I've done dev work on a 13" MacBook Pro as well as my current Alienware M11x (an 11" laptop with 1366x768 resolution). Both suited very well, and cost was pretty reasonable.
I also just ordered a new Alienware M17x as a desktop replacement for both dev and gaming. I'm sure the 17" MacBook Pro (significantly more expensive) would've been a better choice if I wanted more portability, but the Alienware is a serious workhorse: new Sandy Bridge quad-core CPUs, top end graphics (AMD 6970M), up to 16GB of RAM, two hard drive bays, Blu-ray drive, 17.3" 1080p display. Don't think you'll want to tote this around, though: at 12.5lbs, it's a monster. Should be arriving in about a week, so can't comment on build quality, but I've been exceptionally happy with my M11x to date. And, although I'm an Apple fanboy, I will say that Bootcamp on the MacBook Pros is less than perfect. It's not bad, mind you, but it's clearly not running the machine at its best. In OS X, you should be able to get 25-50% more battery life than in Windows, and there will be many small but significant features missing in Bootcamp (for example, full configuration of the touchpad). If you want a machine that's only for Windows, understand that you're making a trade-off by buying Apple. The build quality is second to none, to be sure, and the design is generally superior to everything else. But at the end of the day, the thing is optimized for running OS X, not Windows. I often found it ran Windows better in a VM in OS X than it did on the native hardware itself. Something to be aware of. On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 10:07 PM, Frank Schwieterman <[email protected]>wrote: > Yeah, I would just use it for dev work (and the internets). I > honestly am not sure I'd use it too frequently, its mainly for when I > travel. > > On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 9:49 PM, Erick Thompson > <[email protected]> wrote: > > A question to the OP - what are you looking to do with the notebook? > General > > purpose? Dev? Games? A lot of what makes a good notebook depends on what > > you're going to use it for. > > > > I just got a new Lenovo (T410). I've bought nothing but ThinkPad for my > > personal notebooks for going on 7 years now. I can't say enough good > things > > about them - in fact, my initial one (~7 years old) is still running > strong, > > and I use it for surfing the net in the basement. They are solid, well > built > > machines. I can't speak to the IdeaPads, but my wife has one and seems to > > like it. > > > > Erick > > > > > > On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 4:39 PM, Jeffery Olson <[email protected]> > > wrote: > >> > >> I recently purchased one of the 2011 macbook pros.. I like it a lot. > >> Even with one of the entry-level 13" models (I upgraded to 8GB RAM and > >> a Scopio Black 7200RPM HD), I have the horsepower to run a windows vm > >> (w/ VS2010, SQL mgmt studio, etc) via virtualbox for work and do most > >> other stuff I want (browsing, emulation/gaming). > >> > >> If graphics are important to you, get a 15 or 17" model, as the 13" > >> models come only with Intel's HD3000 graphics (It's what I have and I > >> like it just fine, but a lot of AAA games for mac will work only with > >> models with nvidia/AMD graphics chipsets, just like on windows). Don't > >> get RAM upgrades from Apple ($200 for 8GB upgrade on 13" MBP, vs ~$85 > >> to DIY from amazon (I get free shipping w/ prime, so it was a good > >> deal for me)). Their prices on SSDs aren't bad, though. > >> > >> Besides the MacBook Pro, the only other laptop that I know of with a > >> unibody aluminum design is the HP Envy (and it's looking like the the > >> 15" model won't see a Sandy Bridge update until this summer at the > >> earliest). Aside from those two, there are several laptops on the > >> market with magnesium or various composite chasis. > >> > >> In terms of the price:power ratio, a name that I kept hearing again > >> and again during my laptop search was Sager/Clevo. They have a pretty > >> dedicated following on the notebookreview.com forums, but because of > >> the Series 6 chipset issues, all of the Sager laptops that were > >> released earlier this year are only now getting into consumer's hands. > >> There seem to be some issues with screen quality and some flex in the > >> keyboard/chasis, but for the price it's a great bargain (just don't > >> plan on treating them too roughly). The NP5160 and NP8130 are two > >> recent models from Sager that provide a great value proposition (just > >> google and read up on 'em yourself). > >> > >> Lenovo also has what appears to be a really nice 14" Sandy Bridge > >> laptop (the Ideapad y460p), but it got caught up in the Series 6 > >> chipset recall as well. I've heard a *lot* of horror stories from > >> people about Lenovos, though. > >> > >> No matter what you do, if you're going to go with a new laptop, you > >> definitely need to get a system with a sandy bridge processor (and > >> shoot for one with a nice, not-underclocked dual core or quad-core > >> proc.. if you want to do serious work, I'd avoid any of low or > >> ultra-low voltage CPUs). The field is pretty wide-open at this point > >> and only more models will hit in the coming months, so if it's > >> something you're serious about you should do some research. A good > >> starting place is to just google for "sandy bridge laptop" in > >> news.google.com from time-to-time to see recent announcements. There's > >> also a wealth of information on the aforementioned > >> forum.notebookreview.com site. A lot of laptop loons there, but watch > >> out for the tribalist/fanboy types. > >> > >> Cheers and good luck, > >> Jeff > >> > >> On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 3:00 PM, Justin Bozonier <[email protected] > > > >> wrote: > >> > Just bought a new MacBook Pro this year (just prior to the update). > >> > I love this computer. I spend 20-30 hours a week on it. I'm cool for > >> > paying > >> > for all the little luxuries, especially when it'll last 4 or so years. > >> > > >> > Sent from my iPhone > >> > On Mar 27, 2011, at 2:58 PM, Eric Ridgeway <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> > > >> > For PCs ive owned several different kinds... ASUS makes great pcs at > low > >> > prices .... Ive also always had good luck with Acer laptops ... Their > >> > desktops blow but the laptops rock .... I currently use an HP dmz3 for > >> > personal stuff and a Dell M4500 for work... > >> > > >> > The one really important thing to remember is to get a laptop that is > >> > sturdy > >> > .... Ne more I would only buy a metal laptop .... So MBPs keep looking > >> > better and better > >> > > >> > On Mar 27, 2011 2:50 PM, "Michael Ibarra" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> > > >> > -- > >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > >> > Groups > >> > "Seattle area Alt.Net" group. > >> > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > >> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > >> > [email protected]. > >> > For more options, visit this group at > >> > http://groups.google.com/group/altnetseattle?hl=en. > >> > > >> > -- > >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > >> > Groups > >> > "Seattle area Alt.Net" group. > >> > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > >> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > >> > [email protected]. > >> > For more options, visit this group at > >> > http://groups.google.com/group/altnetseattle?hl=en. > >> > > >> > >> -- > >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups > >> "Seattle area Alt.Net" group. > >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > >> [email protected]. > >> For more options, visit this group at > >> http://groups.google.com/group/altnetseattle?hl=en. > >> > > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "Seattle area Alt.Net" group. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected]. > > For more options, visit this group at > > http://groups.google.com/group/altnetseattle?hl=en. > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Seattle area Alt.Net" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/altnetseattle?hl=en. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seattle area Alt.Net" group. 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