Comments on: What Laptop Do You Use?

By: Louis

Louis — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 01:30:05 +0000

Hey folks, my opinion is that we’re fundamentally either a MAC or PC, almost as much as being left or right-handed.

That being said, I just purchased an HP dv6000 (Vista) to replace my 4 yo Dell 4600c desktop. No fancy work, no high-tech software. Vista feels like Windows 98 with a pretty face. It’s just HORRIBLE. If you go PC, wait for the next OS… Holding on to my good old Dell.

By: Derek Hatchard

Derek Hatchard — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:10:32 +0000

@Jeff Rose, when I build out equivalent machines with equivalent warranties, the prices are pretty close with the Lenovo “sale” price. The E6400 is a little bit more but with a 250GB drive vs. the 200GB drive from Lenovo.

But this on-the-fly switching to integrated graphics to reduce power consumption is intriguing. What a great idea! I need to research that more. I need dedicated graphics for video editing but most of the time I would be fine with integrated.

By: Jeff Rose

Jeff Rose — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:59:26 +0000

Just ordered a ThinkPad T400. Centrino 2. 14.1″ TFT w/ LED backlight. Switchable graphics – you can use the Radeon Mobility for performance, then switch on-the-fly without rebooting to the integrated Intel graphics to reduce power consumption. Crazy battery life according to Lenovo and reviews I’ve read. Hope it lives up to the hype.

I did look at the E6400 – this was better, for me. And on sale through the 29th on lenovo.com – according to them, I saved $531.

By: Justice~!

Justice~! — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:14:19 +0000

You buy anything other than a MBP and we will CEASE TO BE FRIENDS

By: foobar

foobar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:30:11 +0000

HP DV9933. 17″ screen. 4GB RAM, T5750, Vista X64.

No bluetooth. I could use a higher resolution screen, and the keyboard takes a little getting used to. It’s my primary dev machine.

Only $1050 at Costco.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:49:37 +0000

After lugging around an Inspiron 17 inch, I finally upgraded to a new Dell XPS 15 inch. Much lighter and very speedy. At the time, the XPS was the only model that allowed for 7200 rpm HD, which is recommended to run Visual Studio (if you’re into that kinda thing =).

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:25:11 +0000

17″ MacBook Pro (Core2Duo w/Nvidia 8800).

I got it refurbed, so the -$500 paies for AppleCare and Parallels. The main driving decision was Parallels, and Perl testing across all the oses, including OSX) that I could want.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:22:42 +0000

I have decrepit 600m that needs to be buried behind the shed. I’d really like to get a new MacBook Pro. Hopefully, the rumors of a refresh next month are true and I can finally upgrade.

By: Tom Opgenorth

Tom Opgenorth — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:01:49 +0000

I have a “white box” based on a Asus Z96J chassis. Next laptop will be either a MBP or another “white box” build.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:31:15 +0000

Sorry, correction on the last post. Gateway P-7811FX

Also, it has a 17″ display as a plus, however it is a little weighty as a downside also.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:29:42 +0000

Gateway P-7811FC

I just got it 2 weeks ago. It has a lot of performance for a good price (I got it for $1400). 4 GB DDR3 memory, 7200 RPM hard drive, 64-bit dual core, etc.

It is currently in use as a desktop replacement and I do all my development on it. It’s running Vista Ultimate 64-bit, SQL Express 2008, Visual Studio 2008, IIS 7, and also handing my non-work applications also. Everything is smooth as can be and it hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down yet.

Downsides were no fingerprint reader (I wanted in case it got stolen), not blu-ray drive (for movies on the go), and no bluetooth (to transfer files from my windows mobile phone).

By: Craig Moore

Craig Moore — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:11:57 +0000

15″ Macbook core Duo 2.0

Love it. Runs crazy good. Hook a 20 Cinema Display up with it for desk work. It’s pretty too.

Hates: Major HD crash w lots of data loss recently…we’re making up though.

I will never, never have a PC laptop. Too many ghosts in the machine. You really have to be trying to screw things up to kill a mac (doing anything on Terminal).

Craig

By: Chris Cusack

Chris Cusack — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:21:35 +0000

Currently using an 14.1″ HP Pavilion dv2412ca and I downgraded it to XP Pro 32-bit. It was cheap and I needed something for school so I went with that. It got the job done. You can fry an egg on the exhaust its gets so hot. The screen is very good and I always liked the remotes that come with these “home use” HP laptops. Overall though I don’t like it. Getting a MBP next.

By: mike mullen

mike mullen — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:20:31 +0000

you have the right laptop just the wrong OS . Get ubuntu on that bad boy!

Seriously though you’re going to be hard pressed to find hardware as comfortable as the MBP; other laptops (even with their endless lists of specs) just don’t seem to exhibit the same attention to detail. …shame but true…