Need new laptop, Samsung series 9, Sony Z, or ?

[xvizx]

Looking for some help choosing a new ultra portable notebook my budget is ~$1200.

I currently have a 13" mac book pro (i5 2.3, 8gb ram, 80gb ssd) and for the most part am happy with it but I have a couple of classes this semester that require the use of windows only programs (visual studio and mathcad). So this maybe a good time for me to upgrade.

Basically will be using this for, mathcad, visual studio, libre office, and occasionally light photo/video editing.

Looking for,
3lbs or less
11"-14" matte screen
128gb ssd
good backlit keyboard/trackpad
at least 4 hrs battery life

Choices so far:

Samsung Series 9 ($1250) i5-3317u, 4gb ram, 1600x900 matte, 128gb ssd

Sony Z 2nd gen ($1300) w/dock i5-2410m, 4gb ram, 16x900, 128gb ssd raid0

Keep my macbook and buy bigger ssd and w7 ($250)

Or wait for a new windows 8 ultrabook (acer s7).

Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated, also would 4gb ram be enough for visual studio?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Broheim]

lenovo x-series > *

I have the x220 myself and I love it.

 

[joshhedge]

Keep your Macbook, save yourself some $$$. Bootcamp/VM if you need to use Windows 🙂

 

[TheStu]

Seriously, save yourself some money, get a 256GB SSD (about $200) and a license for Win7 ($100) and call it a day. Crucial M4 or Samsung 830.

Use VMWare or Parallels to create a VM of Windows. And use Bootcamp to give yourself a native install.

 

[xvizx]

Hey guys, sorry I did not reply sooner.

lenovo x-series > *

I have the x220 myself and I love it.

Thanks for the suggestion, thinkpads have a good reputation for reliability and I have been eying the new x1 carbon but have been waiting for more user reviews. If it turns out to be as good as the x230 it will definitely be added to my list.

Keep your Macbook, save yourself some $$$. Bootcamp/VM if you need to use Windows 🙂

Seriously, save yourself some money, get a 256GB SSD (about $200) and a license for Win7 ($100) and call it a day. Crucial M4 or Samsung 830.

Use VMWare or Parallels to create a VM of Windows. And use Bootcamp to give yourself a native install.

I should have put this in the OP, but if I decide to pick up an new notebook I already have someone locally who would purchase my mbp for $900. So what I'm thinking is, once the additional cost of the ssd + win7 ($287) is factored in and the fact that my mpb is out of warranty the price difference is not that significant.

So do you guys still think I should keep my mbp? I'm asking because while I like my mbp, I don't want spend the money to upgrade it when there is possibly a better option available (i.e. newer notebook) for a similar overall cost.

Thanks

 

[crab0]

Lenovo X1 Carbon (great keyboard, great trackpd [omg non crappy PC trackpad], and supah sexy) or Lenovo x220/230 (IPS, lots of battery options, expandable and upgradable unlike an ultrabook and great keyboard)

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

Keep the Mac and save yourself the money.

 

[joshhedge]

OP, alternatively if you require extra horsepower, buy the Retina Pro - an amazing machine!

 

[TheStu]

Keep the Mac and save yourself the money.

+1

Your MBP is only about a year and a half old, maybe less, you are spending $300 either way, maybe more, maybe less... might as well just keep the system you have until you can upgrade to something that will actually yield significant performance improvements.

 

[xvizx]

Thanks everyone for the input and suggestions, I'll probably keep my mbp and pick up a larger ssd.