Be Excellent To Each Other

I've had a trek through the many laptop RMDs we've had, and I can't see one that meets my requirements, so here we go. I want:

1) A laptop that's small and light enough to carry around easily. My current machine has a 13" screen and weighs just under a kilo. I'm expecting to need to go bigger, but not too much bigger.
2) A decent amount of ideally SSD storage - 256Gb if possible, but definitely 128Gb or higher
3) Enough grunt to do a decent amount of image processing - rendering previews of 18Mb images in Lightroom takes a bit of oomph.
4) Not bothered about playing games other than old stuff.
5) Not a mac.
6) Price...negotiable. Don't want to spend silly money, but I'll pay to get what I want.

Any suggestions welcomed!

Are you entirely sure you don't want a MacBook Air running Windows? It's spot-on for all your other requirements.

Let me clarify 5) - not something running MacOS. What's the hassle involved in making it run Windows?

Samsung S9
http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/lapt ... 0X3A-A03US
Multitask like a fucking ninja.

1) Insert Windows CD
2) click about six buttons
3) profit

I don't know about entirely ditching Windows -- Macs have uncommon boot layers (EFI) that I've never subverted that far. The Linux guys do it, so it's possibly, but I don't know what you do.

But if you boot OS X and hit Boot Camp you get a wizard that'll walk you through shrinking your OS X partition (down to a minimum of about 10-15 GB I think), installing a Windows CD, and then installing a full driver pack from Apple that comes with display/trackpack/wifi/etc etc drivers in one lump. Then you set the default boot volume to be the Windows one (you get a special Windows Control Panel icon for this) and you're off. Downside: you're out 10 GB of disk. Upside: OS X is there if you ever want to use it for anything.

The experience is much better thought out than you would think. That Apple system updater you hate from running iTunes for Windows suddenly becomes useful, because it centralises driver updates for every piece of hardware in your computer. Even Dell doesn't seem to get that quite so slick in my experience.

Very nice. The port choice are a big improvement over an Air, fo'sho.

Hey Samsung! Don't make me go to fucking Dixons to find out how much your laptops are, cocks.

If you're putting Airs into a price comparison, don't forget: buy refurbs for 10-15% discount, and use Quidco for another 3%. But max the RAM out. Airs have soldered RAM that can't be upgraded aftermarket. Not that it matters, the 13" only has a 4 GB configuration anyway.

Someone talk to me about processors, it's been a while since I've given a shit:



Is that 'Turbo Boost' about as useful as the 'turbo' button on a 486, or does it actually have some science behind it?

8Gb, according to the Apple store.

No, it's good stuff. When running heavily single-threaded workflows, the processor will automatically turn off one core and then overclock the main core up to the specified "turbo boost" speed. This makes quite a difference to lots of different things.

I stand corrected. That's a new option on the just-released models.

Personally I would buy an Air, as I love mine (actually I would buy the new macbook pro retina, but not with my own money )
However, only if you want to use OSX. Windows on an Air works, but it does take a bit of installing and you can get better Windows machines for the cash I would have thought. Such as the Samsung Series 9, which looks pretty awesome. I'd buy that if I was you.

Don't worry, I would happily buy one with your money

I happily bought one with The last Salmon Man's money.

Yeah it is good, my i5 does it, note it is variable though so you can't guarantee having that specific performance. Probably not an issue, but it may be if a program (really) required 3.2GHz - this is currently unlikely.

OK - so call it a toss-up between the Macbook Air and the Samsung Series 9.

Samsung are determined to make it impossible to find out how much a new model Core i7 with 6/8Gb would cost. You can't buy direct from them, their site doesn't even acknowledge that an i7 model exists, even though there are tons of reviews of it.

Join us!

no poloneck tax for a start.

There's this new thing called "Google". It lets you see where to buy stuff, and shit.

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalo ... CGAQgggwAA

Just out of interest, did you actually click any of those links

The Argos one, yeah. The PC World one seems fine, too.

Where have I belmed?

[edit]Oh yeah, i5. The i7 doesn't have a UK release date. Huh.

They all link to a Core i5 with 4GB...

Here's the latest one out in the UK.
http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/pc-p ... 0X3B-A01UK
Marvel at the huge "where to buy" button

It seems impossible to buy an i7, that must be annoying. For Craster, not for me, I don't give a shit

2-3 weeks for my frickin' MBPwRD (is there a shitter acronym than this?)

That's my acronym, albeit, it's derived directly from the official name . Other people use others. You may like ProNG (Pro Next Gen).

I like cock. (Computer other computers kovet)

Competition Uber Notebook Terminal.

ProNG? That's pretty sharp.

You'll come to like it in tine.

So, that's not the one I want, and all the where to buy places are dixons, currys, Argos etc. Not exactly places to go for competitive pricing.

But great places to go for a laptop!

Amazon?

It's not that good.

OK - so if I can't buy an i7 Samsung Series 9 in the UK, it's off the table. Any suggestions over and above the Macbook Air?

MBPwRD? It's ProNGalicious!

Everyone and his brother is putting out an Air-like Ultrabook these days,. I guess they should all be on your list.

Do you have a URL for everyone and his brother?

Recommendations, not "This exists"!

I'd wait for the inevitable MBAwRD, in all honesty.

While I admire your laziness, I cannot help you while on a phone.

I dunno, man. I only do Macs.

HP and Dell do one I think

But I don;t use one, I have an Elitebook for work

The HP Envy 14 Spectre? It's more expensive than a MacBook Air.

MacBook Ionosphere?

Thanks guys. I'll keep you in mind next time I post a Vague-Handwave-In-The-Direction-Of-Other-Companies-That-Exist-Me-Do

Also, Kovacs! Get in the Photo Challenge Thursday thread!

MacBook Air, obv.

But wait for the Retina one.

Sorry been revising all day!

That is madness, unless it is a lot better... which I doubt.

Is it fuck. HP bought out a company called Voodoo a few years back. Basically Voodoo were one of the few companies (inc Falcon Northwest) that tried to take on Alienware and failed.

So basically HP bought out Voodoo hoping to pull a frito bandito number on Dell who had bought out Alienware and, well, they failed.

Envy laptops are ridiculously over priced under powered rubbish in a somewhat nice looking shell with "Voodoo DNA". In other words one of the old Voodoo employees designs them and then HP sit and laugh as people pay a grand for a laptop with a fucking I3 in.