New laptop time

[DimPrawn]

I have a new Dell, 17" screen, dual core Intel, 4GB RAM, Vista Business.

Cheap and very fast for high end dev work, but looks cheap, is huge (like 3 inches thick) and comes stacked with tulipe DELL bloatware.

But it was sooooooooooooo cheap for such a powerful "laptop" (it would break your legs if you put it on your lap).

[Advocate]

New Macbook Pro rumoured to be out in September; might be interesting if you swing that way

[Spacecadet]

New Macbook Pro rumoured to be out in September; might be interesting if you swing that way

you won't have anywhere to use it though:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7484563.stm

[voodooflux]

you won't have anywhere to use it though:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7484563.stm

They're scaling back in Oz too: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7530570.stm

But looking to expand in Europe: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7450098.stm

[Ardesco]

I really like the look of these:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en...4-3723312.html

May not be ideal for a dev station though.

[SmithsonianWA]

They're scaling back in Oz too: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7530570.stm

But looking to expand in Europe: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7450098.stm

<anti-globalisation rant>
Never good news about people losing their jobs.. but good news about less Starbucks from my point of view. I dont see why people enjoy the cookie cut shops / cafes - all the same everywhere you go.
Most of Europe has proper little cafes and coffee shops already.. why would we want McDonalds cafes to spring up everywhere. It's nice to be able to find places with character and maybe even the guy who owns it, runs it? or even works there
</anti-globalisation rant>

I've got the Dell XPS 1330.. been fairly good. Had to have the MB replaced due to a power problem on it though. I wouldnt go the 13 inch screen again. I think the 15 would be a nice unit.

One other thing I had never considered before (until I tried to run 64 bit exchange 2007 last night!). The processor has to be able to support some special feature for 64 bit OS's. I think it is called VT in Intel. Im not a hardware guy, but I believe it is not available to turn on in all machines.

I think I am going to swing to the new Macbook Pro when it comes out.

Cheers,

Tim.

[xchaotic]

I wonder why has no one recommended Macbook yet.
Not having to deal with all windows or linux configuration and maintenance issues, in my justifies the price premium as it saves a lot of precious, billable time. Over time, I learned a lot of keyboard shortcuts, which save even more time. Speaking of keyboards, one of the best in laptops, especially the backlit one in MacBook Pro (the only better ones are in IBM Thinkpads, not sure if lenovo keeps up the tradition) Visualisations look ultra-cool as well.
I have mine and never looked back since, I installed trimmed XP in a VMWare but I rarely eve used, if I did. Unity in new VMWare, means your Windows Apps behave just like native Mac Apps (you can cmd-tab etc).
It has been suggested, that Macbooks don't have to be upgraded as often, due to better optimised software and build quality, which might further justify the purchase.

If you're buying, you might wait until the new ones come out (it's a rumour but quite reliable, I think)

[bogeyman]

I wonder why has no one recommended Macbook yet.
Not having to deal with all windows or linux configuration and maintenance issues, in my justifies the price premium as it saves a lot of precious, billable time. Over time, I learned a lot of keyboard shortcuts, which save even more time. Speaking of keyboards, one of the best in laptops, especially the backlit one in MacBook Pro (the only better ones are in IBM Thinkpads, not sure if lenovo keeps up the tradition) Visualisations look ultra-cool as well.
I have mine and never looked back since, I installed trimmed XP in a VMWare but I rarely eve used, if I did. Unity in new VMWare, means your Windows Apps behave just like native Mac Apps (you can cmd-tab etc).
It has been suggested, that Macbooks don't have to be upgraded as often, due to better optimised software and build quality, which might further justify the purchase.

If you're buying, you might wait until the new ones come out (it's a rumour but quite reliable, I think)

Well, actually Advocate recommended a Macbook @ 10.41.

Your point about Macbook build quality couldn't be more off the mark. I had to return my daughters Macbook 3 times. Yes THREE times (replaced once, fixed once, replaced again) before it worked properly.

My neighbour has had a brand new MB pro and the trackpad is already failing. Also the screen seems rather dim and unevenly lit.

I used to have a top of the line PowerBook and it was always flaking out.

I'm a long-time Mac desktop user, but I think the *books are a tad unreliable, to say the least.

I'm now looking to hackintosh a Lenovo.

[NickFitz]

Given that the OP seemed to be referring to Windows development platforms, there are probably a number of reasonable options available, depending on pricing considerations.

But - surprise, surprise - I would suggest at least considering MacBook hardware, even if you trash the OS X installation and stick Windows on it instead. It's quality hardware, in my experience.

@bogeyman: I'm surprised at your experience. Not only has my own MacBook worked well for a couple of years now, but over the last 18 months or so I've worked in places where there would have been, in total, something like fifty or sixty MacBooks or MacBook Pros in use, and I don't recollect any of them ever suffering a hardware failure. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it may be you had a run of bad luck - and, given that the replacement would probably be a "reconditioned" previously-returned unit, the probability of it having a lurking, unremedied flaw would be increased.

(And before the chorus chimes in, you face the same problem with every manufacturer - if your Dell laptop has to be replaced under warranty, you're very unlikely to get a brand new machine. You'll get one that somebody else returned and which they reckon they've fixed. This is the most shameful aspect of the hardware-vending side of the computer industry, but they all do it.)

[NickFitz]

you won't have anywhere to use it though:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7484563.stm

As a Mac user since the early Nineties (and with every version of Windows from 3.0 upwards under my belt as well) can I just say that I have never been in a Starbucks, a Costa Coffee, a Café Nero, or indeed anywhere like that

I'm more the http://eggbaconchipsandbeans.com kind of Mac user