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Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

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Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#71

Post by old-gregg »

alnayyir wrote: post #59
timcederman wrote: post #53

I am impressed that you keep reviving yourself from electrocution. Anyway, I love my XPS m1330, and I picked up the 3GB RAM/250GB HDD/dedicated graphics version for $500 just over a year ago. If you get it on sale, it's excellent value.

I just explained that my Dell regularly shocks me because of the shoddy construction and you recommend another one? :( Also: yes the M1330 is okay, and if you get it refurb/on-sale the dedicated graphics model is respectable, but bleurgh. Dell's build-quality makes me sick to my stomach.

... my Dell regularly shocks me ...

Shut the fuck up. I bet you're lying your ass off. Computers are designed not to shock people. This is why I'm starting to steer towards enterprise as opposed to consumer market: making products for regular folks just isn't worth it because of little lying bitches like you.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#72

Post by kajecounterhack »

alnayyir wrote: post #64
kajecounterhack wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

actually the new HP line is really really popular (HP has surpassed dell as the #1 PC maker) -- and the quality isn't bad at all. you can get the latest nvidia geforce 9800go with a 17 inch screen, dvd burner. if you get the really popular models, hackintosh is a snap (there's one hackintosh thing that makes it super easy, I dont remember if its iatkos or something else...) -- and linux is also. keep in mind that on…

I've been using Linux for a long time. What exactly is the hassle with repartitioning a machine or resizing an NTFS partition? The partitions were never my problem. Here are my problems: Fucking sound will break when I update my software as Ubuntu asks me to do. I'll fix this, install compiz, then X.org will break. Uninstall compiz, get X back, but on the wrong resolution. Fix the xorg.conf, get my resolution back. N…

I don't know, when you said you had linux problems I assumed you were new to it and that installation might be a problem. Sorry I assumed wrong...

If you're asking for anything 100% "hackintosh compatible" I don't know what to tell you. By 100% you mean pop DVD, install and go, no? Well, that's asking for a bit much. I have friends who have it running on dell and HP laptops all around. All took plenty of screwing around. And same goes for linux. If you can't deal with driver issues, you probably shouldn't be using linux...though you say you've used it for a long time. Are you just fed up now?

May I add that Wubi eliminates all those problems, and the slowdown is minimal. It really is, I used a wubi installation for quite a long time.

There is another option: install ubuntu with wubi, and then use LVPM.

here: http://www.linuxhaxor.net/2008/12/06/graduate-from-a-wubi-in...

It even says "Purely performance wise you won’t see much difference when you move from a wubi install to a dedicated install - considering that you have a fairly fast hard drive and that your windows partition is not heavily fragmented."

Also, you have been checking dealcatcher.com and slickdeals.net right? there are a lot of sites out there with awesome deals on laptops that you can get cheap (and reliable). I mean if the only game you're playing is EVE, you really don't need more than any discrete gfx card 2 or 3 generations old, counting from today, right?

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#73

Post by kajecounterhack »

kajecounterhack wrote: post #47
alnayyir wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As soon as a windows laptop cracks 1k, it's macbook buying time I'm afraid.

Hey hey hey, you spend $2k on a REALLY nice PC, and install Ubuntu via wubi for ZERO driver problems (granted you need to install windows beforehand but that doesn't look troublesome since you play eve online). Who said macbook was the only way to go over 1k? ever read zed shaw's horror story? yeah.

Another question, gherlein's suggestion actually sounded really good. What makes over $1000 automatically a macbook? Is there something about over $1000 PCs that you can't stand? Does the fact that the XPS can come with preinstalled linux (meaning minimal driver issues as dell probably extensively tested it to work) not help? 1920 res (meaning good gfx), dvd burner, 4gb ram, great processor, solid support (I will vouch for dell support believe it or not as almost a 4 year dell user), and everything else you've asked for....

Or are you just hell-bent on getting a mac and none of this discussion really matters?

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#74

Post by kajecounterhack »

drinian wrote: post #42

I just picked up a Sager NP7350 a few weeks ago, in part because Sager resellers like PC Torque or Xotic PC will sell you a laptop without a Windows license (and I'm going to use it entirely with Linux). $1750 including 13" screen with LED backlight, and one of those Intel solid-state disks. Believe the hype, they are ridiculously fast. The machine is dead silent when the unfortunately loud fan isn't running. Ubuntu…

Hmm maybe solid state disk + wubi = magic? Slowdown time = gone!

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#75

Post by [deleted] »

kajecounterhack wrote: post #73
kajecounterhack wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey hey hey, you spend $2k on a REALLY nice PC, and install Ubuntu via wubi for ZERO driver problems (granted you need to install windows beforehand but that doesn't look troublesome since you play eve online). Who said macbook was the only way to go over 1k? ever read zed shaw's horror story? yeah.

Another question, gherlein's suggestion actually sounded really good. What makes over $1000 automatically a macbook? Is there something about over $1000 PCs that you can't stand? Does the fact that the XPS can come with preinstalled linux (meaning minimal driver issues as dell probably extensively tested it to work) not help? 1920 res (meaning good gfx), dvd burner, 4gb ram, great processor, solid support (I will vou…

[deleted]

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#76

Post by sethbc »

old-gregg wrote: post #67
Bplus wrote: post #19

you obviously want a mac, so just get a mac. you aren't going to regret it.

Sure about that? I bought two (Macbook + MBP) and I do regret. Wasted $3.5K. LCDs on regular Macbooks are as cheap and healthy as $0.99 cheeseburgers and OSX/Finder can't hold a handle to Ghone/Compiz when to comes to window/file management. Font rendering isn't in the same league as what Linux/Freetype is capable of, especially in languages other than English. And lots of interesting software requires googling to in…

While I certainly haven't had the same experience when it comes to the hardware or installation issues, I couldn't agree more with the first part of your post. I moved over to the mac for a long time, but I find myself more at ease in Linux.

In fact, I never understood why the RoR guys insist on macs for development - I've found development much easier on linux. On the other hand, I'm also not trading in my mac any time soon - it's by far the best music recording platform out there.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#77

Post by kajecounterhack »

old-gregg wrote: post #65

Ughh... Tough times... Seems like right now there aren't any usable notebooks on the market. I have two of the "dream" machines you have mentioned: Thinkpad T61 and prev. generation Macbook Pro. Both are junk: Lenovo uses one of those el-cheapo dim and terrible colored screens and MBP also uses a 6-bit LCD albeit with LED backlight. My MBP also runs OSX, which blows ass compared to superior Ubuntu/Gnome on a Thinkpad…

Have you tried Dell's Precision Mobile Workstation series? They're brilliant. Plus goldcare support = god. they send technicians to your house to fix anything. burnt motherboards, shattered screens, etc.

Then again I got this laptop on a research grant...

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#78

Post by kajecounterhack »

old-gregg wrote: post #71
alnayyir wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just explained that my Dell regularly shocks me because of the shoddy construction and you recommend another one? :( Also: yes the M1330 is okay, and if you get it refurb/on-sale the dedicated graphics model is respectable, but bleurgh. Dell's build-quality makes me sick to my stomach.

... my Dell regularly shocks me ... Shut the fuck up. I bet you're lying your ass off. Computers are designed not to shock people. This is why I'm starting to steer towards enterprise as opposed to consumer market: making products for regular folks just isn't worth it because of little lying bitches like you.

Whoa there calm down he's probably just over-exaggerating some small problem. We get the point.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#79

Post by kajecounterhack »

alnayyir wrote: post #68
CyberED wrote: post #55

I'm using two HP/Compaq Presarios, both with Ubuntu v8.10 and Mac4Lin. I was going to buy a Mac, but considering the price differential the Compaq's are a better deal. Ubuntu upgrades also come at the right price.

:\ I don't want Mac OS X because of the appearance. I want it because: My 3d acceleration will always work. My sound will always work. My resolution will display properly. Shit won't break FREQUENTLY when I upgrade software. Shit won't break FREQUENTLY when I upgrade "os" versions. There's non-trash software available for Mac OS X. (Textmate, darkroom, etc) Media will playback without complaint, hassle, or copyright-…

My 3d acceleration will always work. My sound will always work. My resolution will display properly. Shit won't break FREQUENTLY when I upgrade software. Shit won't break FREQUENTLY when I upgrade "os" versions. There's non-trash software available for Mac OS X. (Textmate, darkroom, etc) Media will playback without complaint, hassle, or copyright-related zealotry. If I plug in a second monitor, it will just work. No config file editing, no bullshit. Just work.

This may sound slightly crazy.... but you might want to try a PC with windows.

You're on a budget, play EVE, do some .net, and don't care about UI. You could dual boot some sort of linux (hell if you hate upgrades so much, then just install slackware and stop updating your kernel. if it aint broke don't break it) for whatever *nix shit you need to do, and the rest...all work. You want instant compatibility with about EVERYTHING. Okay man, Windoze seems to suit you well.

;) and don't forget AVG antivirus. It's a dangerous world out there!

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#80

Post by alnayyir »

old-gregg wrote: post #65

Ughh... Tough times... Seems like right now there aren't any usable notebooks on the market. I have two of the "dream" machines you have mentioned: Thinkpad T61 and prev. generation Macbook Pro. Both are junk: Lenovo uses one of those el-cheapo dim and terrible colored screens and MBP also uses a 6-bit LCD albeit with LED backlight. My MBP also runs OSX, which blows ass compared to superior Ubuntu/Gnome on a Thinkpad…

Hrm. Well, MBP / T61p might be junk but I'm not swimming in options.
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