Which alternatives for MacBook Pro?

[imported_BikeDude]

I've been looking at many laptop specifications lately, but it wasn't until I spotted the MBP that something went 'ping'.

[*]LED backlighting sporting high contrast (I like to do some photoshopping sometimes)
[*]Core2Duo (I need 64-bit CPU)
[*]Reasonable good GPU: 8600M
[*]Slim (1" thick) -- important when trying to squeeze this into my lowepro phototrekker (I think it'll just about fit)
[*]dual-link DVI (I have a 30" Cinema monitor at home)
[*]DVD burner (smaller laptops sometimes "forgets" to add a burner!)
[*]A tad heavy, but I can live with 2.54 kg
[*]Decent resolution (1440x900) -- I don't want any lower DPI than that! Nor do I want 4:3 aspect ratio.
[*]...but the touchpad button is broken (there's only a single button where clearly two are needed!)

What other laptops offer LED backlighting now? Unless I can find a laptop with similar specs but smaller form factor, I think I'm pretty much sold on the MBP. I am a bit worried about Apple's Windows support, but I see many reports of successful Bootcamp installations, so I'm tempted to just wing it. (but I've also seen reports of missing drivers for VistaX64..)

I was a bit shocked to read Anand's review of the Toshiba where he mentioned the lack of nVidia (and AMD afaict) reference drivers for laptops. The situation seem similar with Apple, but it isn't easy to gauge the commitment of various laptop vendors.

I currently own a Fujitsu LifeBook P7010, which weighs in at 1.5 kg (including optical drive). Too bad its CPU is weak. (even the current model is limited by a weak CPU) I would've preferred a smaller beast than the 15.4" MBP...

 

[Parasitic]

Do you have to have 17"?
Thinkpad T61's are reasonable alternatives. You can get them configured with 1680*1050 on a 15.4" with 128MB Nvidia Quadro V140 (8400M GS), and its profile is rather slight as well. Not sure about the dual-link DVI stuff. Are you going to be using it with Windows or MacOS? Because as far as I know the external video out still doesn't work with BootCamp 1.4 (at least with my Macbook).

 

[TheStu]

To the best of my knowledge, no one else has LED backlighting on a 15" or larger screen. Only Apple has that right now.

And, if you actually sit down to use the trackpad, you will find that it is very much not broken. 2 finger secondary clicking is a gift from the gods, as is 2 finger scrolling. By having one large button, and letting the trackpad be the modified item, you greatly reduce the possibility of a mis-click.

I cannot speak to the DVI-out in windows, at least not the dual link aspect, but I do know that my friend's MacBook Pro works in Windows connected to an external monitor. And I can tell you that the Windows drivers are quite good (no tap clicking on the trackpad though). Honestly however, if you don't have any software that demands Windows, give OS X a whirl. If you get the MBp, come by the Apple section here, and ask questions, find out what apps to get to do darn near anything. I (insert shameless plug here) have put up a guide for users new to the platform, though I do have some gaps there in regards to specific apps (iLife 08 came out, so now I have to fiddle with them)

 

[watdahel]

Consistent wireless connection signal in bootcamp winxp is poor. Status states "Low" connectivity. Yet, when I log in Apple I get much higher signal. This could be a driver issue. Also wireless-N is enabled by default in bootcamp. No need to pay Apple $2 to enable it for Windows. Still connection signal is low.

Dual monitor support is not perfect. The 2nd monitor always reverts to the right side. If you put it on the left and reboot it reverts to the original position. Annoying.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: BikeDude
I was a bit shocked to read Anand's review of the Toshiba where he mentioned the lack of nVidia (and AMD afaict) reference drivers for laptops. The situation seem similar with Apple, but it isn't easy to gauge the commitment of various laptop vendors.

Hey, BD, I wanna thank you!!!

I just went over (and assume) read the same AT review that you were referring to... I thought, "Oh, BS!"

So, I went to the Toshy site and looked up the downloads for my Satellite A215-S4807 - and they've got updates coming out the ying-yang!

LoL!

Maybe that's a "gauge" on my commitment to my lappy...

Anyway, thanks again! I'm gonna go have some fun updating this thing!

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: erwin1978
Consistent wireless connection signal in bootcamp winxp is poor. Status states "Low" connectivity. Yet, when I log in Apple I get much higher signal. This could be a driver issue. Also wireless-N is enabled by default in bootcamp. No need to pay Apple $2 to enable it for Windows. Still connection signal is low.

Dual monitor support is not perfect. The 2nd monitor always reverts to the right side. If you put it on the left and reboot it reverts to the original position. Annoying.

The new machines that actually advertise having N wireless do not require the $2 update. It was only for the early Core 2 Duos that had the capability but were not advertised as having it.

I never had much trouble with wireless signal... and I also discovered that the Airport Extreme is Super-G (at least the pre draft n ones are). I have a netgear RangeMax Super-G MIMO router and according to Windows it connects at 108Mb/s.

I will have to ask my friend about the monitor thing, but I can't remember the last time he booted windows.

 

[imported_BikeDude]

Thanks for the many (and good) replies guys.

Originally posted by: TheStu
To the best of my knowledge, no one else has LED backlighting on a 15" or larger screen.

What about the smaller screens? I'm interested in the 15.4" MBP's specs, except it is a tad too big. A 12-14" widescreen weighing less than 2kg with similar specs would hit the sweet spot.

Parasitic suggested the Lenovo T61p, which is also interesting (I like the high resolution LCD), but... I think I have my heart set on LED backlighting. Altough, if the Quadro performs better than the 8600M (is this the case? Any benchies out there?) and given the high resolution, I'm tempted.

And, if you actually sit down to use the trackpad, you will find that it is very much not broken.

When I tried it, it seemed to realise/sense when I was using the keyboard or not, so it did not bother me. Then again: The Windows drivers may not be that good.

On my Fujitsu, I've disabled tapping altogether.

I cannot speak to the DVI-out in windows, at least not the dual link aspect, but I do know that my friend's MacBook Pro works in Windows connected to an external monitor.

I've seen forum postings (over at macrumours.com I think) indicating that there is a driver issue with the latest nVidia Vista drivers. I don't know the details and as with all things: You just have to sit down and pray that nVidia get to it ...eventually. (I've waited for them to fix a couple of annoying "features" for years now)

But I can't let this deter me from making a decision, given that other notebook OEMs would have similar issues (unless they use ATI - provided that ATI supports dual-link that is?).

Honestly however, if you don't have any software that demands Windows, give OS X a whirl.

I happen to write software for a living, and my own software doesn't run under MacOS...

Eventually I will start looking at writing 64-bit code, hence the desire to run Vista.x64.

 

[TheStu]

Sony and Dell both sell 13" machines with LED backlighting.

hte Quadro in the t61 is roughly equivalent to an 8400 i believe..

Windows is Windows, and i honestly believe that Apple has 100% awesome bootcamp drivers just sitting there, waiting for Leopard's release.

ATi does support Dual Link, but you will have to find a laptop that supports it. Apple pretty much mentions everything that is in the machine, not everyone does. So a Toshiba might have Dual Link DVI, but they would never tell you because they parted their hair wrong that day.

Well, you might want to consider running Windows in a VM then. That right there is some serious driver support.

 

[compman25]

Dell XPS 1330