I was a life-long PC user, but switched to Mac about 3-4 years ago. I'm very pleased and won't be going back. I've had my current MacBook since I switched, and have had no real problems. It still boots up and runs faster than any PC I ever owned. They are more expensive, but in terms of longevity, I think a Mac beats PCs as my experience with PCs has been that they're disposable (you use them for a few years then they get so fucked up there's really no helping them and you have to get a new computer). If you've got the money, I'd get one. I've had a few problems with software compatibility, but in terms of Office-type programs I've had no issues.

(September 23, 2012 at 8:53 pm)Annik Wrote: Don't get Dell. I previously owned a Dell laptop (much to my shame) and it was a nightmare to own. My battery had died after one year in, I had to buy 2 chargers for the damn thing because they broke down so easily and it could barely handle running Minecraft (although I'll admit to that being some ignorance as to how judge good computer specs at the time).

Sadly, I'm not as well informed about good laptop brands.

I bought my Mac Book Pro just over three years ago with a three year warranty. I brought it in this summer in the last week of that warranty and was given a new battery along with whatever else they did for it. I stopped using my old works station long ago and recently gave it to my niece. It wasn't cheap but it has had no glitches so far and with free battery I'd have to say its been a pretty fair value.

(September 24, 2012 at 9:30 am)Tiberius Wrote: Source: I hack stuff for a living.

So your a ethical hacker, cool. Does it pay well?

(September 24, 2012 at 10:43 am)Gooders1002 Wrote:

(September 24, 2012 at 9:30 am)Tiberius Wrote: Source: I hack stuff for a living.

So your a ethical hacker, cool. Does it pay well?

Very well.

(September 24, 2012 at 12:32 pm)Tiberius Wrote:

(September 24, 2012 at 10:43 am)Gooders1002 Wrote: So your a ethical hacker, cool. Does it pay well?

Very well.

Well, it is good to know that my Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures degree won't go to waste.

Let me know when you graduate and I'll give you some contacts for interviews.

(September 24, 2012 at 9:34 am)Jaysyn Wrote: All I can add to this is I've been using & building PCs for the better part of 18 years & have had complete shit luck with multiple Toshiba laptops. I also have an Acer Aspire, it's screen went bad three days out of the extended warranty.

If I had to go buy one right now & I couldn't drop $2k on a Widow PC or Falcon Northwest, I'd go with an ASUS or Lenovo. My girlfriend has an ASUS & it's been a great laptop. Survived two years of college & is now being used by 4 children. My mother has a Lenovo & I was impressed by it's build quality while I when I was setting it up.

I have an Acer Aspire 5745G.

This little bastard has been the best 700$ I ever spent -- Nvidia Optimus GT420M, Intel Integrated for normal, Core i3 at 4gbs memory and a decent screen that has survived me. The only weak point is the keys on the keyboard -- they pop out so easy and are impossible to reinsert.

Asus, Acer, Lenovo, System 76, Apple.

Seriously though, the Apple ones, while stylish, don't come at all with Optimus. If you're a semi-serious gamer on the go who needs battery life, Optimus is a must.

Ok, taking score and the most popular brand seems to be Asus. Lenovo has good ratings, too, and Gateway ain't bad, either. Dell sucks, or it sucks if you get it cheap, at least (and I'm wanting to stay under $1,000, which also knocks Apple out of my little competition). I'll be taking my info down to Microcenter, probably later this week, and get my new laptop. I just hope I can get a decent Asus for under $1,000. I know I can get an i7 processor for less than a grand, but most of them are Dells and/or refurbished and I'm really going to have to think about whether or not I really want to deal with all the issues inherent to a refurb.

I haven't really tried Linux before, but when I get my new laptop, I'm thinking of experimenting with Ubuntu on my old one and if everything works out alright, maybe even switching it to my new one. Any suggestions or thoughts on that?

Cheapest apple (macbook air) comes in at $1 under your max =P (but yeah, 11 inches is far too small imo).

(September 24, 2012 at 10:51 pm)Stue Denim Wrote: Cheapest apple (macbook air) comes in at $1 under your max =P (but yeah, 11 inches is far too small imo).

Yeah, plus I'd have to get accessories and software and everything and then there'd be taxes and that would push it well over a grand.

I think this looks like it would work for me. Asus with an i7 processor and a 15" screen. Does it look like it would be a decent choice?

http://microcenter.com/product/388092/R5...er_-_Mocha