Laptop recommendations please

[BibiBOO]

We're looking for a nice new laptop, mainly for internet, storing photos and music, can anyone recommend a good one with a mahoosive memory???

What should I be asking for when I go to the shop so I don't get talked into buying something I don't want?

Thank you.

I bought an Acer 6935G back in the summer - it's great, has a great graphics card for games. Built in webcam, dvd player etc.

Apple mac

I will never go back to using a windows notebook after using a mac

macbook macbook macbook macbook macbook macbook macbook

DH will not go Mac, he just won't.

Sorry but MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook MacBook

But... I am typing now on my new gleaming, silvery, glossy, tons of space, trouble free, virus free, easy to use, fast, fully compatible with Windoze MacBook Pro whilst updating my iPhone and downloading some photos via the little slot in the side of the MBP that takes the memory card from the camera...

Fully compatible with Windows you say ... really?????

Yep, in fact, should you be so inclined, you can commit computer treason run Windows on it as well as the Mac OS though why any sane person would do that is beyond me

You can even run windows and mac os side by side on a mac (sorry if i have just repeated anyone)

I re-iterate - macbook

Mac's make very good Windows machines, they're powerful laptops.

You have two options for running Windows.

You can use the Bootcamp tool that you get with Macs to either load Windows or Mac OS X when you turn the machine on. This is the fastest way to run Windows and you'll get great performance.

Or you can use a tool like Parallels that allows you to run Windows applications side by side with Mac OS X programs. Windows applications will however run slower than they would if you had the machine running as a full Windows machine.

For both techniques you will need a copy of Windows, and that's not cheap.

I don't believe that Bootcamp works with Windows 7, though an update should be out soonish.

i completely get where your DH is coming from (aka the dark ages ) cos we thought the same and in fact my v techy DH said he'd never do it. As I type (on my Macbook) he's very comfy on t other sofa typing on his macbook pro - and would he choose me or it in a fire???? i think we know i'd have to look after myself there...

They are SO easy, you can do everything your pc can do (and it won't need rebooting the whole flipping time) and badgerspaws (and everyone else) makes a very good point about running windows etc (though with parallels you can flip between the two which is surprisingly useful). When we bought this macbook it took me 8 minutes to get on mumsnet it up and running from its wrapper...

all i'm saying is - do a bit of research, see what you think. I wouldn't have a pc now if you paid me. and i hate people who say that! but still.

Macs are easy to use, but here are a couple of adverts:

The new white MacBook is faster than ever, with 2.13GHz Intel processor, 2GB memory, 160GB Hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics.

£729

Compaq CQ61-312SA M100 2GB 160GB 15.6" Windows 7 Laptop

£329

You might think your Mac is better than a Windows PC, but is it twice as good?

My wallet says that one, my geeky heart says this one.

Huh? this one.

Yep, Mac is twice as good, imo

Ooooh, now I'm all confused, we really can't afford a macbook ... but I want one soooo much.

If I never use one I'll never know what I'm missing will I?

BibiBOO - while the Mac enthusiasts will make you green with envy, my first question would always be "what's your budget".

You will see a few threads which mention Acer etc (eg from John Lewis) and to be honest, with supplied and/or free/ cheap software you can do what you want with a PC.

It might be "nicer" with a Mac, but will certainly come at a price, and I'm not convinced they pack in double the goods - so it looks nice, might be faster, but you may still find better s/w than Safari or QuickTime (QT is yuk in my view)...

As you say, never played with it, then you won't miss it.

You might consider getting a s/h Mac on Ebay (but you will probably find the owner is so "precious" that they request collection - as if the thing is so fragile it cannot cope with going in a delivery truck!)

As for running Windows on a Mac. Presume it would work fine, just don't see the point - Mac is fine for what it does, works fast, looks nice. PCs offer a good deal of flexibility and lots of free/cheap software too.

No doubt there are lots of accessories which work on a Mac, but I suspect there may be more for the PC, and cheaper too. I think the men in suits get a nice earner out of Apple products being marked up in price so as to keep them "exclusive".

Forgot to add - I have an old s/h (off Ebay) G3 iMac running OSX 10.2.4 (I think) but use it mostly as a music box (Audion can be used as an alarm playing from a chosen playlist) and as a terminal giving a linux-type command line environment. iMac is handy for some network functions but PCs outnumber it 10:1 at my home.

The Macbook and the Compaq are not a good comparison, the Macbook is much better.

The current Macbook has a faster processor (2.26GHz) and a bigger disk (250Gb) than the one list below and is the same price (£799).

The Macbook processor is also dual core while the Compaq's is a single. While not quite twice the processing power that's still a very good performance boost.

The Mac processor also has more memory within it which helps it to function faster, I think it's about 6 times the amount.

You also get a slightly better graphics card in the Mac.

The Compaq also comes with the home version of Windows 7 that is lacking several features that come with the professional version that could come in handy. For example drive encryption (standard with OS X) and XP Mode (could be very useful for older Windows apps).

That also touches on Windows' confused versioning, there are many and the differences are complex. Mac OS X is Mac OS X, one box, one price, all the features.

So basically it is a clearly better machine than the Compaq. Is it double the price better? A fair question.

Personally being able to use an OS that is virus free is a huge benefit to me that is hard to put a price on.

My final point would be the build quality. Cheap PCs tend to feel, well, cheap basically. Macs are well built solid laptops and they now all come with a very nice and clear looking screen.

Go into a Mac shop and PC World and just compare the differences.

Again is that worth the extra?

Is an expensive BMW worth more than a beat up old Ford?

Both get you from A to B.

It's a personal choice.

It's not accurate to say that the Mac is virus-free. It has its weakpoints and security issues (see the SecureMac blog, for instance. And Safari has had more than a few security concerns itself.

It is fair to say that the Mac has a lot, lot fewer security concerns than Windows does. This is partly down to how OSX is written and partly because most of the virus writers target the biggest market - Windows. If security is your chief concern then I'd buy a Windows laptop, get a refund on the Windows license, then install something like Ubuntu Linux on it. Tons of free software available for Linux, too.

If all you're really looking at is something to do web browsing, photo storage and music playing on, then the chief benefits of the Mac (eg, the professional multimedia software that's available for it, the good graphics adaptor, the development environments etc) are largely going to be wasted. You'll be spending at least 50% more on a Macbook than for a comparable Windows laptop, and the main thing you'll be getting for that money is an Apple logo.

I'm no Windows fan (I mainly use Linux) but Windows 7 is pretty much as easy to use as OSX and just as pretty. Windows security can be addressed, for free, with things like AVG or Avast.

OS X is virus free, I'm not saying that it won't ever have a virus but right now it doesn't and it's hardly a new Operating System.

Microsoft have come along in leaps and bounds recently but there does appear to be some fundamental security issues to do with Windows that go far beyond it's popularity. The Mac's roots are now in the UNIX world and that does appear to be much more secure, solid and reliable.

Windows security can be "addressed" by plugging in new components that clutter up your machine and enter you into a constant battle with updates vs. the speed of the virus writers.

Why should I have to do that?

For most people Ubuntu is still a bit of a handful, though again as with MS they're rapidly catching up on that front.

To me the big benefits of the Mac aren't the professional side of things but on the amateur casual non gaming user side. The included software for Music, photos and video works amazingly well and isn't on some time limited license.

Then you've got a user experience that Windows simply doesn't touch, even 7 still looks pretty ugly compared to the smoothness of OS X, my Mac is just enjoyable to use.

No driver issues, no security to worry about (though I keep my ears and eyes open) and a simple packaging of OS X (one box with everything in) make it an easy choice for me. I hope that I never have to own another PC for my personal life again.

As to Development Environments well I believe that Microsoft stomp all over Apple on that front. The professional Microsoft Tools are outstanding, powerful and flexible.

So for me, for work, it's Windows all the way. The "pain" of Windows is worth it for the tools that I can use.

A computer to me is just a tool and I'll pick the right one for the task at hand.

mid-range - how about a teeny tiny Samsung - very pretty and handbag sized. My sister has just bought one and i am very jealous it is great.

I have a cheap ACer but the connection to the screen has worn after only one year - i get lines across Mumsnet important work things all the time. This may because i have not treated it well (opening it one handed whilst BFing, for instance)

My Mums top of the line Acer Ferrari on the other hand, was and is great. Still in good working order after ...7 years?

she has got a desktop replacement - also Acer - called Lapzilla. it is a hunky piece of toolage, and really only a laptop if you are a big bloke - but working well at 2 years....

then there's the Thinkpad. dads Thinkpad from 14 years ago (originally called 'Baby' as it was our very first) still works, doesn't crash - if it had wireless it would still be very useful.

Having seen the software issues contended with by MIL an her Macbook, i wouldn't touch one with a barge pole. Though that is very unfair, because i suspect the main problem is the thing in front of the screen, if you take my meaning.

Money no object - i would get Alienware to tool me up something very advanced.

expensive - thinkpad
mid range - Acer
cheap.... i don't want to buy another cheap laptop.

i meant to add, my work gives people Thinkpads because of the build quality too.

ooh and a question - does anyone have a good machine with a HDMI out? or, if you want to stream video to big telly, what connection are you using? card to box instead?