Ask HN: Any good Macbook Air alternatives? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Any good Macbook Air alternatives?

#81

Post by davidf18 » Sun, Aug 28, 2011, 5:26 PM UTC

X201s, a previous model to the X220 (along with the non "s" X201) has a higher resolution display (1440x900 same res as Mac Air 13) than the X220 (1366x766) and weighs about 1/2 lb less than the X220. Loaded with SSD and 8 GB RAM it is my preference over the X220. If a 12.5" screen vs. the Mac Air 13.3" screen works for needs then you might consider this machine. The Thinkpad Trackpoint is great once you get used to it (probably a few hours/days at most). For long trips the replaceable batteries of the Thinkpad have an advantage over the Air.

The X201s , X220 are extremely durable machines (I've had Thinkpads since 1999) and have like Apple (and unlike Sony and some others) outstanding warranty service. Thinkpads (on certain models) and Apple both have international warranty.

If you want the larger screen of the Mac Air over the X201s or X220 then I don't see an alternative to the "Air" today.

Re: Ask HN: Any good Macbook Air alternatives?

#82

Post by sorenbs » Sun, Aug 28, 2011, 5:28 PM UTC

zobzu wrote: post #58

I have a Sony Vaio Z21. So alright alright, it's not, cheap. It's not in the same ball park as the MBA on the performance side (it annihilates it) But! - it's slightly lighter than the MBA - its just as thin and compact - it has a gorgeous screen that also doesnt reflects everything instead of showing you content - it runs linux just fine - you can plug a lightpeak graphic card if you like - the SSD's are extremely,…

what kind of battery life (with the build in battery) and fan noise do you experience under normal working conditions?

Re: Ask HN: Any good Macbook Air alternatives?

#83

Post by rbanffy » Sun, Aug 28, 2011, 5:30 PM UTC

realize wrote: post #4

No. The other macbooks are too big, and all other notebooks are too windowsey.

> all other notebooks are too windowsey.

Some are very Linuxey. My Acer netbook is fast enough for me and, for the price of an MBA, I could buy 4 of them. It's been reported Toshibas and Sony's have some issues. The i5-based Dell I got issued at work also works very well and seems to be built like a tank.

If you want Windows, well... There are small computers, some of them well built that can run Windows at Windows functionality levels.

Re: Ask HN: Any good Macbook Air alternatives?

#84

Post by stevenbedrick » Sun, Aug 28, 2011, 5:37 PM UTC

jarek wrote: post #53

sgt wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did a search for X220 and found this: http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/lenovo-thinkpad-x220... Are you serious? This doesn't look like anything that may compete with Macbook Air in my book. Not to seem too negative, but the overall design is reminiscent of old laptops from the year 2001. (Typical for PC laptop designers).

Do you buy your laptops primarily to look at them, or to use them?

From what I understand, a big part of the appeal of the MBA is that it's light and thin enough that you can basically forget that you've got it in your bag. For people who travel a lot, that's a big deal. For some users, then, the laptop's physical attributes (dimensions, etc.) are important aspects of the machine's overall usability.

Re: Ask HN: Any good Macbook Air alternatives?

#85

Post by Terretta » Sun, Aug 28, 2011, 5:38 PM UTC

jarek wrote: post #79

zachrose wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

False dichotomy.

I wasn't trying to imply this is a strictly either-or choice. That's why I said primarily.

Carrying it about is a primary use. Arguably the primary use.

Re: Ask HN: Any good Macbook Air alternatives?

#86

Post by intenex » Sun, Aug 28, 2011, 5:42 PM UTC

thigbee wrote: post #44

I know you're asking about Air alternatives... But I bought the top-of-the-line MacBook Air (i7 1.8ghz, 4gb ram, 256gb sdd) right after it came out, and it's one of the best purchases I've ever made. It's my first Mac and won't be the last. Definitely the best computer I've ever owned. I run Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign on it, and do minor video editing. The thing's blazing fast.

Have you ever had an SSD before?

Re: Ask HN: Any good Macbook Air alternatives?

#87

Post by japhyr » Sun, Aug 28, 2011, 5:45 PM UTC

hogu wrote: post #31

Goladus wrote: post #25

This isn't a recommendation, as I am not a customer, but System76 offers a "Lemur Ultrathin" model: http://www.system76.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&produc... Here's a review: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1610568

battery life seems pretty bad

I use a system76 pangolin, and battery life is my only complaint. I got mine when they offered a 1680x1050 screen.

Re: Ask HN: Any good Macbook Air alternatives?

#88

Post by sjs » Sun, Aug 28, 2011, 5:45 PM UTC

eschulte wrote: post #73

blinkingled wrote: post #22

I actually switched from 2010 Air to X220 after the 2011 Airs came out. Needed a Windows machine and did not like where Lion was going - with 2011 MBA I would have no choice but to run Lion and Windows with half baked support (AHCI, other minor annoyances) The X220 fits the bill - 1) Display is good - it's IPS panel with good viewing angles and great brightness (Make sure you opt for Premium HD display) 2) Battery li…

+1 for x220 8) The nipple mouse in the middle of the keyboard means you never have to take your hands away from home row.

Indeed. So awful you will never want to use it and will just use the keyboard instead ;-)

Re: Ask HN: Any good Macbook Air alternatives?

#89

Post by bsphil » Sun, Aug 28, 2011, 5:46 PM UTC

daniel_solano wrote: post #49

sgt wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did a search for X220 and found this: http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/lenovo-thinkpad-x220... Are you serious? This doesn't look like anything that may compete with Macbook Air in my book. Not to seem too negative, but the overall design is reminiscent of old laptops from the year 2001. (Typical for PC laptop designers).

Well, it's typical Thinkpad design, and Lenovo doesn't compete based on looks. I suppose if style is the main consideration when purchasing a computer, Apple is hard to beat.

I'd have a hard time believing that style would be the main consideration if it's going to be a work laptop. Though I suppose to be fair, the OP never specified.

Re: Ask HN: Any good Macbook Air alternatives?

#90

Post by loupgarou21 » Sun, Aug 28, 2011, 5:47 PM UTC

jarek wrote: post #53

sgt wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did a search for X220 and found this: http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/lenovo-thinkpad-x220... Are you serious? This doesn't look like anything that may compete with Macbook Air in my book. Not to seem too negative, but the overall design is reminiscent of old laptops from the year 2001. (Typical for PC laptop designers).

Do you buy your laptops primarily to look at them, or to use them?

One of my clients is swapping all of their sales people out of their windows laptops and into MacBook Airs because the sales people just need office and a web browser and the airs are far more impressive looking.

I have another client where the sales people have windows laptops, but they're not allowed to bring them to client meetings, instead they have to bring their iPads.

Sometimes form _is_ more important than function.