Laptop suggestions?

[TakingBackSunday]

Hey there PC-bore.  I just got a job thats paying considerably ( ) and the first thing I'm in the market for is a new laptop.  Obviously I've thought about upgrading to a new Macbook Pro, but I think I might try and stay in the market of a $900-1200 bucks.  I could get the low end MBP or a higher end MBA, but I don't know, if someone here shows me some cool Windows based laptops I'm totally willing to switch over, just as long as I can migrate my music and documents over to it from my current MBP.

I've heard good things of HP lappies.  That true?

[MCD]

Can't you wait for Windows 8 later this year? New hardware, more touch friendly, UEFI bios and all that new jazz.

But if you want one right now then you can never go wrong with Lenovo. Asus is awesome as well.

[Mr. Gundam]

I've got a Prole-certified Dell XPS. Really nice.

I've heard good things of HP lappies.  That true?

My work laptop is an HP. I hate the fucking thing so much.

[TakingBackSunday]

Doesn't Dell's lappies come with gross bloatware from them?

[MCD]

They all have varying amount of bloatware unless you buy them from here: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/en_US/pd/productID.235559700

[cool breeze]

"lappies" is a word?  anyway, both HP and Dell laptops include unique programs that could probably be disabled or uninstalled.  I got rid of most of that shit on my old hp netbook and old old dell laptop.

I remember seeing some dell laptops that are 'inspired' by Apple's laptop designs, if you're accustomed to those designs.

I need to get a new laptop soon-ish too.  I'm probably going to do what MCD suggests, and until then roll with my XPS from 2005 or 06.  I can almost run Half Life 2 on it

[Mr. Gundam]

Doesn't Dell's lappies come with gross bloatware from them?

I bought it from Prole, so he took all that shit off it. [shrug]

[TakingBackSunday]

Hrm.  Waiting for Windows 8 actually does make more sense.  And in the shorter term, Mountain Lion, if I end up just going the MBA/MBP route.  I think I might stick with my late 2007 MBP until I graduate (next December) and then jump on a new computer.

Perhaps a tablet makes more sense for now.  iPad 3 mayhaps.

[bork]

Brandnew- Yeah, stick it out for new OS and go with a netbook-type or tablet instead.

Doesn't Dell's lappies come with gross bloatware from them?

What computer that's not a Mac doesn't come with bloatware all over the place?   

[TakingBackSunday]

Honestly I don't remember, haven't had a PC in years

[bork]

I've had both over the past decade...bloatware is dumb shit, but it's easy to remove it all and get things running smoothly.  I'm happy with Windows 7 and haven't found anything to really complain about.  Macs are some sexy-looking hardware but I just don't care to pay more for them.

[Van Cruncheon]

what the hell, it's easy to reinstall the OS. they provide a clean copy of the OS and the install drivers!

[TakingBackSunday]

I've had both over the past decade...bloatware is dumb shit, but it's easy to remove it all and get things running smoothly.  I'm happy with Windows 7 and haven't found anything to really complain about.  Macs are some sexy-looking hardware but I just don't care to pay more for them.

I think the baseline MBA models are fucking hot as well, and outperform the 2010 MPP's by a considerable amount.  All it sacrifices is HDD space and no optical drive.  Shit is hot and not...too pricey.

[bork]

what the hell, it's easy to reinstall the OS. they provide a clean copy of the OS and the install drivers!

When I got my HP DMZ1 last year, there wasn't enough crap on it to bother with a reinstall.  I just removed the usual garbage and everything was fine...took no time at all.   

Come to think of it, how would I do that directly from the machine (sans DVD drive)?  When I've reset to factory settings in the past, the bloatware remained.

EDIT: system restore with minimal settings I guess?

[bork]

I've had both over the past decade...bloatware is dumb shit, but it's easy to remove it all and get things running smoothly.  I'm happy with Windows 7 and haven't found anything to really complain about.  Macs are some sexy-looking hardware but I just don't care to pay more for them.

I think the baseline MBA models are fucking hot as well, and outperform the 2010 MPP's by a considerable amount.  All it sacrifices is HDD space and no optical drive.  Shit is hot and not...too pricey.

The awesome lil' DMZ1 I'm using as my only PC is now sold for $399.99 starting.

[TakingBackSunday]

Oh 

[bork]

My mistake...it's now $399.99 starting.   It's similar to the MacBook Air in size (but obviously not anywhere near as thin), has 1366x768 res, 1.6Ghz dual core processor, handles 1080P video, HDMI out, etc.  Even getting one with a solid state drive and extra ram is not gonna cost as much as a MacBook Air.  I paid extra for mine at the time to get it with 4GB of RAM, so maybe it wasn't even as much last year either.

[pilonv1]

Doesn't Dell's lappies come with gross bloatware from them?

My work laptop is disgusting in this regard. So much useless crap.

[CajoleJuice]

I'm going to hijack this thread for a friend who asked me for laptop buying advice. I helped him pick out an HDTV a year ago or so and now he's back. Only I don't know much about laptops at the moment. He's looking for something sub-$700 and 14"-15", so he wouldn't want the DMZ1. Basically I think he's wants a solid, light laptop as he's pretty much done PC gaming. So basically I'm guessing I'm asking who has the best base-level cheap laptops nowadays. If you guys really think he should just get an iPad 3, I'll try to convince him when I see him this Saturday.

[Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich]

he should get an ultrabook. no idea what's good in that class anymore though. I got me a samsung one (series 9) and I love it.

[CajoleJuice]

he should get an ultrabook. no idea what's good in that class anymore though. I got me a samsung one (series 9) and I love it.

aren't ultrabooks kinda expensive, though? (compared to the budget he told me)

[TakingBackSunday]

I think there's an Asus one...UX model series I think?  That's around 999.

[CajoleJuice]

I'm going to hijack this thread for a friend who asked me for laptop buying advice. I helped him pick out an HDTV a year ago or so and now he's back. Only I don't know much about laptops at the moment. He's looking for something sub-$700 and 14"-15", so he wouldn't want the DMZ1. Basically I think he's wants a solid, light laptop as he's pretty much done PC gaming. So basically I'm guessing I'm asking who has the best base-level cheap laptops nowadays. If you guys really think he should just get an iPad 3, I'll try to convince him when I see him this Saturday.

[Madrun Badrun]

get richer friends cj

[CajoleJuice]

He probably makes more money than most people here, he just doesn't like to spend his money on shit he doesn't need, unlike most people here.

[Madrun Badrun]

get less miserly friends cj

[Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich]

he should get an ultrabook. no idea what's good in that class anymore though. I got me a samsung one (series 9) and I love it.

aren't ultrabooks kinda expensive, though? (compared to the budget he told me)

This Acer one is just outside your buddy's range. One of our consultants loves it, and I think he has the same exact model:

http://www.amazon.com/Acer-Aspire-S3-951-6646-13-3-Inch-Ultrabook/dp/B005MR58MG/ref=pd_cp_pc_1

Sub-$700 is tough though. This one seems solid at $650? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006LWQUAA/

[CajoleJuice]

he should get an ultrabook. no idea what's good in that class anymore though. I got me a samsung one (series 9) and I love it.

aren't ultrabooks kinda expensive, though? (compared to the budget he told me)

This Acer one is just outside your buddy's range. One of our consultants loves it, and I think he has the same exact model:

http://www.amazon.com/Acer-Aspire-S3-951-6646-13-3-Inch-Ultrabook/dp/B005MR58MG/ref=pd_cp_pc_1

Sub-$700 is tough though. This one seems solid at $650? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006LWQUAA/

Thanks a lot, man. I'll see if he's willing to go a bit above that $700 for something that's a nice step up.