LapTop Suggestions??

[RTHolmes]

dunno ... MP4 is industry standard and Apple developed, Final Cut Pro is industry standard and Mac-only, Logic is industry standard and Mac-only. For creatives, Apple and Macs still rule the roost.


and their laptops are still the best out there, plus they can run Windoze if you really want

[Shuffler]

In laptops that may be true........ I'm not much on those small comps. I don't believe many do any graphics on lappys though. Many of the movie making outfits that do 3D movies use MS stuff now.

[Skuzzy]

dunno ... MP4 is industry standard and Apple developed, Final Cut Pro is industry standard and Mac-only, Logic is industry standard and Mac-only. For creatives, Apple and Macs still rule the roost.


and their laptops are still the best out there, plus they can run Windoze if you really want

I disagree with the general statement.  Final Cut Pro is being beaten about the head and shoulders by several PC only software solutions today.  Linux is also a viable solution in many production houses requiring render farms.

MP4 is an open standard, which has been replaced by H.264/AVC.  The later are superior to MP4.  Apple is still clinging to MP4, but the rest of the world, for the most part, is using H.264/AVC.

In the desktop realm, people use what they are used to.  Apple does not have any real advantages in that area, and has not had any, in that area, for a very long time. 

Laptops are another story.

[RTHolmes]

FCP is still the best selling and mostly widely used by a long way, and still what you need on your CV as a pro.

sry I meant MPEG-4, based on quicktime, industry standard and apple developed. Apple embraced H264 earlier than anyone else (all their own streaming stuff has been HD/H264 for ages which is why it look so spectacular.)

As for Mac/Windoze debate its a matter of personal taste i guess. in 20yrs of owning/using/maintaining both I know the TCO is lower for macs, and productivity higher. YMMV. alot.


edit: btw pretty much the only reason I own a Non-Mac PC is because its the cheapest way to play AH

[Skuzzy]

Except they still use MP4 for all the iPod videos.  To my knowledge they are the only company still using MP4.

Your mileage may very, indeed.  I got stuck on an Apple computer once to write a driver for it.  That was the worst computer experience I have ever had.  To this day, I have no idea how anyone can use one of those things.  I tip my hat to those who can figure it out.

I realize this can get into near religious zealous territory, so I will just say, in closing, use what you like, like what you use.  Apple/PCs have areas they both excel at and areas they both suck at and it is rare when they are on the same page.

[skernsk]

For your budget you can get a nice Asus laptop from Newegg.  I have an M70 and it has a good sized HD and decent video.  The G70 is nice too.

[Shuffler]

They all suck when not working and are all incredible when working.

[redman555]

what do you guys think bout this??

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11481396&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-US#


-BigBOBCH

[Spikes]

Wow I wish I knew about that side when I was buying...dang.

[APDrone]

Your mileage may very, indeed.  I got stuck on an Apple computer once to write a driver for it.  That was the worst computer experience I have ever had.  To this day, I have no idea how anyone can use one of those things.  I tip my hat to those who can figure it out.

My first exposure to Apple was a Macromedia Freehand course at night school ( for grins ) a few years ago.  I spent more time figuring how to interract with the silly computer than completing the course.

Not sure when it happened, but, at least with Mac OS X 10.5 ( Leopard ) they now support the right-mouse button.. probably one of the best ideas ever produced by MS.  The  machine is far easier to use now. 

About that laptop, BigBOB.. I'd throw up caution flags if the reviewers are mentioning low battery life.  70 minutes is too short for a laptop.  Almost not even worth having one. 

[redman555]

well thats odd, the laptop isnt even showing up on the site now 


-BigBOBCH

[eagl]

Consider a lenovo thinkpad if you really want a windows machine.  I like the T series ones for size/performance ratio.  My IBM T-41p has lasted many years, and it's fully field-serviceable by the end user.  I had a fan go out (after 5 years of use) while I was TDY living in a billeting room with almost no tools, and replacing it took less than an hour.  It has a socketed cpu, which I of course upgraded   The hard drive is removeable with just a few screws and you can buy an additional drive chassis for just a few bucks.  Some people say that the quality has dropped since IBM sold the line to Lenovo, but I think the "thinkpad" line is still essentially the same with regards to design philosophy.  They're rugged, focus on the most important features, and can generally be repaired or rebuilt with nothing but a screwdriver.

On the other hand, if I was going to buy a laptop today I'd get a macbook or the smaller macbook pro.  Those things are well built and they have lots of great features.  I'd run either boot camp and windows 7, or parallels/vmware and load up MS office because that's what I use at work.

[Skuzzy]

Eagl has the right idea, but that begs the question; Does the Mac lappies hardware require proprietary drivers?  If the standard WIndows desktop drivers work, then you could run the OEM version of Windows XP on it (not sure BOOTCAMP will work with Windows 7 yet).

[Nilsen]

I have had several brands. Been most satisified with my macbook and my Thinkpads. I currently use an ok Dell lappy, but it doesnt come close to the quality of the lenovo thinkpads.

[68Wooley]

I have had several brands. Been most satisified with my macbook and my Thinkpads. I currently use an ok Dell lappy, but it doesnt come close to the quality of the lenovo thinkpads.

I agree - we use Dells at work and they're OK. Things break occasionally, but they're pretty on-the-ball about fixing them if you're still under warranty. Lenovo's are generally more solid though. On the other hand, Lenovo shut the ex-IBM plant at the town in Scotland where I'm from doing serious damage to the local economy. Leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouth even if - at a rational level - I understand the decision.
 
I wouldn't touch a Mac. I've had a Macbook Pro G4 for a couple of years and other than a bit a glitz that Vista and W7 come close to matching, I don't see any significant advantage in the OS. In fact, I find it a bit cumbersome compared with Windows and Gnome.