Laptop Decision Reached
Since my laptop is completely irreparable without having to replace the motherboard (Problem is with the BIOS chip) I've been "forced" to make a somewhat hasty decision. Thanks to the comments left on my previous post, and naturally trying my hardest to take it all in perspective, I've reached a decision.
I've decided to by a Mac Book Pro. This isn't my first Mac product, I bought a Mac Mini when they first came out to get my feet wet with the Mac. While the Mini can't really be considered much of a powerhouse I am at least now use to how to work with a Mac.
I am really quite happy I converted my now dead laptop into a Virtual Machine when the problem first started. This means I can boot up my old laptop and still have all my old installed software and still use it.
Why the MBP
A lot of my "colleagues" in the community have MBP, not all of them were Fanboys before but most of them are now and that carries a lot of weight. They still run windows in a VM but they bought a MBP because of its reliability, and stability and not because they wanted to jump on the Apple bandwagon.I think Apple has a long way to go to redeem itself as a company that has a horrible ecological history. Additionally I am not a big fan of Apples aggressive policies with respect to iTunes and the iPhone.
I am also a fan of the practice of speaking my mind with my wallet so purchasing an Apple product could be considered an act hypocrisy, and that is just something I am going to have to live with. I do hope that I am not going to be disappointed with my decision.
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My blog is suffering for the lack of a proper computer. And honestly I have no time to write stuff at work at the moment.
I liked the industrial design well enough, and the keyboard felt like a definite improvement over the previous gen MBP, but I had a ton of issues with it even beyond my general issues with OS X.
With brightness turned down to its absolute lowest, the integrated graphics running, and other power optimizations in place, I was lucky if I got 2 and a half hours on the supposed 5 hour battery rating. Granted, Apple generally exaggerates the hell out of all of their performance claims, but doubling it? That was too dirty.
On top of that, the MBP can't even support dual monitors without a 3rd party subsystem adapter. Even my $700 Dell laptop from 3 YEARS AGO (XPS 1330) can handle two monitors at 1920 x 1200 (at either orientation) like a champion (without any adapters). That is just plain embarrassing for a product that makes so many claims and costs so much.
The exciting new display port connection was worthless. Dell had a mini display port out BUILT INTO THE LAPTOP, but doesn't make a cable to connect it to a display port monitor!!! I had to wait a week for the mdp to DVI converter (another $30 to connect a MacBook Pro to an external monitor. Nice Apple.)
No matter how much hardware I throw at it ( I got the more expensive one ), OS X still feels slow. The mouse acceleration curve is crippling. The advanced usability options are all but absent.
I hope you like yours more than I liked mine.
I meant to add I have been using Dell monitors with display port in forever now, and that was one of the most exciting things about the display port out on the new MBP.
I read both your previous post and this one and wanted to chime in a couple of thoughts on the subject. First off, sorry to hear that you were kind of "forced" into the decision. At least you did give it thought and consideration and did a comparison. Kudo's.
I have looked at MB and MBP off-and-on and when I get to replacing my home system will seriously consider it. I am just not to that point yet. Things I do notice when comparing systems however are: (1) It isn't easy comparing apples to apples, and (2) sometimes upfront costs play too much into the decision making.
On the apples to apples issue, one of the things I noticed with Apple's latest update, is they are definitely ahead of the curve when it comes to processor front-end bus and memory speed. There are are not a lot of laptops that have a 1066Mhz front end bus and use 1066Mhz DD3 Ram. This can be a definite performance booster, when it comes to development work.
Another factor is 64bit versus 32bit. Where this really comes into play is Windows (even Vista) 32bit OS's limiting one to 3GB of RAM.
I did like Charlie Arehart's posts for raising one important issue on the Windows side, which is running of anti-virus. I run Vista (32bit) on my work desktop, and XP SP2/3 on my work and home laptops. My work laptops have Trend Micro AV, while home has McAffee. While the home laptop is slower, it is really slow at startup and in comparison to my work one due to all the "crap" that gets loaded. Part of the issue with the home one is other family members who use it and load various browser toolbars and other system tray applications, but I think a large drag is the AV software. This is one area, so far, that OSX still has Windows beat.
One other "hidden" factor is how Unix works versus how Windows work. Yes, with Vista I can have a lot of applications running, but Windows really isn't a true multi-tasking OS. There are still applications, even the browser (Firefox included) that can "hang" up a system temporarily (e.g., no mouse or keyboard response). The Unix systems may run a bit slower with lots of apps loaded, but they rarely, if every allow a process to take over the entire system, like Windows still allows.
As far as ecology, they all need to be pushed from behind.
And yes they do have an aggressive policy around ITunes but that is theyr main income and you can learn to live with it or just don't use it
After +! year of Apple I've come to look at it as a Microsoft with a nicer boss who has an obsession regarding the quality and usability of the products and services his company develops. Now that has some up sides too :)