New laptop help, please.

[testudoaubreii]

Hello,

I am in the market for a new laptop. My late 2008 MacBook Pro is showing its age and, in fact, I am really in fear that it will give out on me soon. It just shuts down randomly and I don't know how long it has left. Anyhow, I was wondering if anyone has some suggestions on laptops.

I have to find something that will just be used for web development. I mean, I would like to use it to stream media files and run XBMC from it at times. I really and absolutely need to have Photoshop, Illustrator and Dreamweaver open at the same time, as well as multiple browsers and browser tabs.

I need it to be portable, that is why I am going with a laptop. I think that I want to give Windows 8.1 a go instead of OSX this time around.

My lowly budget is around $600.

Thank you in advance for any and all help, advice and suggestions.

Testudo

Moved from MD&G to Laptops
-ViRGE

 

[kyrax12]

Hello,

I am in the market for a new laptop. My late 2008 MacBook Pro is showing its age and, in fact, I am really in fear that it will give out on me soon. It just shuts down randomly and I don't know how long it has left. Anyhow, I was wondering if anyone has some suggestions on laptops.

I have to find something that will just be used for web development. I mean, I would like to use it to stream media files and run XBMC from it at times. I really and absolutely need to have Photoshop, Illustrator and Dreamweaver open at the same time, as well as multiple browsers and browser tabs.

I need it to be portable, that is why I am going with a laptop. I think that I want to give Windows 8.1 a go instead of OSX this time around.

My lowly budget is around $600.

Thank you in advance for any and all help, advice and suggestions.

Testudo

You can try thinkpads.

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops.../e-series/e440

This is just under $600. I guess you can spend some extra money upgrading the ram though since you do so many things.

 

[s44]

You're at that price you're either going to have to compromise warranty, screen, CPU, weight, build, drive speed, or some combination.

Compromise warranty:
$600 refurb Zenbook

Compromise weight, screen, CPU and drive speed:
that Thinkpad linked in the above post

Compromise build and a bit of screen:
Ideapad U430p ($640/650 for 1080p but non-IPS, less for 13*7 non-IPS)

and so on

 

[testudoaubreii]

Do you guys think that this would be a good buy?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16834152586R

 

[s44]

No. Somewhat better GPU, but the weight, screen, drive, and possibly warranty are all bad.

 

[testudoaubreii]

Dohhh!!! I am really liking the Zenbook that you posted. I like the fact that it is 1080p and has no optical drive. Like you stated, I am going to have to either try to boost the budget or bite the bullet some where. Do you think that Zenbook's CPU will run what I posted in the OP?

Thanks!

Edit: It already sold lol...

 

[s44]

The deal has come and gone a few times already. Just wait for it to return if you like it...

 

[TheStu]

You can probably sell your MBP for a few hundred right here on the forum. I can't give you a better estimate than that without knowing anything else about it, but these guys can http://www.mac2sell.net/

 

[testudoaubreii]

Do you think that this is a good deal? It looks like it, spec wise:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9SIA29P1ZC0731

 

[s44]

Not really. The CPU is good and the screen is decent (1080p, but not IPS)... but the drive is pure spinning (not even spinning-with-SSD cache hybrid) and the size and weight are going to make it effectively not portable. (I mean the thing has an optical drive you're lugging around.)

Price is also above your budget even before you include the cost of swapping to SSD.

For new portable machines, I'd really look at U430p deals like the one I linked to above. (That one may have expired, but another should return...)