Get Some

General => Technology & Hardware => Topic started by: swindle on April 13, 2013, 11:16:02 am

Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: swindle on April 13, 2013, 11:16:02 am: Looking at getting an Ultrabook. Love the size/weight of the Ultrabooks and looking for something portable.

My main considerations are 1) Build quality 2) Track-pad/keyboard 3) Screen res.

After some looking and playing and reading I'm narrowing it down a bit but would enjoy some feedback from the people. A few ideas I'm throwing around....

http://www.apple.com/nz/macbook-pro/
(http://www.apple.com/nz/macbook-pro/)
I know I know... but its built very well and has a fairly wicked screen resolution. However I'd end up running windows on it and then it becomes one of those things. But its a consideration none the less. Windows at an unreadable 2880x1800 is awesome looking.

http://www.samsung.com/nz/consumer/pc-peripherals/notebook-pc/high-performance/NP900X3D-A01AU

Made from duralumin with a nice screen res and a backlit keyboard with thing is pretty nice. Very light and built like a boss.

http://zenbook.asus.com/zenbook/?c=ux42vs
(http://zenbook.asus.com/zenbook/?c=ux42vs)
Nice stuff from ASUS. Always brought ASUS laptops but I find it kinda ugly...

http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/laptop/thinkpad/x-series/x1-carbon/

Currently in the lead in terms of what I am after. At this point looking like the best option.

Anybody wanna throw anything in here? There isn't exactly what I would call an abundance of options out there.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: mycoolcar on April 13, 2013, 11:34:01 am: What are you going to use it for?

Have you done much research into running windows on a mac, a friend did it and it seemed quite problematic (i.e. finding something as simple as a USB driver took ages).
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: Bounty Hunter on April 13, 2013, 11:54:52 am: My GF got the new sony at the start of the year, it's nice, windows 8 still gives her a bit of a hard time, I think once SP1 comes out it'll be much nicer to her.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: swindle on April 13, 2013, 11:57:46 am: General day to day stuff. No games. Got my rig for that, and I'm over having to sit at my rig to browse the net, download, whatever.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: Growler on April 13, 2013, 11:59:57 am: Swindle I wouldn't recommend a MBP for just bootcamp, but in saying that, you might be surprised how similar the apps are in OSX now days anyway.

What sort of apps are you going to be running?

Bootcamp is great, i have very few issues with it on my MBP, but if there is a native OSX version of app (CS6 etc) i run it in OSX as it is faster. Games, certain camera control apps etc all go under bootcamp.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: Growler on April 13, 2013, 12:01:04 pm: If it's just for browsing etc, wouldn't a nice big tablet do the job for a fraction of the cost?
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: swindle on April 13, 2013, 12:16:53 pm: Not really keen on a tablet. Am still interested in the Surface Pro, but don't like the idea of 10.1" screen size.

I've been using a Spectre XT at work for a few weeks now and I've fallen for the Ultrabook format.

(https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRDOQBqBRfKB4H4yOBkvYwS9SX4nyMo5c3ETI0Td6dBU0YO3HYInQ)

Pretty sweet machine bar the shit shit shit res and low grade screen construction.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: Tandoori on April 13, 2013, 05:45:18 pm: All those machines are great laptops, so you're pretty safe no matter which way you go.

Windows doesn't optimise battery life very well on macbooks - or at least this has been my experience. If you're going to buy one, I'd recommend getting comfortable with OSX (It isn't too bad for laptops tbh).

Otherwise, Lenovo quality is still the benchmark for Windows imo.

Also it's probably worth considering a Macbook Air if you're not doing anything too intense.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: swindle on April 13, 2013, 06:29:55 pm: Quote from: Tandoori;1523281
Otherwise, Lenovo quality is still the benchmark for Windows imo.

Also it's probably worth considering a Macbook Air if you're not doing anything too intense.

Lenovo make some seriously nice machines. Been perving at the range the offer. Its nice, I just with they had a showroom somewhere?

Also the MBA is so fucking ugly imo. Bezel for weeks.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: Codex on April 13, 2013, 06:55:10 pm: I'd get a MBP and just run mac os x personally, it's pretty good despite all the people who cry about it here.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: swindle on April 13, 2013, 11:18:47 pm: I'm having a hard time passing the screen on the MBP.

Honestly, it has me by the balls.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: Codex on April 14, 2013, 02:39:43 am: Get it

I would
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: Arnifix on April 14, 2013, 10:02:01 am: MBP disgusting pigs.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: Xenolightning on April 14, 2013, 01:36:56 pm: Don't buy a MBP just for the resolution. It doesn't actually run at 2560x1600.

You can push it up to 1680x1050, but anything further you need another app.

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/macbook-pro-retina-display-faq/macbook-pro-retina-display-hack-to-run-native-resolution.html

I installed Windows with bootcamp on mine. Ran it at 2560x1600, couldn't read a damn thing on the screen. Ended up putting it at 1920x1080 and even that was small.

I have the 128GB version. That is not enough space to run Win7 + OSX. So I just ended up running OSX.

No problems as of yet, installed Chrome, Word, and a few other bits n pieces. Does the job perfectly.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: 5loth on April 14, 2013, 08:16:02 pm: I've got a Samsung Series 9 Ultrabook, but if I was buying one again now I'd go for a Lenovo X1 Carbon.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: swindle on April 14, 2013, 08:18:26 pm: Why is that?
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: Bounty Hunter on April 14, 2013, 10:12:39 pm: Quote from: swindle;1523325
Why is that?

just look at it! it's gorgeous!
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: mycoolcar on April 14, 2013, 10:22:19 pm: Build quality of Lenovo's is pro.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: O-L-W-A-G on April 14, 2013, 10:32:30 pm: Try this on a MBP with windows on it: windows.microsoft.com/en-nz/windows7/make-the-text-on-your-screen-larger-or-smaller
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: swindle on April 15, 2013, 09:43:35 am: Quote from: mycoolcar;1523334
Build quality of Lenovo's is pro.

Yeap.

Except the screen.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: Xenolightning on April 15, 2013, 10:21:36 am: Quote from: swindle;1523367
Yeap.

Except the screen.
Agreed. But there is a compromise somewhere along the line.

BTW, MBP Retina screens are a pain. They are glossy which means they are like mirrors. Real pain when you are using facing a light source. Oh the another thing that is annoying about them, is the lack of a delete, end and home key, never thought I'd miss them as much as I do.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: swindle on April 15, 2013, 10:58:10 am: I really wish I could play with the Carbon X1.

Very uncomfortable about spending that much on a lappy without playing first.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: swindle on April 17, 2013, 02:41:49 pm: The retina is a pretty cool guy.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: Xenolightning on April 17, 2013, 03:08:54 pm: That he is. I must say; I do use my MBPr EVERY DAY, it's the perfect lying in bed, browsing ONFREE, and consuming the media on my file server.

Perfect compromise when I CBF playing shit through my entertainment system.

EDIT: Also, I don't feel bad when I jizz all over it, because it is just an Apple after all.

Also, dem logitech harmony remotes <3
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: swindle on April 17, 2013, 03:30:11 pm: Had it for 2 days now, and used it a shitload.

Nexflix is pretty cool, streams pretty well via my 5GHz. I must say, the speakers are impressive considering the size and all.

This MBPr is like the most awesomely overkill net browsing and note taking machine. Fucking love the keyboard and trackpad. A few features that OS X has that I must admit I rather enjoy. Never will I sell my windows 7 gaming rig, but as a laptop/portable this is one hard machine to beat.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: Growler on April 17, 2013, 04:40:45 pm: Holy fucking shit!

STOP TEH WROLD SWINDLE LIEKS A MAC!

hahaha, they are a great piece of kit, now you know why I like taking mine out on photoshoots. Tethering to a MBP is just awesome!
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: swindle on April 17, 2013, 05:09:46 pm: The humble pie comes thick and fast! Haha its all good. Only a fan of their portables though. iPhone can still fuck right off.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: Codex on April 17, 2013, 05:15:45 pm: Moments later...
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: swindle on April 17, 2013, 09:26:08 pm: Don't even bro.

I fucking love my S3. Siyah kernal with dual boot,

(http://www.veradio.com/blog/serg_ballin.jpg)
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: BerG on April 18, 2013, 10:00:58 am: Swindle and his buddies at the next MBP release:

(http://blog.inner-active.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/samsung-mocking-apple-fanboys.jpg)

(http://www.timelessfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/AppleFanboy.png)

Make sure to pick up your official Apple Fan daywear:

(https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/1186305271/fanboi.jpg)
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: swindle on April 18, 2013, 10:21:29 am: Must have.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: Bounty Hunter on April 18, 2013, 10:23:19 am: the google guys at uni are pretty funny too to be honest. fuck they love their google merch.
Title: Ultrabooks.
Post by: swindle on April 18, 2013, 08:31:10 pm: I love the fact this thing is 99% silent 99% of the time. A god send compared to my old laptop.

When I say "old", I mean 4 months.