Help me SCH-google...(completely OT topic)

Sorry to hear that

stick with apple. Get a macbook air. Im Thinking of switching to one of those and relegate this computer to video editing.

I dont think I could go back to PCs. Thats all we have at my office (Dells) and they make me want to kill myself

Nymphin' Ain't Easy Fly Fishing
Back off man, I'm a scientist

by BigCSouthside on Dec 17, 2011 2:04 PM CST reply actions

I hadn't considered an Air, honestly.

I thought they were mostly for very light computing…

SCH Narc - check yo'self before you wreck yo'self.

by ahnfire on Dec 17, 2011 2:09 PM CST up reply actions

you know what's going to happen here, don't you?

all out PC/Mac war.

Avoid Dells and Packard Bells at all costs (shitty components/manufacturing)..

What exactly do you use your laptop for?

enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!

by mightymike D on Dec 17, 2011 2:13 PM CST up reply actions

I'll be using it for the basics (internet, word processing)

and some, let’s call it, creative media acquisition. Also for legal work, which is heavily research & writing based. I’d like to be able to use it to watch movies and such as well, of course.

SCH Narc - check yo'self before you wreck yo'self.

by ahnfire on Dec 17, 2011 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

As a tech person who has literally built hundreds of PCs

I really like the Mac interface. You will need a decent PC stripped of all the bloatware most mfgs install to get something similar.

Maybe it's booze, maybe it's glue, maybe it's gasoline. Maybe it's a gunshot to the head. But something. Something to relieve the pressures of their everyday life, like having to tie their shoes.

by hairhelmet on Dec 17, 2011 2:39 PM CST up reply actions

As far as I know the Air can handle all that. You give up the disc drive, but when was the last time you used one. Your memory capacity will be a bit lower as well, but using it for legal research and WP and basic internet stuff will do the job.

The only reason Im considering it is because for School and whatnot, I dont need massive memory, a high speed disk drive or anything like that. I just need something that can surf the web and store a shitload of PDFs and do WP. Basically as a nice compromise between my ipad and my Macbook. I’ve been writing a case study on my iPad at work in my free time….and not having a keyboard has almost had me driving to the Apple store looking to burn like $1200.

The Air is also solid state, which is awesome

I probably wouldn’t use it on its own unless I had an external Hard Drive (Which I do)

Nymphin' Ain't Easy Fly Fishing
Back off man, I'm a scientist

by BigCSouthside on Dec 18, 2011 9:32 AM CST up reply actions

creative media acquisition = pirating.

I have an external so that’s not a problem. The cost of the Air…well…yea.

SCH Narc - check yo'self before you wreck yo'self.

by ahnfire on Dec 18, 2011 2:40 PM CST up reply actions

I have an Acer netbook you can have

if you send me pastrami has from Stage Deli.

Maybe it's booze, maybe it's glue, maybe it's gasoline. Maybe it's a gunshot to the head. But something. Something to relieve the pressures of their everyday life, like having to tie their shoes.

by hairhelmet on Dec 17, 2011 2:13 PM CST reply actions

hash

Maybe it's booze, maybe it's glue, maybe it's gasoline. Maybe it's a gunshot to the head. But something. Something to relieve the pressures of their everyday life, like having to tie their shoes.

by hairhelmet on Dec 17, 2011 2:14 PM CST up reply actions

Acer is still around?

SCH Narc - check yo'self before you wreck yo'self.

by ahnfire on Dec 17, 2011 2:15 PM CST up reply actions

yeah, they make low-end stuff like Costco Netbooks and displays

cheap notebooks as well. They are the budget choice. There stuff is good for about 6 months but you will pay for it if you try to go any longer.

Maybe it's booze, maybe it's glue, maybe it's gasoline. Maybe it's a gunshot to the head. But something. Something to relieve the pressures of their everyday life, like having to tie their shoes.

by hairhelmet on Dec 17, 2011 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

so, really, the pastrami has a higher value?

no deal, thank you. Although if you want me to send you pastrami from Stage Deli, I do accept hockey jerseys or tickets. :D

SCH Narc - check yo'self before you wreck yo'self.

by ahnfire on Dec 17, 2011 2:20 PM CST up reply actions

from Hawaii?

and, yes, the pastrami hash from Stage Deli has higher value. Also, the baked ziti from Rosario’s at Stanton and Orchard.

Maybe it's booze, maybe it's glue, maybe it's gasoline. Maybe it's a gunshot to the head. But something. Something to relieve the pressures of their everyday life, like having to tie their shoes.

by hairhelmet on Dec 17, 2011 2:37 PM CST up reply actions

hmmm never tried Rosario's before.

/scribbles notes to self

Hawaiian hockey jersey! Will it have rainbows on it?

SCH Narc - check yo'self before you wreck yo'self.

by ahnfire on Dec 17, 2011 5:59 PM CST up reply actions

If price is a concern, don't go Mac.

You’ll get the same hardware for 1/3 the price on a PC laptop. As far as brands go, if I were buying for myself and had some cash to spend, I’d look hard at Lenovo. (Lenovo is the company that used to build the IBM ThinkPad, which are legendary for being the tank of laptops. I have literally run over one with a car and it still worked.) For an all-purpose laptop, can’t go wrong there. I’ve also had good experiences whenever I had to contact their customer service reps.

My personal laptop, which I bought about 8 months ago, is a Dell. Dell finds the sweet spot between price and decent hardware that I was looking for. I am not an average user and my needs are somewhat specialized (I demand a lot more performance from my processor than about 99% of all users would, and I’m willing to sacrifice user interface and ease-of-use for speed and brute power). But I did quite a bit of research before buying my latest machine, and for a balance between good specs and a decent price, Dell really couldn’t be beat.

There’s no substitution for doing your own research. Look carefully at the specifications of any machine you want to buy, then go see if you can find someone who does the same thing at a better price. Small hint: Dell has a overstock/rebuild outlet on their website that will offer machines with a year warranty on them for about half the price you’d ordinarily pay. You can find some amazing deals on there, if you know what you’re looking for. Search for ‘dell outlet’ or something like that to find it.

"...but the devil lives inside this kid, I swear it. It rises out of him in a mist, this baby-faced defiant wrathful version of Pat Kane, escapes his bodily confines to perform satanic miracles all over the offensive zone. The only thing more fearsome than that assist was the keep-in preceding it. The only thing more unholy than his face is his black magic." ~gmh

by Steeg of their own on Dec 17, 2011 3:28 PM CST reply actions

Toshiba's a good company

I had one of their Satellite series laptops for a few years and never had a problem with it.

Let's go Hawks! Detroit sucks!
Bear down, Chicago Bears!

by HappyHuman on Dec 17, 2011 3:44 PM CST reply actions

COMPUTERS!

link

Ummm … does that help? I forget your question.

www.mjt.org

by ChicoMaki on Dec 17, 2011 4:21 PM CST reply actions

If you will be doing quite a bit of number typing for your legal work

I suggest getting a laptop that has the number pad on the side like a regular computer keyboard. I do medical coding on mine and I will never get another laptop that doesn’t have the number pad there. I know someone up above said Dell was crap, but I got my Dell laptop 3 years ago for $400.00 and it’s been the best one I have ever owned. I’ve had HP and Gateway too and this one has been my favorite. Of course I’m not trying to do a bunch of photo editing, video editing, etc. on it. I only use it for my work and my blogging.

I'm on the twitters @tivogoddess

by stacie7 on Dec 17, 2011 4:32 PM CST reply actions

twas I

I used to work for Dell building their laptops.. you know the way you might not want to eat in a restaurant having seen the kitchen?

enough of the niceties: time for the eye-gouging..
and yes, I probably *should* be asleep right now!

by mightymike D on Dec 17, 2011 4:36 PM CST up reply actions

Pricepoints

The 12 and 13 inch laptops tend to be the high end models. So it is hard in that size range to get really lower cost models. The best price point is probably the Asus. Look at both the Zenbook and the cheaper u36 in the 13 inch size. People love or hate the Toshiba Portege so do your homework on that one.

In the slightly smaller range (11.5 screen) are the new AMD fushion chips. So if you like that size look at the Lenovo x120e and the HP DM1. I have the x120e and really like it. I do NOT however use that box as my main work tool. I use it to have the Internet with me when I need it.

If you want to save money then look at 14 inch laptops. You can really get a better deal in that price range. The Lenovo Thinkpad T420 is probably the best business laptop. You can look at their cheaper ideapad line too. The HP Pavilion Dm4 is something to look at. The ASUS U46 have a couple of versions.

It’s hard to recommend cheaper laptops than those above because it will be a big step down from a Mac to a bare essentials model. So I would try to find one of the above on sale and go from there.

by neo69 on Dec 17, 2011 5:57 PM CST reply actions

As Steeg of their own

points out above, there’s no substitution for doing your own research. I suggest that you go to a store like Best Buy to actually see and sample different computers in your price range. If I was going to buy a laptop I’d go for a Toshiba or Lenovo.
Also, some out of left field advice, I’m not sure what kind of work you will be doing on it but if it involves number entry look for a model with a 10 key pad.

Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene."

by cdz3210 on Dec 18, 2011 1:43 AM CST reply actions

Some notes to add to the ones above

Btw, that makes two of us who’ve had our apartments robbed of a laptop in the past couple years. Sorry it had to happen to you!

Don’t take my word for it, I agree with the own research bit, but having lost/broken enough laptops over the years — I’m currently using an HP primarily, it’s good enough for the light use you’re talking about and has a 16" screen for movies, and even a number pad, and it was less than $350. HPs can be a bit cheap on build quality but along with Acer you can get something pretty cheap.

On the Taiwanese front (Acer/Asus) I find the former to be cheaper and less rugged. I’m typing this on an Asus netbook and this thing is a tank. I’ve heard similarly good things about their other laptops.

I’ve had good experiences with Dells too (my desktop is 11 years old, still running) but with their laptops for some reason the hinge always breaks. I don’t know if they’ve fixed that since. Other than that, what other people said about other manufacturers…

by VerStig on Dec 18, 2011 3:23 AM CST reply actions

i dont mind HPs either

I also had a Sony laptop that I beat the snot out of, and it lasted 4 years.

Nymphin' Ain't Easy Fly Fishing
Back off man, I'm a scientist

by BigCSouthside on Dec 18, 2011 9:37 AM CST up reply actions

I also have an Asus that I love.

Its about 2 years old, super fast and has been great for my needs (which are the essentially the same as yours). Also has a keypad which I will never live without again.

Of course, I still have that old Toshiba I mentioned, if you need one… :)

by Katherine215 on Dec 20, 2011 10:18 AM CST up reply actions

I think it was like $500 and has a fairly large screen.

by Katherine215 on Dec 20, 2011 10:19 AM CST up reply actions

It seems that is has all been said here...

but I just bought my wife a refurb macbook pro for under 1000. Not bad for a mac…nothing but Mac!

"I killed a man 'cause he killed my goat."

by activstik on Dec 19, 2011 7:27 AM CST reply actions

And speaking of OT

do any of you use Apple Tv with the NHL package, and if so, are Hawks games blacked out? I’m in the Chicago area…(I want to dump Comcast for something cheaper but still be able to watch on the big screen…)

"I killed a man 'cause he killed my goat."

by activstik on Dec 19, 2011 7:29 AM CST reply actions