New Laptop - Mac or ?

[n13cah]

I got a desktop from the dell outlet early last year, within 2 weeks kept getting the blue screen of death. Tried their technical support, but the computer wasn't registered to me as it had already been sold. This went on for 2 weeks before i threatened them with court if i didn't get a refund.
Got a 15" Mac book pro with retina when it was launched, would never go back now.

[h4rdy]

If you can get one shipped here, how about a Razer Blade?

http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-systems/razer-blade

http://www.cnet.com/laptops/razer-blade-fall-2012/4505-3121_7-35433773.html

The Switchblade UI is awesome as well. Lots of updates have cured its flakyness.

Some good vids on YouTube.

[ConeKiller]

Recently got a macbook air, love it!!! But ive had a macbook for years!

Would never go back to a windows machine! Hate working on them at work 

[Stanipkiss]

Yeh buy a Windows laptop. You'll be sure to get at least £50 for it in twelve months! 

 

Mac all the way.... 

+1 

[majinvash]

I'm an IT Consultant

My job is to supply PC's, Laptops and Servers ( amongst other geeky things ) day in and day out...

I have a 13.3" Macbook in the Aluminium Unibody

I would not buy anything else, I still have the same Macbook that I bought back when it came out in 2008. ( This was before they became Macbook Pro with the light up keyboards )

It has been around the world twice with me, been kicked, dropped, abused.

In the years that I have had it, I have upgrade the RAM to 4GB, I had replaced the battery once 7 months ago because it was only lasting 2hrs and recently I changed the hard disk to a solid state just well cos..
Oh and the DVD Drive died but that was my fault for traveling with a DVD I had forgotten about in it.. ( FYI dont do that it breaks drives )

It is still as fast and solid as the day I bought it .. I cannot say that about any laptop I have owned before.. Or that I could supply now to any of you.
In the time I have owned it, I have only needed to reinstall the OS twice and once was because of the new SSD hard drive.

They are truly amazing and worth the money.

I would personally avoid the new 13.3" Retina books because they are just too thin and far to fragile.. but the rest of the range.. Worth their huge cost.

[MAT ED30]

As said above buy a mac the rest just is not worth the hassle

[Oli]

Best deal I've found so far;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B008BEYC3I/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1359157480&sr=8-2&pi=SL75

Anyone know of better?

[Degudodger]

It's the Ford/VW argument. They both do the exactly the same thing just one does it better and utilises system resources more effectively. I'm talking about Mac of course :)

Was looking at a 15" MBP for Mrs DD and can get one for £1650 after tax back here in Cancun. I currently use a 17" MBP and and ticks all of my boxes. I can honestly say I will not go back to a windows based machine for personal use. Just my opinion.

[rich83]

Best deal I've found so far;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B008BEYC3I/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1359157480&sr=8-2&pi=SL75

Anyone know of better?

2,013.60... but that includes apple care.

[Degudodger]

Do you have any student friends of any who could (cough as I know others on the forum know how to) get a student discount?

[rich83]

Do you have any student friends of any who could (cough as I know others on the forum know how to) get a student discount?

You dont need friends... you just need the correct URL 

[majinvash]

As the current exchange rate you would be best off flying to NY for the weekend.
Have a 4 day mini break and buy the entry 15" Retina in an apple store there. ( Dont forget to get your tax back )

At current exchange rate the US cost is £1390 as apposed to £1799 over here :)

You really dont need the apple care, these things are amazing and any fault is going to show up in the first 12 months anyway.
You are better off getting it insured as that covers you for screen damage and dropping, those are far more likely.

Be aware that the screens on the Retina units although stunning are very very very very thin..  I personally feel a little too thin to last as well as the normal Macbooks but that will be seen over time if I am right.

So insurance over warranty is definitely the way forwards. Keep it backed up via the Time Machine or better get a home NAS setup and store the majority of your stuff on that and just access it remotely ( easier to setup that you think ) . Then in the unlikely event the unit actually goes wrong. Drop it down some stairs and get a new unit.

Replacement screens are crazy expensive. I have no idea what the current cost is as one of my engineers said that he opened his Retina unit up and then stopped and walked away crying, they are pretty much unrepairable since much of the internals are glued or soldered into place.

[n13cah]

I got mine with the student discount last summer. I was a student one day a week at the time. Ordered it on my home PC, i think i just had to select the college i went to. Around 12% off.

[Oli]

Thanks to Rich, Ive just had my order accepted for a 15" MacBookPro with Retina display and external drive, got a healthy discount and cheaper Apple care.  Top man

[Hedge]