Oh Wisdom of Internet! (Laptop recommendations...)

[ellenmillion]

I am in the market for a new laptop.

My current machine, God Rest Her, is an Acer Aspire 17something, and I loved it to PIECES. I covet another 17" laptop, but am open to getting a 15" and buying a monitor for home. It doesn't have to be exceptionally portable - I don't travel with it a lot, but I DO need to be able to take it with me for a day doing graphics or drafting at someone else's office and still be comfortable.

I do NOT NOT NOT want Windows Vista. Whoever at MS had the genius idea that 'let's release an operating system that doesn't run AutoCAD!' should be shot. Preferably in the kneecaps so they have lots of time in agony and will never do so again. Also, it's slow and everything I've read says I don't want this system. I will pay extra for a laptop that runs XP, SP2, or I will get something with Vista and wipe it clean to start over with again and take that hassle into my pricing consideration. Vista is decidedly not a selling point.

My needs are not terribly extensive. I do run large art and CAD programs, but not intensive gaming 3D graphics stuff. 1 Gig of RAM is minimum. Big harddrive a plus. Full keyboard and numberpad a must. Windows is a must (this isn't a 'convert Ellen to Apple' opportunity. :P).

I have a decent budget. I'd like to pay less than $1000, but for the right machine with the right stuff, I could go a little higher.

What would you get? Any words of warning?

Comments

[bigblued.livejournal.com]

Dell recently got permission from Microsoft to sell some of their laptops with XP. I had been holding off buying a laptop because I didn't want Vista either so when I heard the news I jumped at the chance to get an XP laptop. Unfortunately, it'll cost you more than $1k.

[saskya.livejournal.com]

I -really- like my gateway, but i haven't done any recent research on thier machines or software included.

[dollraves.livejournal.com]

Do what I did: Buy a Macbook Pro and throw VMware's Fusion product on it, then load XP onto that. If, for some painfully stupid reason, you need Vista later on, you can toss a Vista install onto VMWare, too, and have all the operating systems you need on one machine.

I promise, it's completely painless. I bought my first Mac last December. The learning curve isn't so bad and I love being able to run Mac, Linux and Windows programs beautifully on one machine.

[whitenoise.livejournal.com]

"Buy a Mac so you can put Windows on it" has got to be the worst advice I've ever heard. Apple's operating system is the ONLY reason to buy one of Apple's overpriced, underpowered machines. For someone who isn't interested in running OSX, as this person clearly stated, buying a Mac would have to be the worst possible computer purchase. A Macbook Pro also costs at least TWICE this person's stated budget. What were you thinking?

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

I still appreciate her suggestion. :)

[dollraves.livejournal.com]

I recommend Mac OS because you're in the graphics business and probably would find other uses for it. It's also generally easier to use for non-linux users than switching to linux.

You could also get a kick-ass non-Mac machine for under $1k, install linux as the main OS (I recommend Ubuntu for non-linux geek user-friendliness), and still go the VMWare route. That way you'd still have a single machine that runs concurrent sessions of Vista, XP, etc., giving you access to all your programs, no matter which version of Windows is best for each individual application.

As for Macs being underpowered - eh. If you're not gaming, a Mac is probably more than sufficient power for what you need. No laptop's going to crunch as well as a desktop for the same amount of money.

[dollraves.livejournal.com]

Oh, and for the record, I bought a refurb 15" macbook pro for $1400. The refurb 17" was only $100 more back then. Refurb is definitely the way to go with Macs.

[dollraves.livejournal.com]

She also stated that she would be willing to spend more if the machine is worth it. A machine that can run linux, Mac OS, and every version of windows *is* worth it, depending on what applications you're running. I replaced THREE machines with my macbook pro.

She asked for opinions, I gave mine. If it doesn't suit her needs, it doesn't suit her needs. No reason to get abusive over it.

[whitenoise.livejournal.com]

She said she'd be willing to go a LITTLE higher. I wouldn't call double the amount of money she wanted to spend a LITTLE.

And it's only worth it if you're actually interested in running OSX, which she clearly stated she is not.

And wow, "abusive"? Could you be more dramatic? I suppose replying again means I'm a terrorist now too, huh?

[dollraves.livejournal.com]

Heh. So speaks the drama queen. Go ahead, I'm sure you have to have the last word. I'm done with your pettiness.

[whitenoise.livejournal.com]

It's a good thing your experiences are universal, then.

Oh, wait.

[rhiamon.livejournal.com]

Here's what I just got (it's a 17" screen):

Dell Inspiron 1721, AMD Turion 64 x 2 TL-60 (2.0GHz/1MB)
2GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 Dimm
ATI RADEON Xpress1270 256MB HyperMemory
160G 5400RPM SATA hard drive
8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive
Dell Wireless 1490 802.11a/g Mini Card

It's a Windows Vista Home Premium, though, but maybe you can wipe it and install XP (although, I think that voids the warranty, sort of thing). It was $1392.96 with tax. I'm loving it, but I got it primarily for handling large digital artwork files and such...I also got the Photoshop Elements added and got a wireless mouse, which made my total $1510 and a bit.

[pseudopagan.livejournal.com]

Eh?

4. Does AutoCAD 2008 support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system?

Yes. AutoCAD 2008 supports Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise. In addition, AutoCAD 2008 takes advantage of some new Vista capabilities, specifically Windows Vista thumbnail previews for DWG and DWF files in Windows Explorer, display of AutoCAD properties in the detail tab of Windows Explorer, and ability to use the Windows Vista search tools using text strings found in drawing properties, text, MTEXT, and so forth, in the DWG file.

Are you using an older version of Autocad? I've been running Vista for months, and I wouldn't go back for anything. It's true there were some growing pains, and some things do take getting used to again (office 2007, for example) but all in all it's been an awesome experience. It's also a good bit faster than any of my XP ever were. If it's just autocad compatibility, I might be able to furnish you with a copy of AC2008.

That aside... I dunno that you're going to find what you want for less than a grand, regardless. Especially not with your needs by way of graphics, processing, HD space, etc.

[pseudopagan.livejournal.com]

This is a lie! I worked with Macs for years, and wouldn't trade my PC for one for anything.

Then again, I'm a gamer, and I like to have a system that can reliably (which rules out bootcamp) run Windows games. -.-

[anotherdream.livejournal.com]

Tearing Vista out of a laptop and installing XP on it instead may result in a permanently non-functional (or badly functional) laptop. Many lappies are built with hardware for which XP drivers do not exist. However, some versions of Vista - Business and Ultimate - come with downgrading rights to XP Professional. If you have a licensed copy of XP Pro that you can downgrade to, or are willing to buy one, that could be an option.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Hrm! I didn't realize that! Thanks for the headsup!