Best 13.3" laptop?

[YoungGun21]

I think a 13.3" screen is the right size for me. It's mobile but still big enough that things will look good. I want to know which are the better laptops in this size out there. The cheaper the better, but I also may go for higher build quality if it is worth it. A dedicated video card (8400 series) is a huge ++. Don't need a huge HD, 60 or 80gb should be enough.

I've heard the Dell M1330 isn't too great, is that true? What about the Asus W7s?

 

[Brainonska511]

I've heard good things about the W7s, but some bad things about it as well (the battery isn't as good as it should be). Check out the Asus U3, but you would need an external optical drive if you went with that notebook. (link to U3: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...0222%2CN82E16834220226 )

Just a side note, you might want to consider Asus as well as they are giving 2 year warranties standard + 1 year of accidental damage coverage for no additional charge.

 

[YoungGun21]

The U3 looks nice but I'm not sure how well I'd like not having a DVD drive with me.

Would a MacBook be a bad choice? I really hadn't thought of these until I was suggested one today...
They are cheaper than the other options I'm looking at. The one I'm looking at is the base model. It is only $1099 and all I would have to do is upgrade the RAM to 2gb.

 

[TheStu]

If you are willing to use OS X then the macbook is a fine choice. IMO, the keyboard is one of the best in the industry, and the solidness of the build is quite nice as well. There is no flexing whatsoever as you type, which is a big plus in my book. The graphics are lacking when you compare it to most of the other 13.3" machines out there so if anything beyond casual gaming, or playing older games is something you are looking for then i would suggest looking elsewhere.

The reason I say that you should iff you are willing to use OS X is that although you can install Windows on Macs, and it runs just as well as it would (if not a little better due to the drivers) on exact hardware from say... Acer (insert any other manufacturer here) it is sort of silly to get a Mac just to run Windows, at least in my opinion. OS X is an excellent OS, the only thing that can be said against it is that developers do not produce enough software for it, and instead focus on Windows. That is not to say that there is a dearth of software for the mac, but it is primarily lacking in CAD and games. Anything else is available

 

[YoungGun21]

Well lately I have realized I don't to like game anymore. I actually haven't loaded up a game since around early August (CS Source). I mainly use my computer now to surf the web and for school. Now that I don't game anymore I don't need this desktop, and I would like to have the mobility to take my computer anywhere I might need. Thats why one thing I'm really looking for is WiFi capabilities.

Is it possible to have a wireless network between 2 different Op. Systems? My dad runs XP, so if I were to get a Mac (and use OS X) would it still be possible to have our wireless network?

How hard is the switch from regular PC to Macbook?

 

[TheStu]

Well, I used Windows basically exclusively since I was about 6 or so (it was DOS for a while I guess) and then switched last summer (I am 21 now) so I was pretty ingrained with how things work in Windows, but my switch to OS X went very smoothly. Some things take some getting used to (hitting the X in the upper right corner closes the window, but doesn't quit the application) and some other things.

Running a wireless network is easy. Routers are agnostic, they don't care what systems are connected to them so long as they speak 802.11. You might run into issues networking the two, but that seems to vary from case to case.

If you are willing to go into the switch knowing that things will be different, and are willing to adapt to these differences then your switch will go well. If you get fed up and are intolerant of this being different from Windows, or that being different from Linux then your switch will be terrible and you might as well go ahead and stick with what you know.

If you can, try and borrow a mac from someone for a few days and see what you think.