Macbook Pro Alternatives

[Mekgek]

I'm thinking about buying a Macbook Pro, but before I do so I want to check out some alternatives.

Macbook Pro looks great and has a nice high resolution screen, which is important for me because I have to do a lot of graphic work on my laptop.

I was wonderering if there are any other laptops (non-apple) available that are comparable in especially regarding, design (it has to be sexy), performance (similar to mbp or a little lower), and screen (15,4 inch and 1440 x 900 or higher). And price wise I would like it to be cheaper.

I have checked out the sony Vaio's which look very nice but the screens are very dissapointing (only 1280x768). IBM's thinkpads are very good price/performance wise and have great screens 1680x1050 (even better then the mbp's) But they don't look very nice imo.

I would be really happy if I could get some recommendations because it's hard to find laptops that are comparable to the macbook pro. Thanks in advance

 

[plumbingandtech]

Have you taken into consideration that spending your time on windows may result in a productivity decrease?

And if you charge by the hour, How many of your hours lost or wasted on windows issues would more then pay for any price differential?

 

[aliquis-]

I'm thinking about buying a Macbook Pro, but before I do so I want to check out some alternatives.

Macbook Pro looks great and has a nice high resolution screen, which is important for me because I have to do a lot of graphic work on my laptop.

I was wonderering if there are any other laptops (non-apple) available that are comparable in especially regarding, design (it has to be sexy), performance (similar to mbp or a little lower), and screen (15,4 inch and 1440 x 900 or higher). And price wise I would like it to be cheaper.

I have checked out the sony Vaio's which look very nice but the screens are very dissapointing (only 1280x768). IBM's thinkpads are very good price/performance wise and have great screens 1680x1050 (even better then the mbp's) But they don't look very nice imo.

I would be really happy if I could get some recommendations because it's hard to find laptops that are comparable to the macbook pro. Thanks in advance

Dell and Zepto and Acer have cheap laptops, but they doesn't look like a MBP ..

My second alternatives would be Lenovo and Sony, but you seem to have ruled those out. Sony must have some laptops with higher res aswell don't they? I think the Lenovos look great, but then I'm a real nerd.

HP got quite cheap laptops aswell.

Fujitsu-siemens?

I'd go with Lenovo if you don't need OS X, MBP if you do.

 

[netdog]

Look at the Vaio and though I find it hard to believe, friends of mine who have HPs love them. Also IBM Thinkpads are worth a look.

When you're done playing the field, just go back to Apple and get that MBP. It really is bitchin'.

 

[Cybergypsy]

I went back to a sony, after having some QC problems with my Macbook, I liked vista, but something was eating up my HD space daily, many people are having the same issue google it

The sony had so many issues after only 6 weeks ....back to my macs

 

[Cybergypsy]

PS had a awesome HP.....would buy another in a heartbeat

 

[vicious7]

$2050.00 Viao FZ with BluRay

 

[bgerber]

Take a Look at the DELL Precision Laptops

I'm thinking about buying a Macbook Pro, but before I do so I want to check out some alternatives.

Macbook Pro looks great and has a nice high resolution screen, which is important for me because I have to do a lot of graphic work on my laptop.

I was wonderering if there are any other laptops (non-apple) available that are comparable in especially regarding, design (it has to be sexy), performance (similar to mbp or a little lower), and screen (15,4 inch and 1440 x 900 or higher). And price wise I would like it to be cheaper.

I have checked out the sony Vaio's which look very nice but the screens are very dissapointing (only 1280x768). IBM's thinkpads are very good price/performance wise and have great screens 1680x1050 (even better then the mbp's) But they don't look very nice imo.

I would be really happy if I could get some recommendations because it's hard to find laptops that are comparable to the macbook pro. Thanks in advance

You might take a serious look at the Dell Precision M90. I just spec'ed out a roughly comparable version to the MBP 17 and it is for about the same price. But make not mistake about what I am saying: 1) you will not find a more elegant laptop design in the world, IMHO, than the MBP, 2) you will face the continuing plight of a very troublesome OS with Windows -- note however that Dell still allows you to choose Windows XP Pro so you are not forced to dive into the VISTA mess, 3) you will have a well engineered laptop and decent support (I am a long time M70 owner who relies on it daily for my business), 4) if you buy the M90 you will probably deny yourself the excitement of seeing if your display is YELLOW or if your 7200 rpm HDD is going to be recalled.

 

[Grafdude@gmail.]

For design, a mac seems to be a better option. The only major ( i mean really major) negative aspect of osx for web designers is Flash, flash will play slower on osx than on a pc (windows). For me and for all flash developers and designers, this is a major issue because when you make an animation on osx within flash, it plays considerably slower than on a pc and all web designers know that the majority of people are on windows so it is critical that the flash plays like desired on a windows system.

On the other hand, you can install windows xp or vista on your mbp with boot camp, so you get the best of both worlds. I havn't had any issues with windows xp on my mbp, games run very fast too, so if ya got da dough, i recommend the macbook pro.

 

[Mekgek]

Thanks for the feedback

I'll probably go for the macbook pro, but I will make my final decision when Leopard is out. Biggest downside for me is still the price, and the expensive warranty compared to other brands. If something breaks I'm screwed.

Second choice would be one of the Thinkpads, great machines, only downside is that it comes with Vista/XP. And it's less pretty then the mac, but has its charme.

I would consider a Vaio but the screens are not good enough. Maximum resolution I could find on a 15,4 inch Vaio is 1280 x 800, I need at least 1440 x 900, preferably 1680 x 1050 (wsxga)