So my girlfriend really wants a macbook pro, her roomate has one and she loves its light weight, thin profile and looks... I couldn't be more resistent to buying apple, especially with how the company has been acting lately...
I am looking for an ultrabook or mac book knock off that will run windows 7 and will do everything and more then the forbidden fruit book with less cost... I don't care about re sale value of a mac, because I never sell my computers they stay with me until they are so obsolete, they are only good for metal salvage!
I want the ability to repair and upgrade in the future also, which is another reason I h8 the mac idea!
This computer will be used for picture editing of a 10mega pixel nikon d40, lots of web surfing, streaming from netflix and downloading P2P... Playing all kinds of HD video... She doesn't do any hard core gaming, but if the right adventure type game came out she would play it.
I am liking the look of the Asus UX32 about the only thing that concerns me is the charging port (because this jas been an issue in the past with various laptops i've owned). Also do any of these ultrabooks have the HDMI port that can be hooked into a TV for easy movie watching?
Any and all information, comments are welcome.
Thanks for your time!
Have you tried a decomposing paper bag? Say it's the design of it, and the specs will be better than your imac too :D
As for ultrabooks, I would hold off until Haswell (intel's latest core generation of processors) comes along, and sends prices down or gives you something more powerful. There will be loads of people here telling you to build a PC. The ASUS books are all very good, very swish, but I would honestly say just a highish powered laptop will have the specs of an ultrabook for around £100 less, maybe more. It's then a case of £100+, or convenience and shiny?
Hope that helps!
Yea thanks for the help?
She needs a laptop sooner then later unfortunelty to replace her 12 year old acer that's having video issues.... So waiting isn't an option for us...
Any other replies are welcome...
Well I am continuing my research on this subject, I was actually going to tell her to just get the damn apple today, but I decided to talk via chat to an apple rep! He changed my mind, lol..
Here is the conversation (at least the interesting parts)
First off I quickly noticed the rep was a sales person
- ME:does that have the high res display? glossy?
- APPLE:That would have the glossy widescreen.
- ME:so it isn't the high res?
- APPLE:That one is not, let me grab you a link with one.
- ME:Does anit glare mean it doesn't have glass infront of the screen, so less protection?
- APPLE:It does have glass in front of the screen, it is a different additive to protect.
Then I started asking what everyone should when they buy from a company that doesn't make hardware
- ME: I''m just comparing other computers to yours... I'm just not sure I see the value... I am curious does apple make the mainboard inside the laptops? Do they make the Hard drive?
- APPLE:The manufacturies are not released for those parts on the Apple, but we do have great, top notch technolgoy, last investments when you purchase, and around the clock customer and technical support.
- ME: Do you cover accidents like dropping etc?
- APPLE:Our warranty would not cover accidental damages.
- ME:So if she were to need it fixed it would be up to her to ship it.
- APPLE:AppleCare gives you 3 years of unlimited phone support and warranty. And it covers anything not related to accidents, loss or normal wear and tear.
- She would have the standard one year hardware warranty if she did not purchase the AppleCare.
- ME:Asus tells me they cover accidental,I am talking to various computer vendors once and comparing prices, warrenty etc...
- APPLE:Sure, I understand that.
- ME:Why are you the only manufacturer that won't tell me who makes your parts?
- APPLE:I would if I had the information for you, but some things are not released, I can say that the new MacBook Pro's are the Ivy Bridge processors.
- ME:Do your laptops use intel hard drives?
- APPLE:I am really sorry for keeping you waiting, I'll be just another moment. That information on our hard drives is not released.
- ME:I just don't understand that....
- APPLE:I understand
- ME:I appreciate your help but i'm going to go with a manufacturer that will tell me what is inside there computer!
- APPLE:I understand what you are saying.
Anyway, probably pretty typical for someones apple experience!
I just found these Asus laptops I really like and unlike the ultrabooks I don't think they have integrated ram! They have a really good warrenty even if it's your fault which is nuts!
It has mostly all better specs then a 2229$ mac book pro!
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3420582&csid=_61
Any comments/question are welcome! Also any links to other laptops... 1500$ is my top!
Howdy,
I was doing the same comparison with the Asus UX32 and the UX31A but I couldn't get either in canada at the time so I ended up with the Macbook Air 13' with 128 gig SSD and 8 gigs of RAM. While I don't do any picture editing on it I use it for all the other things your Girl Friend is using it for and its great. I play some games on it like Wow, Starcraft, Minecraft, and a few others but nothing heavy. It works and I really enjoy it but by no means is it a gaming machine. If you have access to the ASUS that might be a better bet but I have read quite a bit about the track pad and keyboard not really being up to snuff yet. Just something to consider. If you have any specific programs or questions about the Macbook Air let me know and I will do my best to check it out for you.
Peace,
He doesn't want to buy Apple as they're a shitty company and he doesn't want to support what they do.
You got it!
It's seriously beyond me why a laptop with intel MB, intel processor, hitachi HD, samsung screen, etc etc can be branded apple and raved about at an inflated price because of the amazing gestures you can do on the touch pad! Seriously? I have a 300 dollar acer that works just fine!
300 dollar asus x401a here, and I fold@home with it LOL.
http://www.asus.com/Notebooks/Superior_Mobility/ASUS_ZENBOOK_Touch_U500VZ/#overview
This seems legit...15 inch ips touch panel and has raid 0 ssd's, packed with a gtx 650m.