Are there any REAL macbook competitors?!

[Nvidiaguy07]

In October i had to buy a new laptop for school, and after looking a LONG time for a good PC notebook, i just gave in and got a macbook air. Love it, and my time with it until now has been great, but ive been gaming more and more on it, so im going to at least be selling this to get a IVB macbook or macbook air.

My "problem" is if there were a PC alternative out there, i would buy it, but there always is some compromise.

For example, my last laptop was a msi ms1651 (gx620) which i got for an awesome price. It had awesome specs on paper, but when using it, the keyboard was shit and would flex when using it. The trackpad sucked (all pcs do in my experience), it would make a ticking noise sometimes, noisy sometimes, etc.

I ultimately chose a mac because there were no surprises, EVERYTHING was quality, and i didnt have to put a bunch of time into testing/researching to find out that something small would just completely ruin the laptop for me. (yes putting a shitty trackpad into a $1000+ dollar notebook is a dealbreaker, wtf are they thinking?)

This is why i chose mac over alternatives, and probably why ill choose it again despite primarily using windows at home, and playing games more and more.

Design - hit or miss - but mostly miss with pc's. Jesus christ some of just so ugly. The closest to a decent and not flashly design i remember seeing was a samsung - which looked like a mac clone, but the dealbreaker for me was a washed out, horrible looking low-res screen. and dont get me started on alienware notebooks :thumbsdown:

keyboard - hard to find a good pc laptop keyboard. Cramming a full size keyboard is almost always a recipe for disaster. And nothing is worse then having all keys in the wrong place.

trackpad - this was a pretty big deal for me before using a mac - and now after is even bigger, almost to a point where i may never be able to switch back. Using the trackpad on a mac laptop is almost as nice as using a mouse. Gestures are awesome, and two finger "natural" scrolling is even better than using a mouse wheel. Two finger swipe forward and back is also really useful when browsing the web. AFAIK there is no experience similar on a pc.

Even if there are a few laptops that have those, they are almost always messed up in some small way that makes them shit. Crappy screen, thick, stupid shortcut buttons, low res, etc. etc. etc.

Hopefully the ultrabook movement will help change that, but i still think they will somehow mess it up in someway. Im starting my search now for a macbook alternative, but as of right now i think my only real question is going to be - macbook air with hd 4000 graphics - or a pro for more $$$ with a better GPU.

 

[jihe]

In October i had to buy a new laptop for school, and after looking a LONG time for a good PC notebook, i just gave in and got a macbook air. Love it, and my time with it until now has been great, but ive been gaming more and more on it, so im going to at least be selling this to get a IVB macbook or macbook air.

My "problem" is if there were a PC alternative out there, i would buy it, but there always is some compromise.

For example, my last laptop was a msi ms1651 (gx620) which i got for an awesome price. It had awesome specs on paper, but when using it, the keyboard was shit and would flex when using it. The trackpad sucked (all pcs do in my experience), it would make a ticking noise sometimes, noisy sometimes, etc.

I ultimately chose a mac because there were no surprises, EVERYTHING was quality, and i didnt have to put a bunch of time into testing/researching to find out that something small would just completely ruin the laptop for me. (yes putting a shitty trackpad into a $1000+ dollar notebook is a dealbreaker, wtf are they thinking?)

This is why i chose mac over alternatives, and probably why ill choose it again despite primarily using windows at home, and playing games more and more.

Design - hit or miss - but mostly miss with pc's. Jesus christ some of just so ugly. The closest to a decent and not flashly design i remember seeing was a samsung - which looked like a mac clone, but the dealbreaker for me was a washed out, horrible looking low-res screen. and dont get me started on alienware notebooks :thumbsdown:

keyboard - hard to find a good pc laptop keyboard. Cramming a full size keyboard is almost always a recipe for disaster. And nothing is worse then having all keys in the wrong place.

trackpad - this was a pretty big deal for me before using a mac - and now after is even bigger, almost to a point where i may never be able to switch back. Using the trackpad on a mac laptop is almost as nice as using a mouse. Gestures are awesome, and two finger "natural" scrolling is even better than using a mouse wheel. Two finger swipe forward and back is also really useful when browsing the web. AFAIK there is no experience similar on a pc.

Even if there are a few laptops that have those, they are almost always messed up in some small way that makes them shit. Crappy screen, thick, stupid shortcut buttons, low res, etc. etc. etc.

Hopefully the ultrabook movement will help change that, but i still think they will somehow mess it up in someway. Im starting my search now for a macbook alternative, but as of right now i think my only real question is going to be - macbook air with hd 4000 graphics - or a pro for more $$$ with a better GPU.

x220 with ips screen, the best keyboard on a laptop, and trackpoint?

 

[Spicedaddy]

Dell XPS 13 is as well made as an Apple laptop. If they put an IPS panel in it, it would be perfect IMO. Not good for games though...

 

[rsutoratosu]

if you want the x220, might as well get the x230

 

[Phynaz]

Nope, nothing compares to to a Macbook Air.

 

[unokitty]

Are there any REAL macbook competitors?.

Short answer here is no.

Apple doesn't sell computers. Apple sells an experience. If you want that experience, buy an Apple product.

Me, I'm partial to Thinkpads. But then, I'm interested in a tool not a lifestyle accessory.

Best of luck,
Uno

 

[hyrule4927]

If you really want to get serious about gaming power, an Air will never cut it and a Pro is just barely passable. Apple is never going to take a serious interest in the gaming capabilities of their computers. You're just going to have to balance your interest in form, function, and price and figure out what fits you best.

On a side note, I've never been able to tolerate any touchpads, including those on Macs. I'd rather just carry a mouse with me than use one of those awful things.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

if you want the x220, might as well get the x230

Only if you like the new chicklet keyboard in the x230, for those of us who are fans of the classic Thinkpad keyboard the x220 was the last real Thinkpad ultraportable.

+1 for the x220 though, better screen, keyboard, and battery life than the Macbook Pro 13 and imo much better looking as well.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

people with macs are ridiculous.
people with alienwares are also ridiculous

 

[Rubycon]

people with macs are ridiculous.
people with alienwares are also ridiculous

I have a mbp 17 and have also owned other so called high end portables and there is no comparison. Alienware is overpriced, plastic, creaky junk.

Really it's like comparing a Porsche to a Corvette. Both go fast but the latter doesn't have class.

Oh and the arguments on the trackpad are dead on. I hardly ever use my magic mouse. Every notebook I've used I could not stand the touchpad and had to use a mouse unless I was using it for a minute or two.

The gestures in Lion are fantastic. I wish there was a trackpad available for PC that supported the same gestures. I would get rid of my mouse. I lose my mouse constantly if I don't put it away because it falls off the desk due to environmental issues. (waves)

The MBP could use a better display though. The backlighting is too blue and the non IPS panel isn't much to write home about. What they really need is a 17" 4K SuperAMOLED+ display in the MBP, toss in a 512GB Samsung SSD, 32GB+ RAM and keep it under $3k. Nvidia Quadro instead of the AMD GPU would be very nice too.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

I have a mbp 17 and have also owned other so called high end portables and there is no comparison. Alienware is overpriced, plastic, creaky junk.

Really it's like comparing a Porsche to a Corvette. Both go fast but the latter doesn't have class.

Oh and the arguments on the trackpad are dead on. I hardly ever use my magic mouse. Every notebook I've used I could not stand the touchpad and had to use a mouse unless I was using it for a minute or two.

I hate touchpads and consider them useless for any sort of work but I'd still take one over a magic mouse. However any decent mouse is vastly superior to a touchpad imo.

 

[Zap]

Asus Zenbook Prime UX32?

13.3" 1920x1080 IPS
ULV Ivy Bridge CPU
Nvidia GeForce 620M (Optimus) + Intel HD 4000
7mm 2.5" drive bay
1.45kg/3.2lb

 

[greenhawk]

The closest to a decent and not flashly design i remember seeing was a samsung - which looked like a mac clone,

Given Applie likes sueing companies that release products that are "too similar", no business in their right might will make something similar enough to get the attention of Apple's lawers.

As mentioned above, if you want the experence, you have to pay for it and put up with what ever restriction there is (ie: so-so gaming ect).

 

[Rubycon]

I hate touchpads and consider them useless for any sort of work but I'd still take one over a magic mouse. However any decent mouse is vastly superior to a touchpad imo.

Well that's how I felt when I got the MBP for the first time and order the magicmouse.
Of course I started using it and realized with the gestures my hands only use the keyboard to type!

I have yet to find an input device (meaning mouse-less) on a PC/notebook that flows like the Apple Track Pad. Perhaps the closest thing would be the eons old Felix from Altra systems. That's going back to 1994 though! I wish they still had them!

The ergonomics are superb, there is no trouble with hands accidentally activating while typing, etc. It just flows. For PS work I do prefer a mouse still but most of that stuff I do on a real workstation that either uses a mouse or a multi button puck.

 

[jihe]

Well that's how I felt when I got the MBP for the first time and order the magicmouse.
Of course I started using it and realized with the gestures my hands only use the keyboard to type!

I have yet to find an input device (meaning mouse-less) on a PC/notebook that flows like the Apple Track Pad. Perhaps the closest thing would be the eons old Felix from Altra systems. That's going back to 1994 though! I wish they still had them!

The ergonomics are superb, there is no trouble with hands accidentally activating while typing, etc. It just flows. For PS work I do prefer a mouse still but most of that stuff I do on a real workstation that either uses a mouse or a multi button puck.

Some of us prefer our hands to never leave the keyboard...

 

[rsutoratosu]

its also lighter and thinner, dont care about keyboard, if your a real guy you can type on anything, especially iphone and android touch screens

Only if you like the new chicklet keyboard in the x230, for those of us who are fans of the classic Thinkpad keyboard the x220 was the last real Thinkpad ultraportable.

+1 for the x220 though, better screen, keyboard, and battery life than the Macbook Pro 13 and imo much better looking as well.

 

[slayernine]

I second the Zenbook by Asus. Asus knows how to make a classy product, Alienware not so much and it's not a mac.

 

[kevinsbane]

its also lighter and thinner, dont care about keyboard, if your a real guy you can type on anything, especially iphone and android touch screens

.-. . .- .-.. / -- . -. / ..- ... . / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. .
real men use morse code

Seriously, the x220's keyboard is really that good.

 

[Phynaz]

people with macs are ridiculous.
people with alienwares are also ridiculous

16 year olds without a job are ridiculous.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Well that's how I felt when I got the MBP for the first time and order the magicmouse.
Of course I started using it and realized with the gestures my hands only use the keyboard to type!

I have yet to find an input device (meaning mouse-less) on a PC/notebook that flows like the Apple Track Pad. Perhaps the closest thing would be the eons old Felix from Altra systems. That's going back to 1994 though! I wish they still had them!

The ergonomics are superb, there is no trouble with hands accidentally activating while typing, etc. It just flows. For PS work I do prefer a mouse still but most of that stuff I do on a real workstation that either uses a mouse or a multi button puck.

Eh, I know a lot of people share your feelings about Apple's touchpads but I never really was satisfied with them.

After using a Thinkpad x220 for a year I don't think I could ever be satisfied with another laptop. The trackpoint + keyboard is just so much better than anything else I have used on a laptop.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Eh, I know a lot of people share your feelings about Apple's touchpads but I never really was satisfied with them.

After using a Thinkpad x220 for a year I don't think I could ever be satisfied with another laptop. The trackpoint + keyboard is just so much better than anything else I have used on a laptop.

im confused about the whole trackpoint thing, people actally prefer this?

Im failing to see how this can be more productive than even a crappy trackpad, or especially a mouse.

 

[TheStu]

Eh, I know a lot of people share your feelings about Apple's touchpads but I never really was satisfied with them.

After using a Thinkpad x220 for a year I don't think I could ever be satisfied with another laptop. The trackpoint + keyboard is just so much better than anything else I have used on a laptop.

Can you use the trackpoint for scrolling?

 

[kevinsbane]

im confused about the whole trackpoint thing, people actally prefer this?

Im failing to see how this can be more productive than even a crappy trackpad, or especially a mouse.

Yes, a Trackpoint is that awesome. Every single laptop I now use that doesn't have a trackpoint feels incomplete and defective somehow. I'll be typing an email and reach for my trackpoint and be sorely disappointed that I have to move my hands to reach for the (horrendous in comparison) touchpad. Yes, even Apple's much vaunted (granted, they are rightly revered) touchpads are inferior to a Trackpoint.

Can you use the trackpoint for scrolling?

Sure can. Hold down the middle button and push the trackpoint up, down left or right. Usually lightly since it's quite sensitive. You can do "smooth" scrolling, but smooth scrolling on a Trackpoint is inferior to their "normal" scrolling in my experience. Then again, I just hate smooth scrolling in general.

 

[sgrinavi]

16 year olds without a job are ridiculous.

Can you come over and clean the coffee that I just snorted all over my display please?

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Yes, a Trackpoint is that awesome. Every single laptop I now use that doesn't have a trackpoint feels incomplete and defective somehow. I'll be typing an email and reach for my trackpoint and be sorely disappointed that I have to move my hands to reach for the (horrendous in comparison) touchpad. Yes, even Apple's much vaunted (granted, they are rightly revered) touchpads are inferior to a Trackpoint.



Sure can. Hold down the middle button and push the trackpoint up, down left or right. Usually lightly since it's quite sensitive. You can do "smooth" scrolling, but smooth scrolling on a Trackpoint is inferior to their "normal" scrolling in my experience. Then again, I just hate smooth scrolling in general.

maybe i was using it wrong the last time i tried one (years ago), but the only thing i can compare it to is using a gamepad to navigate - much like the ps3's cursor controlled by the analog stick. Has it changed since then?

And theres no way scrolling is better on that than apples trackpad. two finger "natural" smartphone like scrolling is awesome, and is one reason why i almost prefer browsing the web on my air than on my desktop.

This more than anything for me is probably what will keep me using mac laptops until something comparable is released for pc. Either that or i end up buying a windows 8 tablet/laptop transforming notebook in the future that has something completely different, but just as easy and effective.