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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

#61

Post by alnayyir »

pj wrote: post #51

I dind't read all ur long post, but the only rational choice is a mac book pro 15" do bootcamp if you want windows or need to flip over to test something. all doors are open with the macbook, why even consider anything else? you wouldnt run mac os on a HP. look, mac is about the hardware. it's superior hardware. run whatever OS you want on top of it, the hardware is the best in the industry, there just isn't any comp…

From the comments, it seems like that is what I'm gonna do, but I'll have to get a used one. I cannot afford a new one.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#62

Post by alnayyir »

streblo wrote: post #41

To echo what a lot of people are saying: It sounds like you really want a mac, so I'd say go ahead and swallow the cost and just get it. Personal testimonial: I own a G4 Powerbook that I bought about 5 years ago, and a MacBook Pro that I acquired about three years ago. Both work really well, and their longevity has been more than worth the price tag. My Powerbook still runs Halo flawlessly on medium settings. Any tim…

I have an ancient PowerMac G4 (500 MHz) that still works to this day. Too bad I can't get XCode to install properly. :(

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#64

Post by alnayyir »

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…

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. Now my 3d Acceleration isn't working.

Install propietary drivers, fix xorg.conf AGAIN. Fix my resolution AGAIN.

Now I'm back in my desktop, and I haven't installed Java, flash, mono (UGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH), or much of anything else.

Wubi slows it down too.

There is no single laptop model that I know of that is 100% hackintosh compatible other than the MSI Wind, and I'm not looking to purchase a toy.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#65

Post by old-gregg »

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. Please don't moan: I've learned to be VERY productive in Gnome+Compiz and while I like Macs, I highly recommend you guys check those out.

Back to the hardware: I keep jumping between the two. I wish I could just run Ubuntu on a Mac, but I absolutely need Adobe software for work: our designers as well as business people use Fireworks and Photoshop all the time, so I gotta be able to read and modify those files, so I'm trying to bear with OSX/Finder... Ughh.

I am also a photography nut and the situation with laptop LCDs is grim right now: the total degradation compared to what we've had 2-3 years ago. I don't know a single laptop manufacturer who offers 16.7 million colors on a laptop LCD... So if you pay any attention to LCD quality, I don't think you'll be happy with anything.

But it's either Thinkpads or Macs, as always. There aren't anything else out there. DELL makes the nice Latitude series, but as always, they couldn't resist the urge of saving a few dollars and opted for the cheapest touchpad possible, rendering the machine useless: that ALPS junk just doesn't work.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#66

Post by rsheridan6 »

alnayyir wrote: post #13
therubberduckie wrote: post #9

just wanted to say that Macbooks DO come with a DVD burner (SuperDrive) even the last gen ones.

For extra money (last gen ones). The $949 model I mentioned that is refurb has a DVD-Burner.

You can get a new last-gen Macbook for $949 with a DVD burner for with a student discount.

Not a student? They don't check if you order it online, but they do at the Apple store (I bought mine this summer before receiving my student id).

Or you could get a new this-gen MB for $1249 with a student discount. That's what I would do if I were buying a computer now.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#67

Post by old-gregg »

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 install: most are 1st class citizens on Linux and 2nd - everywhere else.

Both of my Macs developed some hardware issues in their first year, and both issues are quite widespread among other Mac users according to Apple forums.

Just pointing out that the world is bigger than it seems.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#68

Post by alnayyir »

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-related zealotry. If I plug in a second monitor, it will just work. No config file editing, no bullshit. Just work.

Re: Laptop of choice for a Programmer, Need Help

#70

Post by rsheridan6 »

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?

If you're going to use fusion, you'll probably not want to go with 1GB of RAM which is what you get with the last-gen macbook. That's another reason to consider getting the new one, or alternatively you could get a memory upgrade - but be sure to get it from a third party seller like crucial, not from Apple, to save money.

I have no trouble with Fusion, except for playing some old games, but I have 4GB RAM. I'm not sure if the 2GB you get with the new MacBook is enough.

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