Mac-huggers tell you ;)
Click to expand...
Then why didnt you? :confused:

:p
 
the macs are nice (i have a G5 over there in the corner) but i'm on windows most of the time. for the price of a mac notebook, rather look at toshiba. you'll be surprised at the quality, especially the more pricey ones. in my experience the sony is rubbish, i've come across a few that burn out their hdds after 6 or 8 months. i have one at my office thats been through 3 drives. now the keyboard and battery keeps falling out. crap notebooks. look for build quality, specs, and price, in that order. and remember to make a backup of your recovery cd.
 
Looks like I will settle on the Sony SZ48:
2.0Gghz Core 2 Duo
1GB RAM
120 GB HDD
13.3 inch screen

I like the ASUS W5FE, but this is too expensive.

The new HP Pavilions look really nice, but can't find a small screen with a 2.0 Ghz processor.

Anyone know where I can get the best prices on the above 3 brands?
 
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