Al_B on 1/5/2013 at 08:34
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
Chromebooks aren't shells. I'm confused, are you saying the Pixel has no power?
Of course it has some power - but I can't see how you're going to be anything other than disappointed with it. It's got a lack-lustre battery life (2 - 3 hours), small SSD, limited RAM by today's standard and a processor that is pretty good but not amazing. When you consider the price (over £1000 including VAT) and that you have limited offline capabilities with the native O/S it just doesn't sound value for money.
I can see an argument where it'll be useful if you were to use an alternative O/S such as Ubuntu but why not just do that on a better performing and lower cost laptop?
bikerdude on 1/5/2013 at 09:36
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
Yeah, £2000.
* Chromebooks aren't shells. I'm confused, are you saying the Pixel has no power?
* I was going to get a Mac book pro, for the reliability and build quality, but using an Air last night annoyed me so much I'm not getting a Mac.
All pretty much got it spot on with why you DONT want a chromebook.
Quote Posted by Al_B
Of course it has some power - but I can't see how you're going to be anything other than disappointed with it. When you consider the price (over £1000 including VAT) and that you have limited offline capabilities with the native O/S it just doesn't sound value for money.
And regarding a macbook, what was it that annoyed you - you do know you can bootcamp it to get windows 7/8 on it..? They are built very well but only come with a 1yr warranty so you will have to buy a care-pack to extend that to a max of 3yrs in total. Even though I am a mac engineer I still think that mac's have over inflated prices - I like to call it the Sony effect "charging more for the name than the product is worth"
Ok as your a UK bod let me do a details search for you so I can see what i can come up with :-)
SubJeff on 1/5/2013 at 11:28
I don't see the point of getting a Mac if I'm going to install Windows on it. I don't really want to use an alternate OS to the primary one.
The Pixel has a 5hr battery life, doesn't it? And I've read the build quality is really good. If i got one I'd try to use Chrome OS and see how that went.
For a Windows laptop I'd want a big screen, full keyboard, good build quality, excellent track pad with multi touch gestures (because I hate track pads normally but the Mac ones are actually really good) and no bloatware.
One thing I hate is bespoke software that is slow and tries to reinvent the wheel. I've used Lenovos, Dells and Sonys that I hated because of this.
Of course it has to be fast but I won't be playing games on it (except the of indie or puzzle game) so I absolutely do not want a gaming laptop.
The lighter the better but its no big deal.
Al_B on 1/5/2013 at 11:53
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
The Pixel has a 5hr battery life, doesn't it? And I've read the build quality is really good. If i got one I'd try to use Chrome OS and see how that went.
I've not tried one personally so I'm only going on reviews but (
http://www.zdnet.com/google-chromebook-pixel-review-7000013538/) this one suggests the 5hr battery life is not realistic:
Quote:
On the downside, the device does get noticeably warm when used for prolonged periods, while battery life is disappointing for a laptop in this price bracket: although Google claims 'up to 5 hours of active use', we struggled to get more than half that with continual multitasking usage.
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
One thing I hate is bespoke software that is slow and tries to reinvent the wheel. I've used Lenovos, Dells and Sonys that I hated because of this.
Sure - that can be a real pain with a new laptop. Something (
http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/) like this can help if you don't feel like spending time uninstalling things manually.
I realise I've not recommended the "ideal machine" for you - it's been some time since I looked into laptops and they can be very personal choices at the end of the day.
bikerdude on 1/5/2013 at 17:47
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
* I don't see the point of getting a Mac if I'm going to install Windows on it. I don't really want to use an alternate OS to the primary one.
* The Pixel has a 5hr battery life, doesn't it?. If i got one I'd try to use Chrome OS and see how that went.
* For a Windows laptop I'd want a big screen, full keyboard, good build quality, excellent track pad with multi touch gestures (because I hate track pads normally but the Mac ones are actually really good) and no bloatware.
* I've used Lenovos, Dells and Sonys that I hated because of this.
* Of course it has to be fast but I won't be playing games on it (except the of indie or puzzle game) so I absolutely do not want a gaming laptop.
* The lighter the better but its no big deal.
* The idea of having a macbook with two OS is one can be used for creative (OSX) and the other for office and games (Windows).
* As Al said, 5hrs is liberal estimate at best. And the issue with Chrome OS is you have to be online to use it.(In my book thats pointless in a laptop)
* All of things are easily doable, but bloatware your gonna have to remove Im afraid. Its not that hard, I could remote in and do it for you in 30mins.
* ALL laptops regardless are gonna be like this to a greater or lesser degree.
* A laptop with a £2000 price tag will will inherently come with some gaming prowesses, just think of it as a free value added extra :-)
* I'll try to keep as close to 2Kgs as possible.
SubJeff on 1/5/2013 at 18:45
I played with a Pixel today.
Nope.
Nice build but nah.
I'm thinking a £1000ish Windows laptop or Mac.
I'm going to do some research online. I hear there are really good dells out there.
Renzatic on 1/5/2013 at 20:02
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
I don't see the point of getting a Mac if I'm going to install Windows on it. I don't really want to use an alternate OS to the primary one.
There are tons of people who do just that. They'll wipe OSX off the machine entirely, and use their Macs as an expensive Wintel laptop. Love 'em or hate 'em, Apple does make some of the best hardware (a lot) of money can buy. Some people buy them for just that reason alone, regardless of the OS.
Take the 15" retina display Macbook Pro. I don't think I've seen a machine as powerful and well built as it in such a thin, light package. You'll pay out the nose for it, but you're guaranteed to be absolutely thrilled with it once you see it in action. The screen on that thing is absolutely amazing. High pixel density displays are where it's at.
...provided you get one with a Samsung display, anyway.
It's even a decent gaming machine. It's not the best in the world, specially for the price. But if you want to use it for work first, gaming secondary, it'll put on a good show.
bikerdude on 1/5/2013 at 20:16
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
I'm thinking a £1000ish Windows laptop or Mac.
Ok £1000 narrows down the field somewhat and will require a certain about of pickyness and rules out any macbook pro's.
jay pettitt on 1/5/2013 at 21:28
Having lived with a dinky laptop for a while (a second-hand Vaio Z) anything bigger seems kinda like one of those 1960s portable record players.
SubJeff on 1/5/2013 at 22:58
I'm not revising the budget, but I know that paying over 1500 is like getting a top end gfx card; they is a point of diminishing returns.
Mac book pros are still in the running. Gong to the Apple store to play tomorrow hopefully. The 13 inch Air looks like a contender too, because of how portable it is. My gf has an 11 inch one and I like it.
