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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

#91

Post by alnayyir »

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.

Calm down. I'm a business owner myself.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#92

Post by alnayyir »

kajecounterhack wrote: post #82
alnayyir wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can wait. If I do, I'll def. have the money for a macbook/macbook pro outright.

Wow...then just WAIT if you can, buy what you want, and don't start huge threads on news.yc that essentially become macvangelist madness.

Well, the alternate option is buy a Sager now, now that you've directed me to them. Which was the point of this. I knew there had to be a decent no-name'ish brand out there.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#93

Post by alnayyir »

kajecounterhack wrote: post #84
alnayyir wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, that's my current situation, I'm using Windows right now. (Installing Windows 7 as we speak) However, I happen to rather like GNU tools and the unix-style shell environment (bash). Windows doesn't offer either, and it isn't conducive to contributing my time to an open source project either.

Question: So if you get a mac, are you going to install windows on it also?

For .NET work, yes. I have to. Might do VMWare Fusion but I'd be worried about IIS or something going pissy on me about the networking when running under a virtual machine.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#94

Post by alnayyir »

amastilovic wrote: post #34
alnayyir wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well over the mac price point. Nice machines, but not as well built as they used to be.

Well over the macbook (not mbpro) price point - and for a reason. I don't think Macbook could ever compare to Thinkpad T61/T500 for some serious development. Ever. Macbook Pro is another story, with another price tag too :)

FBSD compatibility is a plus and a half.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#96

Post by alnayyir »

kajecounterhack wrote: post #72
alnayyir wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 aro…

Capable of handling driver issues, I'm just losing my patience with how it seems to waste gobs of my time.

You're correct on the gfx chip.

I've been having stability issues on my desktop that prevent me of late from using anything other than...get this...Windows XP. Everything else freezes in the install. I'd forgotten about wubi. I'll get my unix fix that way.

Make no mistake, I'm not comfortable with the control Apple exerts over the hardware and software.

EDIT: Btw, Windows 7 is very nice if you use windows on a regular basis. Very fast on my 14" Dell 1.4 GHz Celeron 1GB Radeon 9000.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#97

Post by aposteriori »

I've been a long time Linux user and recently got a macbook, partly because it just works and I don't have to read 1001 web forums trying to decide whether the specific NVidia chipset is compatible with the latest Xorg driver.

So it's really easy to set up and easy to use, once you get used to the oddities (command Q...). It's basically a BSD, so you get Bash and Python and gcc and Vim etc.

However, I'm starting to discover while it is Unix, it's got its problems. On Ubuntu, everything is just an apt-get away. I can check out bug reports on launchpad and get unstable fixes, and not have to wait for an update from the Apple gods. On OSX, you need to use fink or darwinports, which isn't integrated with the OS (anyone said Apple gcc vs fink gcc?). Apple just likes doing things its own way, like rewriting config files for you (even though you edited them manually), having obscure config options (.MacOSX/environment.plist???).

So as much as I enjoy the interface, I think my next machine will be some sort of Thinkpad + Ubuntu, for all that brown themed ugliness :)

(oh, and I swear the white macbook scratches and scuffs the second you take it out of the box, get a black one or a pro.)

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#98

Post by bmj »

kajecounterhack wrote: post #46
alnayyir wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've used HPs, they feel like they're made of the plastic they make trash cans out of. Keyboards are just as bad. They make me want to cry because I know what kind of hardware HP is capable of making.

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…

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.

My work machine is a nx9420, with 17" screen and full size keyboard. I like it. We've had some problems around the office with lesser models, but several engineers have the nx9420, and I've not heard any complaints or problems.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#99

Post by chris123 »

alnayyir wrote: post #29
astrec wrote: post #6

Sounds like you really want a MacBook - you'll find a way to amortize the couple of hundred bucks extra it'll cost. As for me, I use a 1st gen black MacBook w/Leopard, added a bigger HDD and aftermarket RAM to 2GB. I use a Logitech V470 bluetooth mouse which I carry everywhere, and I've got a couple of bluetooth apple keyboards (shorties without the num pad) - one for the office and one at home. For external monitors…

How's fusion?

VirtualBox is free / open source: http://www.virtualbox.org/

From the site: Runs on Windows, Linux, Macintosh and OpenSolaris hosts and supports a large number of guest operating systems including but not limited to Windows (NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista), DOS/Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4 and 2.6), Solaris and OpenSolaris, and OpenBSD.

On this site, you can find sources, binaries, documentation and other resources for VirtualBox. For up-to-date press coverage about VirtualBox: blogs.sun.com/VirtualBoxBuzz

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